MA Professional Design Practice

MA Professional Design Practice
Thesis Handbook 2012 | 2013
Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win
Jonathan Kozel
Table of Contents
Part 01 | Production requirements for the thesis ................................................................................. 3!
Thesis schedule, key dates 2012 | 2013 .............................................................................................. 3!
Assessment submission essentials ...................................................................................................... 4!
Citing references in your thesis ............................................................................................................ 5!
The learning and reflective report......................................................................................................... 5!
General production of thesis................................................................................................................. 6!
Hard binding your final thesis ............................................................................................................... 8!
Title page content and layout ............................................................................................................... 9!
Declaration page ................................................................................................................................ 10!
Part 02 | Structure for the thesis (18,000-20,000 words).................................................................... 11!
Abstract (not included in main word count) ........................................................................................ 11!
(First section/Chapter 01) | Introduction ............................................................................................. 11!
(Second section/Chapter 02) | Literature review ................................................................................ 12!
(Third section/Chapter 03) | Research design.................................................................................... 13!
(Fourth section/Chapter 04) | Presentation/analysis of primary data ................................................. 15!
(Fifth section/Chapter 05) | Conclusions and recommendations........................................................ 15!
Referencing and quotation in your thesis ........................................................................................... 17!
Optional outline structure for reflective report..................................................................................... 20!
Considerations when planning your time............................................................................................ 22!
Recommended texts for Research Design......................................................................................... 22!
Part 03 | Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 23!
Learning outcomes of the research module ....................................................................................... 23!
Assessment criteria for the thesis and reflective report...................................................................... 24!
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Part 01 | Production requirements for the thesis
Thesis schedule, key dates 2012 | 2013
It is essential that the following schedule of deadlines is adhered to, as each stage in the
thesis process will impact on subsequent stages.
Thesis week 01 | 29th October – 2nd November
November 26th
10min presentation of progress to peers and staff Mon 26th November 11am – 12.30pm
December 6th
th
Draft Thesis Proposal – 6 December 2-5pm
Submit hard copy to thesis co-ordinator for feedback
January 10th
!!!th
Thesis Proposal – !"##$%&'%() 2-5pm
Arrange a suitable time to meet and submit a copy of revised proposal to thesis advisor
th
for feedback and upload soft copy on web.courses by 7pm Thursday 10 January
Thesis week 02 | 21st – 25th January
February 4th
10min presentation of progress to peers and staff Mon 4th February 11am – 12.30pm
March 5th
Upload 1st draft of thesis (literature review) on web.courses by 7pm Tuesday 5th March
and arrange a suitable time to submit hard copy to your thesis advisor for feedback
April 29th
th
10min presentation of progress to peers and staff Mon 29 April 11am – 12.30pm
Thesis week 03 | 6th – 10th May
June 4th
Upload 2nd draft of thesis (revised literature review and research design) on web.courses
th
by 7pm Tuesday 4 June and arrange a suitable time to submit hard copy to your thesis
advisor for feedback
September 2nd
Arrange to submit a copy of your draft thesis to your thesis advisor. NB: A submission
must be made on this date — students who do not submit on this date are not eligible to
make a final submission
October 17th | Thesis deadline for summative assessment
11 – 12pm, submission of thesis components to thesis co-ordinator in staff room 217
(Please note that dates may be subject to change, where this occurs students will be notified accordingly)
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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Assessment submission essentials
The final submission on 17.10.13 should include:
Three softbound copies of thesis
Three copies of reflective report
One electronic copy in MS word/PDF format on CD
Submission
Present all copies of the thesis, reflective report and CD to staff room 217 to the thesis coordinator between 11 – 12pm on the final date of submission.
Thesis word count
The thesis should be between 18,000 and 20,000 words. The word count should not
include the prelims, end matter or reflective report.
Hard bound copy for the library
The thesis is not considered a published work until it has been hard bound and submitted
to the thesis co-ordinator for inclusion in the library catalogue. Submission of hardbound
copies takes place after the thesis has been assessed (usually late November). Theses
that are posted should be clearly marked for the attention of the thesis co-ordinator with
the correct address. (The school can take no responsibility for items lost in the post).
Thesis weeks
There are three thesis weeks, where students have no scheduled classes. These periods
should allow students to spend concentrated periods working on their research.
Thesis work in progress seminars
Mon 26th November | Mon 4th Feb | Mon 29th April, 11am – 12.30pm.
