Aspect of the Research Project

To research and to advise the team on one aspect of the project. The report will be used to develop your team recommendations to the client on the project.

Assignment steps

The team project should be subdivided into equally sized topics for each member of the team to research.

Each team member should research their chosen part of the team project using the scholarly literature and other relevant, reliable, and quality sources of information. As much as possible, original sources of information should be used.

You should write your report according to the instructions below and in workshops.

Additional information and support will be provided in the lectures and workshops for this assignment.

Assignment contents

The research briefing paper should be written as a technical report intended for other members of your group. A good report will support the group project in two ways. Firstly, it will identify key findings regarding the subtopic researched. Secondly, it will make suggestions (known as recommendations) that can be considered by the whole team. A recommendation could be directed to the project team (such as a suggestion for an topic that should be further investigated as necessary for completion of the project). Or a recommendation could be suggested for incorporation into the final report to the client (a suggested action for the client to take).

Within your report you should

state the purpose of the report and how that fits with your team project; and
summarize your findings from the research and your recommendations on this topic for the group project.
The recommendations should be supported by your research findings and relevant to your client.

The report must include an executive summary of up to 300 words. The executive summary is worth 25% of the total marks for the assignment.

You must show familiarity with the literature relating to your topic (for example, scholarly journal articles).

You must reference the work of other people (sufficient information for someone to find the source) and have a bibliography (reference list). APA6 is the preferred referencing style. The Library has a comprehensive guide to citing.

Use tables, diagrams and other images that will add to the document. Figure headings and tables should be concise and referenced if necessary.

Marks will be deducted for unattributed similarity to other sources or previously submitted work. This includes diagrams, images or tables, which must be fully referenced.

Assignment length

The report should be 2,000 words excluding the executive summary, bibliography and concise figures and tables.

The executive summary should be not more than 300 words.

Marking criteria

Your Research Briefing Paper will be marked using the following criteria.

Executive Summary

5 marks

The executive summary should be informative, contain the purpose, method, client, findings and recommendations. It should be written in your own words.

Research and Argument

5 marks

The research should be fully referenced and support the argument in your own words. A deep understanding of the topic should be evident though the use of recent, sufficient and high quality references. All diagrams, images and tables must be fully referenced.

Findings and Recommendations

5 marks

The findings and recommendations must be clear and concise. The recommendations proposed should be feasible, original and relate to the report purpose and be supported by the research findings presented in the paper.

Expression and Presentation

5 marks

The document should be professionally presented, in your own words and with a high standard of English expression. It should be structured through the use of headings and sections, and include relevant tables or diagrams.