44-703569-DF Research Methods Assessment 2 Brief – Report 2025

Assessment Type	Assessment 2 – Report

Assessment Type (e.g. portfolio/presentation etc.): Phase Test
Individual/Group: Individual	Weighting:  60%	Word count or equivalent:  2500 words
Submission date and time: 21 August 2025 before 15:00	Online submission: Yes	Format:  Word, PDF

Assessed Module Learning Outcomes

LO 1 Critically analyse and evaluate published research, key issues and trends
LO 2 Appreciate and evaluate the nature of quantitative and qualitative research perspectives and associated methods
LO 3 Demonstrate awareness of the ethical issues in research
LO 4 Understand the principal issues involved in the development and application of selected research techniques and in the interpretation of research findings to enable the transfer knowledge and understanding of the subject through independent research
LO5 Understand issues and methods involved in data collection, analysis and interpretation to allow students to select, synthesise and critically appraise theories and ideas from a wide range of data to develop persuasive and rational recommendations

Assessment 2 – An evaluation of the experience of two research methods

You will be required to submit a report based on the two tasks introduced in the workshops and evaluate their own experience and the suitability of these two methods.

Task 1 – Design, prepare and undertake an interview including a full interview transcript

You are to conduct a semi-structured online live interview with one of the members of your research methods seminar group. The interview should last approximately 20 minutes. The subject of the interview should be (loosely) based upon the topic chosen for assignment one. It is to be a semi-structured interview conducted in English. The interview should be recorded and transcribed. You will need to submit the transcript of the interview as an appendix to your assignment.

Task 2 – Design, prepare and evaluate a questionnaire

You are required to design a pilot questionnaire of 10/12 questions, to investigate the same topic as the subject of your interview. You should give the questionnaire to 5 of your fellow students to critically evaluate and ask them to comment on the style and form of the questions, i.e.:

• Did they understand the question asked 
• Do they agree that you have asked the right type of question?
• Are any scales used appropriate? 
• Were any of the questions ambiguous?

You should attach as an appendix to your assignment with copies of the questionnaire annotated by your reviewers with comments. You are not required to distribute the questionnaire, and you are not required to collect any results – just receive comments on the quality of the questions used. The focus of the assignment is the process of undertaking the two methods and reflecting upon them.

Once you have completed the two tasks, you need to produce the critical commentary/report comprising 2,500 words plus appendices which critically examines the way in which you conducted the research, problems faced, and lessons learnt. Your work should also consider the impact of the different methods on research findings and the broader research topic under discussion. You must make use of appropriate academic references and use the APA referencing system. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.

Please note that markers will stop reading after the + 10% point and the grade will be based on what the marker has read up to this point. This word limit relates to the word count given by the word counters in Microsoft Word and should be included at the end of the document. Tables and Appendices should only be used to provide data and information as reference points.  They should not be used to present new information.  

The following applies as and where appropriate:

(a) appendices should not be included in word count.
(b) tables should not be included in the word count if these are used to present quantitative data but should be included if they are constructed using words. 
(c) quotations and citations should be included in word count 
(d) the reference list should not be included in the word count. 

Report format: it is not necessary to submit a full business-style report. All that is required is an introduction, a discussion section, a conclusion and the required appendices.  You are not required to include a contents page, abstract. The format expected will be very similar to an essay except the use of headings, bullet points, tables etc will be acceptable where appropriate