Each student is required to present his or her work to date (5 mins), outline their
completion strategy and field some questions from a panel of academic staff and peers
(5mins). These sessions are compulsory. The seminars provide students with the
opportunity to clarify their position and their thinking around the research topic as well as
receiving advice and feedback on their approach. Students are then requested to post
their presentation on web.courses.dit.ie > DT 548-1 MA in Professional Design Practice –
Research > Assignments, as a record of their participation in the process.
Draft submissions
There are interim submissions indicated in the schedule, these are designed to help
students manage their time during the research process. They are also key stages in the
feedback process. If students fail to meet these deadlines they miss the opportunity to
receive meaningful feedback from their thesis advisor. The quality of subsequent work
can be dramatically impaired as the workload becomes harder to manage the more it falls
behind schedule. The final draft that is submitted to your supervisor on September 2
nd
should be as near to completion as possible, at this stage it will only be feasible to tidy up
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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and make minor editorial corrections before you submit your thesis for summative
th
assessment on the 17 of October 2013.
Thesis advisors
Thesis advisors should be available from early January 2012 till June 22nd 2011. The
thesis advisor is a valuable resource provided to each student, it is strongly
recommended that students make the most of this resource while it is available. The
obligation rests solely with the individual student to maintain regular contact with their
advisor throughout the research process. There is no thesis advisory service between
June 22
nd
and September 2nd. Students should plan their schedule accordingly. Students
should also keep a record of the meetings, advice and feedback that they receive from
their thesis advisors so that this record can be referred to when completing research
independently. A thesis meeting log template is available to download from web.courses:
DT548-1 Professional Design Practice – Research (Course content home page>useful
material>thesis meetings log. This record is also useful when evaluating how effectively
this process was utilised as part of your learning in your reflective report.
Citing references in your thesis
The method of citing references to be used for the MA thesis is the Harvard System.
Examples of how to use the Harvard System correctly can be found in Part 02 of the
thesis handbook on p.16 and further guidance can be found in Anderson, J and Poole, M
th
(2001) Assignment and Thesis Writing, 4 ed, John Wiley and Sons, Brisbane.
The learning and reflective report
The learning and reflective report is an important part of the thesis assessment process
but it is not part of the thesis document. The report should be submitted separately along
with your thesis. Suggestions for structure and content for the reflective report can be
reviewed on p.20 in Part 02 of the thesis handbook. Students are encouraged to keep a
reflective diary of their learning throughout the research process. Students can then
accurately reflect on different aspects of the process in a more meaningful and effective
manner. Students who have kept a reflective diary for this purpose have performed much
more strongly on the reflective component than those who have not.
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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General production of thesis
Margins
For binding purposes every page of the dissertation or thesis must meet these minimum
margin standards:
Top: 1 inch Bottom: 1.25 inch Right: 1 inch Left: 1.5 inch (binding edge)
All thesis material must fit within these margin requirements (including tables, page
numbers, figures, and graphs). The margins used should be consistent throughout the
manuscript. No headers or footers giving the titles of the thesis, chapters, or sections are
allowed.
Fonts and Font Size
Times New Roman is the standard font to be used in the thesis submission.
Twelve point is the required size for the body of the text and horizontal alignment should
be justified. All print should be letter quality with dark black characters that are
consistently clear and dense.
Line Spacing
The thesis, including the abstract, acknowledgments and introduction, must be one and
one-half spaced. Spacing must be used consistently throughout the document. Endnotes,
bibliographic entries, long quotations, items in lists, and appendices may be singlespaced. The line spacing observed in a thesis must be consistent throughout, including
the spacing between a chapter heading and the first line of text, space before and after
subheadings, as well as space between paragraphs. Style sheets are recommended to
assist in maintaining consistency within the document and facilitating accurate generation
of a table of contents.
Pagination
Every page of the entire thesis must be numbered, except for the title page. Page
numbers must appear in the same location on each page and be consistent in font size
and style, not less than .5 inch from the edge of the page. The Thesis committee
recommends placing page numbers at the bottom centre of the page. Preliminary pages
of a thesis are numbered in lowercase roman numerals. The first page of the thesis text
follows the preliminary pages and begins in Arabic numbering with 1.
Paper
Both copies of the thesis must be submitted on white, A4 paper. The Thesis committee
accepts 90gsm, standard grade paper.
Print Quality
Thesis copies submitted should be of laser quality. If you are concerned about print
quality, ask your thesis advisor for advice. Excellent quality photocopies without any
smudges or blemishes may be submitted. Corrections made with correction fluids or
tapes are not acceptable.
