Description
This subject is part of the Research Activity Module of the Master of Research in Information Technology and Management (MITMA). The main goal of this module is that students get the basic capabilities to develop research tasks and also that they show the acquired competencies through a Master Thesis. This course on the Research Project Formulation provides learning competencies related to establish the methodological approach and the developmental strategy for the Master's thesis. The main goal of this course is to elaborate and present a Master's thesis proposal. This course follows the courses on Methodology for the research activity and on the State of the art review. In addition, it is a prerequisite for the Master's thesis course.
Type Subject
Optativa
Semester
First
Credits
5.00
Objectives

At the end of the course, students should have acquired the following competencies:

- Identify the methodological choices that are available to develop a research project within student's area of interest.

- Formulate a preliminary strategy to develop a research project

- Propose a plan to develop a Master´s Thesis

- Following the standards within the scientific world, to write a document with all the elements that should be part of the Master´s Thesis proposal. This document must include the review of the state of the art, the methodological choices that can be applicable, the implementation strategy, and the plan to develop the Master´s Thesis.

- Present, to an interested audience, the outcomes of a Master´s Thesis proposal.

- Critically discuss other students´ master´s thesis proposals.

Contents

I. Identification and analysis of methodological options
I.1 Searching and proposal of methodological options
I.2 Identification of student´s and research group methodological competencies
I.3 Test and comparison of methodological competencies
I.4 Decision about methodological options

II. Description of the research method
II.1 Relevant bibliographic references about the methodological options
II.2 Methodological strategy
II.2.1 Research Method
II.2.2 Measures and scientific evidences
II.2.3 Expected results
II.3 Strengths and weaknesses of the research method
II.4 Detailed methodological formulation

III. Implementation planning of the Master´s thesis

IV. Conclusion and wraping-up
IV.1 Writing of the master´s thesis proposal
IV.2 Presentation of master´s thesis proposal

Methodology

This course learning methodology is based on a student-centered approach. Students must take control of their learning and to get the objectives of the course in an autonomous manner.

Conceptual references for students´ learning will be obtained within the course on Methodology for the research activity

Student´s tutor, methodology instructor, other instructors of the Master, research groups PhD holders and the master´s director will be potential referent people that can help students in their learning goals.

Research activity is a task that is developed within a community. In this vein, student is going to be expected to take active part of the research group activities and of the working groups within the master's class.

Evaluation

Student´s assessment concepts will be:

A. Identification, analysis and description of the methodological options
B. Participation in the research group activities
C. Participation in the activities of presentation and discussion specific of the master´s programme
D. Presentation of the master´s thesis proposal
E. Document on the master thesis proposal
F. Discussion of the master´s thesis proposals