Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing

VTC3023EX – Research Dissertation

Coursework Brief 2021/2022 – Final Dissertation Element

Module Title: Ind/Group: Ind Cohort: Module Code:
Research Dissertation July 2021 VTC3023EX

Coursework Title: Final Dissertation Hand out date:

26/07/2021
Module Lecturer: Ken Hui Due date:
16/09/2022

Word Limit: 8000 Coursework type: Dissertation % of Module Mark:

85%

Submission arrangement:

The submission requirements will be set out on the module web. Submission will be via Moodle only and it will be
subject to Turnitin’s similarity checking. Failure to submit your work in accordance with the submission criteria will
result in a mark of zero.

File / submission types:

Online

Mark and Feedback date:

Marking and feedback on the submission will be done within 4 weeks of the submission date. The
submission will be assessed by the Research Supervisor and a designated Second Assessor who will read
the report and determine the mark to be awarded in accordance with the rubric marking criteria (available
on Moodle). If the two marks differ by less than 10%, the final mark will be the average of the two. If the
marks differ by more than this extent and an agreed mark is not reached, a 3 rd independent marker will be
allocated to mark the work, in which case the final mark will be the average of three marks.

Mark and Feedback method:

Written feedback will be provided by both the supervisor and second assessor.

Module Learning Outcomes Assessed:

1. Plan and take responsibility for a self-managed research investigation within an appropriate
ethical framework.
2. Research and compile information relevant to a specialist subject area in which the
investigation is based.
3. Study and critically review the body of knowledge related to the investigation topic, assessing
its reliability, validity, and significance.
4. Demonstrate an appropriate level of competence in the execution of the selected research
methodology, employing appropriate scientific/design principles.
5. Undertake the investigation, analysis and critically evaluate the outcome, formulating
coherent conclusions from the work undertaken.
6. Present critical matters and findings of the research in the form of an effective, detailed and
 coherent written dissertation and technical poster.

Task:

Following on from the literature review and research proposal submitted as part of the module
VTC3024EX, Research Practice and Communication, you are required to plan and undertake a
principally self-managed research investigation within an appropriate ethical framework, and under
the direction of your supervisor. The research topic should be the same as that originally submitted
as part of VTC3024EX. The principal expectation is to demonstrate that you have contributed to the
collection and analysis of primary data and/or a new analysis of secondary data within your chosen
research topic. The output of the investigation is an 8000 words dissertation, effectively written to
evaluate, outline and detail the findings in a coherent manner.

Marking scheme:

Broadly speaking, the following elements would form the basis for the assessment of the dissertation:

1. Depth of research
2. Methodologies used
3. Results and findings
4. Evidence of originality and thoughts
5. Quality of discussion, argument and analysis
6. Organisation, quality of academic writing and presentation

Notes A:

1. Please notify your registry course support team and module leader for disability support.
2. Any student requiring an extension or deferral should follow the university process as outlined
here (https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/Registry/Pages/Deferrals-and-Extension.aspx)
3. The University cannot take responsibility for any coursework lost or corrupted on disks, laptops
or personal computer. Students should therefore regularly back-up any work and are advised to
save it on the University system.
4. If there are technical or performance issues with Moodle that prevent all students submitting
coursework through the online coursework submission system on the day of a coursework
deadline, an appropriate extension to the coursework submission deadline will be agreed. This
extension will normally be 24 hours or the next working day if the deadline falls on a Friday or
over the weekend period. This will be communicated via email and as a CUMoodle
announcement.
Notes B:
1. Assignments that are more than 10% over the word limit will result in a deduction of 10% of the
mark i.e. a mark of 60% will lead to a reduction of 6% to 54%.
2. The 8000 words limit only applies from the introductory chapter through to the concluding
chapter, including footnotes. It does not include References, Bibliography, and Appendices. It
also does not include the cover page, dedication, acknowledgment, abstract/synopsis, table of
contents, list of tables/figures. Students should state the word count on the front cover sheet.
3. Students must participate in the ethics approval process for your research; consequently, must
complete and submit an ethics application via CU Ethics for approval prior to the commencement
 and submission of their research dissertation.
4. Students must ensure that they do so in a timely fashion that will allow their application to be
reviewed by academics, to make any changes (if required) and to ultimately gain final approval.
5. Failure to comply with the ethics approval process will result in a mark of zero being recorded for
the research dissertation.

Mark allocation guidelines to students (fort detailed commentary, see Moodle)

0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ 80+
Work mainly Most elements Most elements Strengths in all Most work All work
incomplete completed; are strong, elements exceeds the substantially
and /or weaknesses minor standard exceeds the
weaknesses in outweigh weaknesses expected standard
most areas strengths expected