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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Organisation of Materials
All theses must be organised utilising the following three sections: preliminary pages, text
pages, and reference/appendix pages. Preliminary pages of a thesis are numbered in
lowercase roman numerals. The first page of the thesis text follows the preliminary pages
and begins in Arabic numbering with 1. The tables below attempt to clarify the pagination
rules and the arrangement of those pages. The manuscript must be arranged in the
following sequence:
Preliminary pages, text and end matter
__________________________________________________________________
Prelims
Pagination
Required
Optional
Title Page
page “i” but does not appear
*
Declaration
page ii
*
Abstract
counts as page “iii”
*
Dedication
number as appropriate
*
Acknowledgments
continue with roman numerals
*
Table of Contents
continue numbering
List of Figures
continue numbering
*
List of Tables
continue numbering
*
List of Illustrations
continue numbering
*
Start of text matter
Pagination
Introduction
arabic numbering
*
Main chapters
continue numbering
*
Conclusions
continue numbering
*
Recommendations
continue numbering
*
End matter
Pagination
Bibliography
continue with Arabic numerals
*
Required
Required
Optional
Optional
*
Appendices
continue with Arabic numerals
*
__________________________________________________________________
Structure
The structure of the thesis should follow the guidelines issued in Part 02 of the handbook.
Students must use the recommended structure. Deviation is only permitted where
consent has been granted by your thesis advisor.
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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Hard binding your final thesis
It is not necessary for you to hard bind for the assessment, however two hardbound
copies should be produced with one copy required for the library. The thesis should be
hard bound in black with gold foil blocked lettering. The cover should include the thesis
2013
title, year of award, student name and award type.
MA Professional Design Practice
John Greene
Alcohol consumption by
MA students attempting to finish
their thesis
John Greene
MA
2013
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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Title page content and layout
Your title page should follow the layout and content of the example below.
Alcohol consumption by
MA students attempting to finish
their thesis
By
JOHN GREENE
THESIS
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Arts in Professional Design Practice
School of Art, Design, and Printing, College of Arts & Tourism
Dublin Institute of Technology, 2013
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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Declaration page
Your declaration page should follow the layout and content of the example below.
Declaration
I hereby certify that the material submitted in this thesis towards award
of the Masters in Professional Design Practice is entirely my own work
and has not been submitted for any academic assessment other than
part-fulfillment of the award named above.
Signature of candidate:………………………………………….
Date: ……………………………
Thesis Handbook, MA Professional Design Practice, produced by John Greene, 2006 updated 2007, 2008, 2012
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Part 02 | Structure for the thesis (18,000-20,000 words)
Abstract (not included in main word count)
An abstract is a short informative summary of the thesis. It is written after the thesis is
completed, although it is intended to be read first. A descriptive abstract identifies the
areas covered in the thesis, the methods used to achieve this and a summary of
outcomes as a result of the research. It is an extended statement of purpose, scope and
methods. The abstract should be around 150-200 words in length. It should be written in
the third person using passive voice: The methods used to conduct…, Evidence is
presented that indicates… The abstract should follow the title page in the thesis structure.
(First section/Chapter 01) | Introduction
1.1 Background
Set the scene for the reader, briefly giving some background information on the research
area and the current situation that led to the formulation of the research question or
hypothesis. Explain why the topic for this piece of research is being pursued.
Note: Remember the research question or hypothesis is the main driver for your research
everything will come back to this. Anything that you undertake should relate in someway
to answering this question. By the time you come to writing the thesis you should have
refined the question sufficiently so that it is focused and the research is in-depth. If it is too
broad you will be unable to cover all areas to a sufficient level. Keep coming back to the
research question refining it as you become informed by the literature.
1.2 Aims and objectives
From the research question establish clearly for the reader what the main aim of the
thesis is. Once you state this clearly and succinctly you can more readily convince the
reader that you have a clear focus and plan for the thesis. In support of your aim you
should also clearly outline the objectives. These are derived from the sub-questions that
you have identified through your analysis and interrogation of the question. The objectives
need to be achieved so that you can successfully address the aim. This should then
enable you to answer your research question. Each objective should also be in some way
interlinked so that you can indicate what aspect of the research question/aim is being
addressed through each objective.
Note: Avoid too many or too few objectives (between 3 and 4). The language should be
positive and brief.
An example of an objective might be to state the following:
Determine what is meant by the term, strategic branding. This provides a clear context for
the study so that the data gathered can be…
Other examples might include the following terms:
Identify, Explain, Define, Investigate, Analyse, Establish etc.
