Assessment Overview: Examination Information

Assessment Specification

Assessment Overview

This module has one component of summative assessment in the form of an examination. It will be online and administered using the Blackboard (Bb) Test tool.

Medium Used to Disseminate Assessment Specification You can find a digital copy of this module assessment specification in the ‘Assessment and Submission’ folder on the Bb site. The module leader will also use Seminar 1 to answer any questions you may have about the examination.

Date and Time of Examination

Your unconfirmed internally moderated mark will be released by the module leader no later than 20 working days after you have taken the examination. The latest date the module leader will publish your result will be noon (GMT) 15 February 2021. echanism for Return of Mark(s) and Feedback

Your unconfirmed internally moderated mark will be published by the module leader using Gradebook in the Bb site. The module leader will also post an announcement on the Bb site to let you know that your result is available.

The module leader will use the Bb Test tool to administer the examination. You will be able to access the tool from the ‘Assessment and Submission’ folder on the Bb site. The examination has been designed by the module leader to unite your tutor-guided and self-directed independent learning and to allow you to demonstrate your ability to achieve the module learning outcomes. The examination format and questions will be inclusive and acknowledge the diverse experience, cultural, and linguistic origins of all students enrolled on the module.

You will take the examination in a restricted open book format; this means you will be allowed to use a clean physical copy of the essential reading textbook by Bryman.

Examination Procedure

The examination will last 90 minutes and consist of a time-constrained array of 50 ‘Genre A’ questions, which include the following types:

• fill in the blank and fill in multiple blanks

• matching

• multiple answers

• multiple-choice

• true/false

• jumbled sentences

• ordering and 6 ‘Genre B’ questions, which include the following types:

• short answer

• short essays

At the end of each week of the formally scheduled teaching programme, the module leader will make some online Genre A questions of a similar nature to those on the examination available to you on the Bb site for you to self-test your understanding of the weekly themes. The module leader will not assess your answers to these specimen questions; they are formative for your self-directed study only. The module leader will also make some example Genre B questions of a similar nature to those on the examination available to you at the end of teaching week 10. You will be able to access these from the ‘Assessment and Submission’ folder in the Bb site.

Date and Time of Examination

It would be best if you were logged on to the Bb site before you start the examination. Be aware the Bb Test tool will close automatically once your permitted 90-minute examination period is over. You should also be aware you are not allowed to leave and re-enter the tool during the examination. If you do exit the tool early or by accident, your attempt at the examination will be over. Should this happen, you will not be allowed another attempt at the examination.

You are not allowed to communicate with your peers or anybody else during the examination. This regulation includes the use of Skype, Zoom, Teams, text messaging, IM, SMS, phone, face-to-face conversation, etc. If you are found guilty of this offence or any other form of academic misconduct, the University may choose to subject you to the penalties outlined in ARTA. You are also not allowed to have the following items in your possession during the examination: any electronic devices, i.e., smart-phones, tablets, e-book readers, laptops, etc.

At the end of teaching week 10, the module leader will make available to you a short specimen examination using the Bb Test tool. The specimen aims to show you how the tool works. Once again, the module leader will not assess your answers to the questions included in the specimen examination. The specimen examination is for your self-directed learning only.

To submit your answers at the end of the actual examination, you must press the ‘Save and Submit’ button on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. This option will appear immediately after the final question. If you do not finish all of the questions in the allotted time, the tool will automatically save and submit your answers for you as it closes down.

Further Information

Module Learning Outcomes (MLOs) Assessed the Examination On completion of the examination, you will be able to

Knowledge & Understanding

1. Define and evaluate selected key theories and concepts associated with natural and social scientific research strategies, designs, and formulation.

2. Critically appraise selected key theories and techniques associated with the nature and process of experimental, quantitative, and qualitative research and data analysis. Intellectual/Professional Skills & Abilities

3. Critically review the literature and engage with what others have written through evaluative discourse.

4. Plan and execute a research project and formulate research questions. Personal Values Attributes (Global/Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity)

5. Develop and exhibit the professional and research ethics characteristics of a Northumbria University postgraduate student.

Assessment Criteria/Examination Marking Scheme

The module leader will mark your attempt based on the measured accuracy of your responses and the volume of correctness by totalling the sub-marks for the questions. The module leader will not award any sub-marks for partially correct answers nor deduct marks for incorrect answers.

If the Progression and Awards Board (PAB) decides to give you a referral attempt of the module, the module leader may ask you to retake the examination at another time. The referral attempt opportunity will typically take place after the end-of-level Progression and Awards Board (PAB). If you pass the module following a referral attempt, you will be awarded the module pass mark for level 7 modules, i.e.,

If you become eligible to complete a referral attempt but are subsequently unable to undertake the opportunity when required, you will be permitted to re-sit the module at the next scheduled sitting; this will generally entail the suspension of your progression on your programme of study until such time that you have completed the level and become eligible to proceed. The date and time of the examination for your referral attempt will usually be confirmed to you by Academic Registry via the University’s website and not by the module leader.

The University has a number of policies for assessment. The following information, which is available to you from the link below, provides guidance on these policies, including relevant procedures and forms.

(1) Assessment Regulations and Policies

(a) Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards

(b) Group Work Assessments Policy

(d) Retention of Assessed Work Policy

(e) Word Limits Policy

(2) Assessment Feedback

(a) Anonymous Marking Policy

(3) Late Submission of Work and Extension Requests

(4) Personal Extenuating Circumstances

(5) Technical Extenuating Circumstances

(6) Student Complaints and Appeals

(7) Academic Misconduct