Undergraduate Course: Informatics Research Methodologies (Level 10) (INFR10021)
Course Outline
| School | School of Informatics | 
College | College of Science and Engineering | 
 
| Course type | Standard | 
Availability | Available to all students | 
 
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) | 
Credits | 10 | 
 
| Home subject area | Informatics | 
Other subject area | None | 
   
| Course website | 
http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/irm | 
Taught in Gaelic? | No | 
 
| Course description | The aim of this module is to teach the methodologies of and the skills for conducting research in Informatics. | 
 
 
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites | 
 | 
Co-requisites |  | 
 
| Prohibited Combinations |  Students MUST NOT also be taking   
Informatics Research Methodologies (Level 11) (INFR11019)  
  | 
Other requirements |  Successful completion of Year 3 of an Informatics Single or Combined Honours Degree, or equivalent by permission of the School. This course assumes a knowledge of basic probability, and is intended for those UG4 students intending to do an Informatics-related research degree. | 
 
| Additional Costs |  None | 
 
 
Information for Visiting Students 
| Pre-requisites | None | 
 
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes | 
 
 
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |   
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes 
1 - Understand and apply various Informatics methodologies; 
2 - Present a seminar on an area of Informatics research; 
3 - Review Informatics research papers; 
4 - Analyse and direct their UG4 project using what they have learnt from this course. 
5 - Deploy their transferable skills of reading, writing and design, more effectively. | 
 
 
Assessment Information 
Written Examination	0 
Assessed Assignments	70 
Oral Presentations	30 
 
Assessment 
 
There are 3 items of assessed coursework. 
 
   1. A 25 min presentation on a research topic of choice. (30%) 
   2. Reviews of 2 research papers (out of 4 provided, 2 best scores used). (15% each) 
   3. An analysis of the student's UG4 project. (40%) 
 
If delivered in semester 1, this course will have an option for semester 1 only visiting undergraduate students, providing assessment prior to the end of the calendar year. |  
 
Special Arrangements 
| None |   
 
Additional Information 
| Academic description | 
Not entered | 
 
| Syllabus | 
The module will cover: the nature of Informatics and Informatics research; criteria for assessing Informatics research; different methodologies for Informatics research and how to combine them; the design of experiments and evaluations; software engineering methodologies suitable for research programming; practical advice on conducting research; and numerous research skills including: reading, reviewing, presenting, writing, design, etc. 
 
Relevant QAA Computing Curriculum Sections:  None applicable | 
 
| Transferable skills | 
Not entered | 
 
| Reading list | 
* Bundy, A. Artificial Intelligence Research Methodologies: Lecture Notes 
* Milner, R. Is computing an experimental science?, Journal of Information Technology 2,2, 1987, pp60--66. 
* Bundy, A., du Boulay, B., Howe, J.A.M. and Plotkin, G. The Researchers Bible, 1995. 
* Lighthill, J. The Lighthill Report. SRC, 1974. 
* Sloman A. Exploring design space and niche space, Procs Scandinavian Conference on AI, 1995. 
* Stevens, P., A verification tool developer's vade mecum. | 
 
| Study Abroad | 
Not entered | 
 
| Study Pattern | 
Lectures	20 
Tutorials	0 
Timetabled Laboratories	0 
Non-timetabled assessed assignments	64 
Private Study/Other	16 
Total	100 | 
 
| Keywords | Not entered | 
 
 
Contacts 
| Course organiser | Dr Mary Cryan 
Tel: (0131 6)50 5153 
Email:  | 
Course secretary | Miss Kate Weston 
Tel: (0131 6)50 2701 
Email:  | 
   
 
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