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1.3 Context
Provide justification for the research and identify the key stakeholders—How does the
research contribute to the current body of knowledge?/What impact will it have?/Who will
benefit?
1.4 Research rationale
Provide a brief outline of the layout of the document in relation to the research plan.
Explain how the study sets out to address the research question and achieve the overall
aim in conjunction with the objectives previously identified.
For example:
The study can be broken into x number of sections… The first part of the thesis focuses
on … in order to…. The second section addresses… so that… The following chapter then
examines… in relation to…. Finally…
(Second section/Chapter 02) | Literature review
You may split this over more than one chapter if you wish according to the different
themes or categories you have identified. However, please ensure that there is a high
level of interlinked information between each area. You should endeavour to demonstrate
your competency in organising and synthesising the secondary data you have gathered.
2.1 Introduction
Briefly state the purpose of the review. Outline the main areas and key issues that are
discussed in the literature as well as explaining the logical sequence, relevance and focus
for this review in the overall context of the research (Research Q, Aims and Objectives).
Note: Essentially what you are doing in the introduction of your literature is stating what is
going to be discussed, why it is discussed and justifying the flow of the text under your
different themes. Once you have stated this, you should proceed with the main body of
the literature.
2.2 Theme/Category 01
Identifies current positions, trends, arguments and component issues relating to the topic
that informs your research.
2.3 Theme/Category 02
Identifies current positions, trends, arguments and component issues relating to the topic
that informs your research.
2.4 Theme/Category 03
Identifies current positions, trends, arguments and component issues relating to the topic
that informs your research.
Note: The above is not prescriptive of the number of themes or sections that you will have
in the literature; it is merely an example to indicate that you should be breaking the
literature down into sections. Under each theme or section, you should identify what the
current literature says about these areas carefully using headings and subheadings so
that the review is clearly signposted. The sequence should always remain logical and
Produced by L Reddy in consultation with the MA in Professional Design Practice Thesis Advisory Team 2008, updated 2012
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have a natural flow from one section to the next. It may also be necessary to sum up key
points before moving to the next section. The literature review is heavily referenced from
appropriate sources. Use quotation to support key points and where possible combine
references from multiple sources to demonstrate through your analysis that you are able
to appropriately organise the information you have gathered. Remain objective,
expressing no personal opinions and be sure to present all sides of any argument.
Support all of your statements with fact.
2.5 Analysis of the literature
Once you have sufficiently covered the main topics of your review you should link the
information together. You do not necessarily have to do this at the end, it may be done at
various points within the chapter but remember it should suit the flow of the document.
There should be a level of critical analysis in relation to the information gathered so that
you can successfully determine where the current gaps exist and identify further
questions for primary research. Critical analysis means that you have explored a set of
questions or concepts in relation to your objectives. Through this analysis you should
compare and contrast different views; examine the strengths and weaknesses of any
current theories or perspectives; objectively draw relevant conclusions. It is not a list of
areas that are summarised from different sources.
2.4 Summary
Provide a summary of the key points raised in the review and the conclusions that can be
drawn from the literature at this stage. Identify to what extent you have met any of the
outlined objectives. You should then successfully identify any gaps or evidence that
needs to be pursued further through primary research to successfully address the
research question.
(Third section/Chapter 03) | Research design
This section should go into detail about the research design of your thesis and
demonstrate how it is suited to your research topic and question. This section like the
previous one is heavily referenced. You should draw on references and appropriate
quotation from best practice in research to help inform the decisions you have made
around the appropriate research design. When developing the design it is best to start
with the question, identify suitable methods for your research needs and then locate this
within a theoretical perspective and epistemology.
3.1 Introduction
Briefly state the purpose of the research design as part of the research process. Outline
the key points that are discussed in the chapter and their relevance to the research
question and approach to the thesis.
3.2 Theoretical perspective
Briefly explain your understanding of epistemology. Identify the two main contrasting
theories that exist around the philosophical nature of knowledge. Explain the appropriate
connection between your research and your chosen epistemological stance by linking it to
Produced by L Reddy in consultation with the MA in Professional Design Practice Thesis Advisory Team 2008, updated 2012
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the research question and focus of the study. Identify some of the theoretical perspectives
that exist within your epistemological stance. Define the perspective(s) that is most suited
to your research linking it to the research approach and the main aim of the thesis.
Identify the nature of your role as the researcher.
