Postgraduate Course: Research Methods (DESI11016)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is only available to students in the School of Design.
Indicative course content
This course will introduce you to a variety of research methods used in Design help as a means to develop and support your own design research and explorative thinking at ECA. A key objective here is to promote innovative, experimental and ambitious research that relates to academic study and creative practice at the forefront of your field.
Aims of course
1 To introduce you to a variety of research method case studies appropriate to study in design at postgraduate level and generate awareness of the links between contexts, theory, practice and creative post-graduate research.
2 To encourage interdisciplinary approaches and an enthusiasm for theoretical and practical experimentation based on rigorous research skills.
3 To enhance your skills of critical analysis and evaluation and allow you to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively.
Mode of delivery
lectures, seminars and workshops |
| Course description |
The broad themes of your Context courses are designed to encourage you to critically examine the production, distribution and consumption of your work and how it is situated in and informed by broader design cultures and contexts. A key objective in the first semester and in this course is to promote an informed approach to research and an innovative and critical application of a range of research methods that will provide a strong foundation for your ongoing studies at Edinburgh College of Art. Within this you will be introduced to a variety of research methods and required to test these out before focusing on the application and analysis of two to three methods in depth as part of your summative submission.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Pre-requisites
Appropriate SCQF Level 10 Qualification or equivalent.
Co-requisites
MA - DESI11012, DESI11013, DESI11015, DESI11018, DESI11019
MFA - DESI11012, DESI11013, DESI11014, DESI11015, DESI11017, DESI11018, DESI11019 |
| Additional Costs | course materials and study trips |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 150 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 7,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 7,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 6,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Summative assessment is by portfolio submission
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
For the Summative Assessment students will be required to submit, to LEARN, a 3,500-word essay, which will be graded against all three Learning Outcomes. Each outcome will be weighted equally.
In addition to the Summative Assessment at the end of the course there will also be a Formative Assessment submission mid way through the course which will receive written feedback on all three learning outcomes and grades via LEARN. The formative assessment task will take the form of a proposal and may be set as a written task or presentation. |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback/forward will be embedded within weekly seminars and workshops and will focus around tasks designed to prepare and support you for your summative submission. In addition to this, written feedback and grades will be provided via LEARN for the Formative Assessment Task and the Summative Assessment Task. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- RESEARCH: Show a critical understanding of two or more research methods that are appropriate to the materials, techniques and theories you engage with in your practice.
- ANALYSE: Demonstrate how you have reviewed, developed and structured your practice in ways that are informed by original, creative and pertinent research.
- SYNTHESISE & COMMUNICATE: Display imagination, resourcefulness and initiative in the written, spoken and visual communication of your current research ideas.
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Reading List
Indicative Bibliography
Alto, Palo, 2003. IDEO Methods Cards: 51 Ways to Inspire Design. IDEO (ISBN 0954413210) Appadurai, A., 1986. The Social Life of Things. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. Blaxter, L. et al., 2001. How to Research. Buckingham: OUP. Burns, R. B., 2000. Introduction to Research Methods. London: SAGE. Gray, C., 2004. Visualizing Research: A Guide to the research process in Art and Design. Aldershot: Ashgate. Ingold, T. and Hallam, E. (eds), 2007. Creativity and Cultural Improvisation. Oxford: Berg. Papademus, D (ed), 2004. Ethics in Visual Research (special issue). Visual Studies 19(2). Laurel, Brenda (ed.), 2003. Design Research: Methods and Perspectives.The MIT Press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
To be able to plan research on the basis of rigorous and independent thought, taking into account ethical and professional issues.
To be able to employ and analyse appropriate research strategies to self initiated projects.
To be able to flexibly transfer knowledge, learning, skills and abilities from one context to another
To communicate ideas effectively and in ways that respond to specific briefs and audiences |
| Special Arrangements |
This course is only available to students in the School of Design. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Students will be expected to explore the research methods and theories introduced in each lecture through readings and tasks in preparation for seminars and workshops. Information about each lecture and associated readings and tasks will be provided on the course LEARN pages. Students are expected to engage actively in seminars and workshops, which provide an opportunity for peer learning and feedback. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Emma Gieben-Gamal
Tel: (0131 6)51 5721
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Ryan Farrell
Tel: (0131 6)51 7400
Email: |
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