MArch Research Proposal module (AR51009)

​​Develop your skills in critical inquiry and research by design. Plan a research question, test appropriate methodologies, and produce a written research proposal

Credits
30
Module code
AR51009
Level
5
Semester
Semester 1
School
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
Discipline
Architecture and Urban Planning

​​This module develops your ability to engage in critical inquiry and research by design within a subject area related to architectural studies. You will learn to formulate research aims and questions, evaluate appropriate research methodologies, and critically appraise relevant theories and bodies of knowledge. 

​Lectures cover key topics such as scoping research areas, finding and annotating literature, evaluating theoretical frameworks, structuring analytical writing, building arguments, and maintaining ethical standards in research. 

​Group seminars and individual tutorials give you practical support on your own chosen research topic. You will prepare in advance for each session and engage actively during it. 

​What you will learn 

​In this module, you will: 

  • ​formulate research aims and questions within a specialist area of architecture 
  • ​evaluate and select appropriate research methodologies 
  • ​critically appraise relevant theories, literature, and precedents 
  • ​communicate research findings clearly and effectively in written and visual form 
  • ​deepen your understanding of and commitment to ethical standards in research 

​By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

  • ​demonstrate detailed knowledge and critical understanding of a specialist area of architecture, using research, enquiry, evaluation, and experimentation to formulate a research question 
  • ​critically assess appropriate literature, theories, and precedents and evaluate their relevance within a broader body of work in the discipline 
  • ​critically identify, conceptualise, and develop original responses to complex architectural challenges, attending to the wider context 
  • ​communicate information about specialised topics to an informed audience through a well-structured, clearly written proposal, including visual material, observing academic standards 
  • ​exercise autonomy and initiative in identifying and using techniques of research, enquiry, and experimentation, and demonstrate understanding of and commitment to ethical standards 
  • ​work as part of a structured collaborative team to plan, resource, analyse, and appraise a wide variety of sources, and critically reflect on that collective work​

Assignments / assessments

​​Collective Submission (20%) 

  • ​Strategic and conceptual framework for the individual research proposal 
  • ​Presented as a collaborative visual exhibition 

​Individual Research Proposal (80%) 

  • ​Written document proposing an investigation into an area of your own choice 
  • ​Demonstrates your capacity to conceptualise and plan a piece of research 
  • ​Can form the basis of your MArch Research Project inquiry 

​This module does not have a final exam.​

Teaching methods / timetable

  • ​​Group seminars 
  • ​Lectures 
  • ​Studio tutorials and one-to-one feedback​

Module lead