Note: At taught masters level you are not required to go into this area in great depth, but
for postgraduate research you should be able to demonstrate that you can define the term
epistemology and have attempted to locate your research within an appropriate paradigm.
3.3 Methodology
You should provide an argument that justifies the chosen methodology for your research
design. Explain how this overall strategy of inquiry/investigation/exploration is most suited
for your research. Indicate how the principles and procedures associated with your
chosen methodology informs both the research process and the choice of methods for
your thesis.
3.4 Research methods
Discuss the suitability of the chosen research methods and the particular tools to be used
for the study. Explain their role and function and how they are linked to each other as part
of the research process. Discuss the advantages and weaknesses that might be
associated with your chosen methods. Briefly outline how the chosen methods were
deemed more appropriate than others. Explain how these tools are implemented as part
of the study; explain how the research was conducted; how sample sizes or participants
were identified as well as justifying the suitability of your chosen candidates. The
development of specific tools and how they were tested or piloted should also be
explained. The reliability and validity of expected results should also be discussed which
might include areas such as objectivity and generalisation.
3.5 Ethics
Give a brief discussion of any ethical issues attached to the research. This might include:
confidentiality, permissions, objectivity in presenting information, correspondence and
agreements between you and participants, anonymity of participants, your responsibility
as the researcher.
3.6 Scope
Identify the scope of the study, as well as explaining the purpose of chosen limits and
identifying available options in relation to the timeframe available.
3.7 Summary
Give a brief summary of the key points discussed in the chapter and link them to the
overall research plan to lead into the next chapter that deals with the information gathered
from this approach.
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(Fourth section/Chapter 04) | Presentation/analysis of primary data
4.1 Introduction
Briefly give an introduction to the main focus and purpose of this chapter linking in with
information presented so far in the literature and the research design.
Once you have stated this you should then proceed to present the data that was gathered
using your various research methods.
4.2 Research method one (eg case study)
Outline what was sought and compare and discuss this with the information actually
obtained by using this method.
4.4 Research method two (eg interview)
Outline what was sought and compare and discuss this with the information actually
obtained by using this method.
4.4 Analysis
Compare and contrast the actual data from the primary research identifying trends or
patterns that have arisen. Determine what can be strongly concluded or suggested from
this information. Evaluate this with the findings from the various categories in your
literature and discuss in relation to the context of your research topic. Once again you
should be linking back to the aim and objectives. Discuss any unexpected findings and
their relevance to the research. Evaluate what was sought and compare with how
effectively this information was gathered. Identify any remaining gaps or weaknesses in
addressing the research question.
4.5 Summary
Give an overall summary of the key points identified in the chapter and link to the focus of
the final chapter.
(Fifth section/Chapter 05) | Conclusions and recommendations
5.1 Introduction
Briefly give an introduction to the main focus of this chapter linking with the initial research
question, aim and objectives.
5.2 Conclusions
State the conclusions that can be drawn and those that can only be suggested taking into
account validity and reliability and making clear links to the data discussed in previous
chapters. No new information should be presented at this stage. Anything presented in
this section should stem directly from data already presented within the main body of the
thesis. State each conclusion clearly; avoid ambiguity and link to the relevant objective(s).
Note: Your target for this section is to tie up the threads of discussion that began with your
research question through your aim and objectives, are now woven through the literature
and primary research and are finally completed in this section of the study.
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5.3 Recommendations
State any recommendations that can be identified from the study or implications that have
emerged as a result of the study with reference to future practice or recommended action.
For instance, you may have uncovered areas of interest linked to your topic but outside
the scope of this study but that could be pursued further in another study. You may also
have identified that you cannot draw complete conclusions in some areas and therefore
make recommendations on how they could be followed up identifying how this would
further benefit your research.
5.4 Summary
Give a final summary identifying how well the research question has been addressed with
reference to what can strongly be concluded or merely suggested.
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Referencing and quotation in your thesis
Remember the Harvard system of referencing is the required standard for the thesis. No
other referencing method should be used. Citations, use of quotation and the bibliography
should consistently follow the author-date method associated with the Harvard system.
Below are some common examples of using quotations or references in the main text and
the format for some different types of publications in the bibliography. For further
examples and information on how to use this system, please refer to Chapters 10 and 13
in Anderson, J and Poole, M (2001) Assignment and Thesis Writing, 4th ed, John Wiley
and Sons, Brisbane (lib ref: 808.066).
