Report on a small-scale research project.
You are going to design and carry out a small-scale research project. When your research
proposal has been approved by your tutor, you will be asked to create an academic poster.
You will need to submit your poster in the form of a single PowerPoint slide through the DLE
by Friday 6th March 2020. There will be an opportunity to present your poster and discuss
your research with tutors and peers on Thursday 5th March 2020.
Your research will be based on one or more of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development
Goals. You will carry out your research on Plymouth University staff and/or students. This is
a small-scale research project so it is important that you do not attempt anything too
ambitious. Choose a narrow focus for your research and keep you sample size manageable.
You must be able to collect and analyse your data within the timeframe allowed.
Your research proposal (academic poster)
You will be asked to submit and present your Research Proposal in the form of an Academic
Poster. An academic poster is a visual ‘draft’ of the early sections of your report and is a
commonly used to present research projects in higher education and at conferences. The
purpose of an academic poster is to communicate the focus of your research clearly and
concisely. Your research proposal (academic poster) should consist of:
An introduction to the UN’s SDGs
A justification for your choice of focus and/or the project aims
A methodology section in which you explain how you plan to carry out your research
A short reference list in which you identify key sources
You will be given feedback on your poster which you can use to improve your thinking and
ideas before you complete your research.
The poster counts for 5% of the overall mark for this assessment.
Your research report
When you have completed your research project, you will write a 2000 word report which
outlines the scope and purpose of your research and which identifies your key findings. The
report is a formal submission and the deadline is 12.00 midday on Thursday 26th March
2020.
The report counts for 95% of the overall mark for this assessment.
