Research Ethics in Action

Assignment Brief

As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Research Ethics in Action report and reflective statement. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing the module you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of research methodologies appropriate to interdisciplinary study.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of the issues involved in integrating different theoretical perspectives in interdisciplinary research.
3. Show a critical understanding of the ethical issues involved in research.
4. Show personal initiative and independence in identifying and examining literature relevant to a research proposal.
5. Through the exploration of a case study, show an awareness of how evidence based research is relevant to the workplace and can further professional understanding.

Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module name, the submission deadline and a word count; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list in AU Harvard format. You should address all the elements of the assignment task listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in assessing your work.

Maximum word count: 4,000 words

Please note that exceeding the word count by over 10% will result in a reduction in grade by the same percentage that the word count is exceeded.

You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.

Assignment Task – Report and Reflective Statement

Complete both question 1 (the report) and question 2 (the reflective statement). Question 1 is worth 75% of the total mark and question 2 is worth 25%.

Question 1

Write a short foresight/scoping report that covers the period from now until 2050 and which identifies (1) key future risks (2) areas requiring further research and (3) methodological or other weaknesses in the literature you have relied on, for ONE of the following subjects.

(a)     The potential for increased criminal activity in the UK arising from climate-based economic and social disruption.

(b)     Psychological stress and maladjustment in the UK arising from climate-based economic and social disruption.

(c)     Potential business opportunities for climate change mitigation work and disaster recovery work, arising from social conditions in the UK caused by climate change.

(d)     Legal changes in the UK that may become necessary to enable climate change mitigation policies to be implemented.

(e)     Assessments of computing and telecommunications changes to networks and infrastructure in the UK, to ensure systems remain operating in future climate change conditions and can support people’s social needs in such conditions.

(3,000 words) (100 marks) (LOs 1-5)

Please turn over for the next question

Question two

This reflective statement is worth 25% of the total marks for the module.

Write a reflective learning statement that identifies the key insights and skills you have gained through the module in relation to research and ethics issues, and their usefulness in an interdisciplinary environment.

(1000 words) (100 marks)