Short quotations
Using another author’s exact words (three lines or less). Quotes are embedded in the text
identified with quotation marks at the start and end of the quotation. There are a number
of ways that short quotations can be embedded into the text but in all cases you must
acknowledge the author(s) surname, year of publication and page number. You should
endeavour to vary how you use quotation in the text, see examples below.
Example A:
ATF was ill prepared for the rising demand of modernist typefaces in the 1920s. “There were few
stylistically daring typefaces in ATF’s massive 1923 specimen book, except perhaps for faces like
Hobo and Souvenir, both Benton designs” (Pankow 2001, p.241).
Example B:
According to Pankow (2001, p.241) “There were few stylistically daring typefaces in ATF’s
massive 1923 specimen book, except perhaps for faces like Hobo and Souvenir, both Benton
designs”. Such criticism suggests that ATF were not prepared for the sudden demand of modernist
typefaces in the 1920s.
Example C:
Pankow (2001) states that “There were few stylistically daring typefaces in ATF’s massive 1923
specimen book, except perhaps for faces like Hobo and Souvenir, both Benton designs” (p.241) –
an indication that ATF had been ill prepared for the demand of modernist typefaces that emerged
during that period.
Long quotations
(More than three lines) do not use quotation marks. The quotation is differentiated from
the main text by starting on a new line with single spacing and is justified and
indented on both sides (1cm). The author(s) surname, year of publication and page
number appear underneath the quotation (range right) in brackets.
Example:
The lack of standards by which to judge graphic design is widely admitted. If
architecture, at another extreme, is overburdened with debate, graphic design
suffers from an almost complete absence of discussion and of common ground. The
profession is young, its field is wide, purposes and budgets vary enormously, and
the products are abundant and often necessarily ephemeral.
(Kinross 2002, p.94)
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References
Citations or references in your thesis are used when you are paraphrasing or referring to
views, arguments, ideas or research from another author. In these cases you are only
required to include the author(s) and year of the publication.
Example A: Acknowledging source
Golden (2001) criticises the growing desire among prominent typographers to over intellectualise
their work in publications and conferences and mourns the negative impact this has on
impressionable novice designers attempting to enter the profession.
Example B: More than one author
There are those that hold the view that all design is political and that consciously or unconsciously
any design solution embodies a political world-view, either from those that commission design or
those that produce it (Baldwin and Roberts 2006).
For subsequent references of the same publication: (Baldwin et al. 2006)
Example C: Same point from several works
An essential component of any designer’s repertoire is the ability to communicate effectively
(Shaughnessy 2005; Potter 2002).
Example D: Same author from several works
There is considerable evidence to champion the merits of analysis and reflection as an integral part
of the design process (Schön 1983, 1987, 1991).
Example E: An author cites another author
Cormac (cited in Cross 2007) puts forward the argument that problem solving cannot be achieved
through absorption of facts and synthesis of information alone.
Bibliography
The bibliography should list all relevant sources that have been consulted or cited in the
main text of the thesis. The list should appear in alphabetical order. You may sub-divide
the list into different types of publications if you wish (books, journals, online material etc).
When the same author has published several titles they should appear chronologically.
When publications from the same author are listed from the same year they should be
listed as a, b, c etc and this should correspond with labeling in the main text (Heller
2001a, 2001b etc). The format for the Harvard System for most publications applies in the
bibliography as follows:
Author’s surname (comma) and initial of first name: Shaughnessy, A
Year of publication (in brackets): (2005)
Title of publication (title case in italics followed by a comma): How to be a Graphic Designer
without Losing your Soul,
Publisher (comma): Princeton Architectural Press,
Place of publication (period): New York.
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The following is a list of different types of publications and a note of how they should be
formatted in the bibliography.
For a single author this appears as:
Kvale, S (1996) Interviews: An Introduction to Qualitative Research Interviewing,
Sage Publications, California.
For two authors ‘and’ is used not an ampersand (&):
Baldwin, J and Roberts, L (2006) Visual Communication from Theory to Practice,
Ava Publishing, Lausanne.
If there are several authors, all are acknowledged in the bibliography with a comma used
to separate authors except for the last, where the word ‘and’ is used, appearing as:
Bieret, M, Drentell, W, Heller, S and Holland, D (1997) Looking Closer 2–Critical Writings on
Graphic Design, Allworth Press, New York.
When an edition of the book is required it appears as a numeral with the appropriate
st, nd,
abbreviation such as 1 2 etc. this is then followed by the abbreviation ‘ed’:
Anderson, J and Poole, M (2001) Assignment and Thesis Writing, 4th ed, John Wiley and Sons,
Brisbane.
