Module: Engaged Research

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).

As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Engaged Research
Module Code	CM602 (ITS) / HUM1022 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Communications
Module Co-ordinator	Padraig Murphy
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

This module embeds and develops engaged research in postgraduate education at DCU. Postgraduate researchers will learn to be more aware of the value of engaged research to the student, the project, the university and to wider society. We will do this by addressing skills and understanding of the ways they can incorporate engagement activities into their research, that is working with communities rather than researching about them. Students of all DCU disciplines will work together and there will be a focus on interdisciplinary methodologies. Students will be exposed to a wide range of engagement approaches in relation to their research area throughout the life cycle of a project, from the identification of questions in issues of shared concern to the dissemination of resulting knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the theoretical perspectives which underpin engaged research.
2. Explore the concepts of ‘community’ and ‘collaboration’ and the value they have to offer the students’ research
3. Demonstrate understanding of a range of engaged research methodologies and approaches.
4. Critically evaluate engaged research plans.
5. Display communication competencies in engaging a group or community.
6. Apply fundamental concepts of engaged research by developing a research plan in the students’ area of research.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	6	Main content from various lecturers
Seminars	6	Case studies from practitioners
Fieldwork	12	Tutorials (including asynchronous online)
Online activity	40	Curated readings and exercises
Online activity	185	Readings from reading list and as appropriate to own study
Total Workload: 249

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

National and international policies and reports
Investigate official reports, documents and policies around engaged research.

Historical Context of Engaged Research
Irish and International History of engagement (participatory research, community-based initiatives)

Converging paradigms: interdisciplinary theoretical and practice frameworks.
Emancipation, empowerment, collaboration, universal design/ cocreation (codesign and coproduction) public engagement with science and technology, open science/responsible research and innovation, Public Patient Involvement, citizen science, deliberative engagement, citizens assemblies/ panels

Barriers and enablers of engaged research
Discover the elements in society that exclude the person from research engagement; Irish policy changes

The role of the communication and media in engaged research
How does media influence the engaged research agenda; practical skills for engagement

From monodisciplinary integrity to transdisciplinarity
Respecting disciplinary boundaries, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches; disciplines and publics

Case studies
Exploring DCU and other examples of engaged research in action.

Methodologies
Strategies, practice and ethos of engagement.

Concepts aligned with Engaged Research
Equality, dignity, respect, rights, citizenship, struggle against discrimination, advocacy for change, civic society.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Portfolio	Complete a research engagement plan	70%	Week 8
Group project	Report and critique presentations from case studies	30%	Week 19

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Jacques M. Chevalier, Daniel J. Buckles: 2019, Participatory Action Research: Theory and Methods for Engaged Inquiry, 2nd ed., Routledge, 1138491322
Stephen M. Albert and Jessica G. Burke: 2014, Methods for Community Public Health Research : Integrated and Engaged Approaches [e-book], Springer, https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/lib/dcu/reader.action?docID=1637291, 978-0-8261-98
Penny A. Pasque, et al: 2016, Engaged Research and Practice: Higher Education and the Pursuit of the Public Good, Stylus Publishing, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/dcu/detail.action?docID=4740839, 9781620364413
Hirsch Hadorn, G., Hoffmann-Riem, H., Biber-Klemm, S., Grossenbacher-Mansuy, W., Joye, D., Pohl, C., Wiesmann, U., Zemp, E. (Eds.): 2008, Handbook of Transdisciplinary Research, Springer, 978-1-4020-6
Sage: 0, Public Understanding of Science [journal], Sage, https://journals.sagepub.com/home/pus, 1361-6609
The Society for Social Studies of Science: 0, Engaging Science, Technology, and Society, https://estsjournal.org/index.php/ests/, 2413-8053
Irish University Association: 0, Campus Engage, https://www.campusengage.ie/,

Other Resources

None