A chapter or article in a publication is listed with the author of the chapter, followed by the
title of the chapter. The word ‘In’ is then added with the editor (et al for more than two
editors) and the rest of the information about the publication given. There is also the
addition of page numbers indicating where the chapter appears within the book. Note that
it is still the title of the publication that appears in italics and the editor is given the first
name initial followed by the surname, such as:
Ilyin, N (1994) Fabulous Us: Speaking the Language of Exclusion, In M. Bieret et al. (eds)
Looking Closer 2–Critical Writings on Graphic Design, Allworth Press, New York, 37-39.
A report is listed in a similar way to a book title with the institution replacing the author if
there is no specific author given and appears as follows:
Enterprise Ireland, (1999) Opportunities in Design, Strategies for Growth in the Irish Sector,
Enterprise Ireland, Dublin.
E-journals have the added information of the volume and issue number of the journal as
well as the page numbers indicating where the article appears in the journal. The medium
is indicated, in this case an online source this is accompanied by the database where it
was obtained and the date it was accessed. Again note that it is the publication that
appears in italics. The inclusion of full text availability or abstract is also indicated:
Cross, N and Dorst, K (2001) Creativity in the Design Process, Design Studies 22 (5) 425-437. Full
text [online]. Available: Sciencedirect [Accessed July 1 2004].
If a website is referenced where there is no author, the institution or corporation replaces
the author and the full URL with the date accessed is given:
Design Council (2008) Design Methods [online]. Available: http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/en/
About-Design/Design-Methods/ [Accessed May 1 2008].
A document from the Internet still requires the same information as a standard publication
but again the URL and the date of access is recorded:
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Higher Education Authority (2005) Review of Quality Assurance Procedures in Irish Universities:
High Level Reference Panel Chaired by Mr. J Dunne, Higher Education Authority, Dublin.
[online]. Available: http://www.hea.ie/index.cfm/page/sub/id/833 [Accessed April 7 2005].
Conference proceedings also include the conference association, the location and dates
of the conference:
Corso, R (2004) The creative dimension in art and design education, In A. Davies (ed) Enhancing
curricula: towards the scholarship of teaching in art, design and communication, CLTAD,
London. Proceedings of the UK, CLTAD 2nd International Conference, Royal Institute of
Architects UK, April 10-12th.
Optional outline structure for reflective report
Note: This is a separate document that you should complete when you have finished your
thesis. You are expected to give a reflective account of how well the research remained
aligned to the research plan. You should identify any gaps that exist through evaluating
your thesis as a piece of research addressing the strengths and weaknesses as well as
the key learning points. You are also expected to reflect on the body of knowledge that
you have acquired around your chosen topic.
This is only a guideline structure for the report. It is not meant to restrict your views on
what you have learned from completing a piece of research but to aid you in clarifying and
organising your thoughts. However you decide to structure the report, ensure that you
clearly signpost your reflections using headings and subheadings within each section with
a summary of learning at the end.
6.1 Introduction
Briefly give an introduction to the report outlining what you are going to discuss and the
sequence you are going to discuss this information.
6.2 Personal goals
Outline any personal goals that you hoped to achieve by conducting this research and
reflect on how well they were addressed through completing the project.
6.3 Research topic
Explain why you chose to pursue this area for your thesis. Outline your prior knowledge
and evaluate and reflect on how you have added to your own body of knowledge in this
area and the value of this for you in future practice. You might also reflect on the value of
the research for other stakeholders in its finished state and determine whether this is
different from your initial expectations.
6.4 Research process
Briefly outline the personal learning achieved having completed a piece of research at
Masters level. Reflect on the process of defining your research question and the
development of a proposal; clarifying your aims and objectives; engaging with the
literature on your topic; consulting the literature on how to conduct research; developing a
methodology to effectively analyse this information and accurately draw conclusions.
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Within this section, you should discuss the strengths and weaknesses within your
approach and how it might differ in the future.
6.5 Conducting a literature review
Reflect on how well you conducted your literature searches and review. Evaluate this
against best practice in this area so that you can successfully identify the strengths and
weaknesses. You might also reflect on the value of research gathering in relation to your
future practice.
6.6 Research methods and tools
Briefly outline the research methods you used for your thesis and what you hoped to
achieve by using them. Reflect on how well you implemented and conducted your
research, again comparing it with best practice to help evaluate strengths, weaknesses
and future implications. Reflect on the key learning points for you in this area and the
relevance of these insights against what you had initially thought before you started the
process.
6.7 Supervision and seminars
Reflect on how effectively you utilised your supervisor and your work-in-progress
seminars to progress the thesis through its various stages. Briefly discuss the areas that
you considered worked well and those that did not, discussing what you felt the purpose
of these sessions was and whether this view has altered through your experience.
6.8 Time management
Reflect on how you managed your time through the research process and how effectively
you used interim deadlines and drafts to stay on target. How might you use the learning
points from this to develop your time management for major projects in the future?
6. Summary
Give an outline summary of main points of reflection and the key learning points that you
have met as a result of completing a piece of research of this nature.
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Considerations when planning your time
It is worth noting that the research component is worth 30ECTS credits, this equates to a
recommended time commitment on the thesis of 600 hours. If you work 6 hours per day, 5
days per week on the thesis it would take 5 months to reach the 600 hours that are
recommended. The reflective report is worth 10% of the marks and should therefore be
allocated 60 hours, which is 6 hours per day for 10 days.
Recommended texts for Research Design
There are a number of recommended texts listed on web.courses that can assist you
while completing your thesis. The following list is selected books that may be of particular
interest to you when developing your research design in relation to theoretical
perspectives and methodology. They may also be helpful when completing your literature
review.
•
Bell, J (2005) Doing Your Research Project, 4th ed, Open University Press,
Maidenhead. Lib ref: 808.066 / 300.72 (17 copies available)
•
Blaxter, L, Hughes, C and Tight, M (2006) How to Research, 3rd ed, Open
University Press, Berkshire. Lib ref: 001.42 / 808.066 (20 copies available)
•
Collins H (2010) Creative research: the theory and practice of research for
the creative industries, AVA Academia, Lausanne. Lib ref: 707.2 (1 copy
available 3 on order)
•
Crotty, M (1998) The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and
Perspective in the Research Process, Sage, London, Lib ref 300.72 (9
copies available)
•
Denscombe, Martin (2007) The Good Research Guide, 3rd ed, Open
University Press, Maidenhead. Lib ref: 808.066 / 300.72 (8 copies available)
•
Hart, C (2005) Doing your Masters Dissertation, Sage, London.
Lib ref: 808.066 (7 copies available)
•
Hart, C (1998) Doing a Literature Review, Sage, London. Lib ref: 300.72 /
808.066 (17 copies available)
•
Wisker, G (2001) The Postgraduate Research Handbook: Succeed with
your MA, MPhil, EdD and PhD, Palgrave, UK. Lib ref: 001.42 / 808.066
(14 copies available)
Note: Remember to review any further reading lists in these books which can direct you to
other material that may be useful for more specific areas relating to your particular
methodology and methods.
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Part 03 | Assessment
Learning outcomes of the research module
Upon completion of the research module students are expected to demonstrate mastery
of the following learning outcomes:
1
Choose a suitable research topic relevant to the broad discipline of graphic design
practice.
2
Formulate a hypothesis and research question and develop a research proposal.
3
Plan and manage the complexities associated with an independent research project.
4
Conduct a critically focused literature review.
5
Evaluate and choose various research methods appropriate to a specific research
project.
6
Conduct an analysis of data demonstrating their ability to integrate knowledge
collected from a range of primary and secondary sources.
7
Draw conclusions from the evidence compiled and formulate judgments that enable
them to make appropriate recommendations.
8
Write a dissertation investigating or testing a hypothesis from a research proposal that
is informed by the forefront of learning in their field of research.
9
Reflect upon and critically evaluate the research process and learning outcomes.
The full descriptor for the research module is available on web.courses: DT548-1
Professional Design Practice – Research (Course content home page>course
material>MA PDP research module.
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Assessment criteria for the thesis and reflective report
The assessment matrix below is used to determine how effectively a student has met the
learning outcomes of the research module through the assessment of both the thesis and
the reflective report. Therefore students are encouraged to review the assessment sheet
and evaluate their own body of work at different stages of the process. This can be useful
in determining where current strengths and weaknesses may exist and identify actions
that need to be taken to develop their work further. A pdf of this assessment sheet is
available on web.courses: DT548-1 Professional Design Practice – Research (Course
content home page>useful information>assessment criteria.
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Both the thesis and the reflective report are read and assessed by the your thesis advisor
and a second reader. The final marks are recorded on the sheet below and presented
with your work to the external examiner for summative assessment.
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