# FOR40180

**Source**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MODULE&MODULE=FOR40180&TERMCODE=202500&ACYR=2026
**Parent**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=COURSE&MAJR=FOS1&AUDIENCE=

Academic Year 2025/2026

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#### Research Project (FOR) (FOR40180)

Subject:
:   Forestry

College:
:   Health & Agricultural Sciences

School:
:   Agriculture & Food Science

Level:
:   4 (Masters)

Credits:
:   20

Module Coordinator:
:   Ms Marie Doyle

Credit Split by Trimester:
:   Autumn 5\
    Spring 15\

Trimester:
:   2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)

Mode of Delivery:
:   On Campus

Internship Module:
:   No

Module Type:
:   Research/Capstone Module

How will I be graded?
:   Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The research project is a key element in the forestry degree curriculum. \
\
The initial weeks introduce students to the requirements and conventions of undertaking and delivering a piece of research; this includes some lectures on scientific writing, experimental design, data collection & analysis. \
After an initial exploratory phase, during which students investigate potential research topics, information and data sources, and operational practicalities, each student selects an approved topic and is assigned an academic supervisor. Under the guidance of the supervisor, students work independently on their research project. \
\
Where appropriate (and approved by the supervisor), outside advice and assistance can be sought. During all phases of the Research Project, but especially during the experimental design, data analysis and dissertation writing phases, students are encouraged to work closely with their supervisor to ensure that the correct procedures are used and the format and quality of the dissertation are of adequate standard. Students must familiarise themselves with the rules of the laboratory and with health and safety practices.\
\
Students are advised to seek constructive feedback from their supervisor as the work progresses, especially during the write-up phase. To encourage students to engage in this process at an early stage, the module has been designed to be delivered over two trimesters with 5 credits allocated to the Autumn trimester and 15 to the Spring trimester. \
\
To support student learning, the assessment procedure has been designed to allocate marks to ongoing engagement and facilitate continuous feedback. The assessment is broken down into numerous components as detailed in the 'Assessment Procedure'. \
\
Students are provided with additional information about the module throughout the trimester, including the deadline dates for completing each work component.

## About this Module

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### What will I learn?

###### Learning Outcomes:

The Learning Outcomes associated with this module are to: \
\
1. Develop an ability to critically review and synthesise information \
2. Demonstrate self-motivation and skills application \
3. Understand the importance of experimental design, data collection and data analysis \
4. Hone organisational skills \
5. Progress technical competence \
6. Hone problem-solving abilities \
7. Cultivate scientific writing skills

### How will I learn?

###### Student Effort Hours:

| Student Effort Type | Hours |
| --- | --- |
| Lectures | 24 |
| Conversation Class | 2 |
| Project Supervision | 20 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 300 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 150 |
|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 496 |

\

###### Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

A variety of approaches are used in this 20 credit module including lectures, group discussions, presentations, report writing, one-to-one discussions.

### Am I eligible to take this module?

###### Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

\

###### Module Requisites and Incompatibles

**Pre-requisite:**\
FOR30070 - Forest Harvesting, FOR30400 - Silviculture, FOR30410 - Forest Inventory and Sampling\
\
\
 \

### How will I be assessed?

###### Assessment Strategy

| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Questionnaire analysis & data presentation report. | Week 4 Spring | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 2.5 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Experimental Design assignment | Week 14 Autumn | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 5 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Outline & References: the students prepare a short report on their proposed project outline, including a minimum of 5 relevant scientific references. | Week 8 Autumn | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 2 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Literature Review & Introduction: the student will submit their completed Literature Review & Introduction to their supervisor. | Week 7 Spring | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 3 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Full report draft: the student will submit a full draft (from abstract to references) of their Research Project to their supervisor. | Week 12 Spring | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 5 | No |
| Individual Project: Questionnaire design | Week 7 Autumn | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 2.5 | No |
| Individual Project: Presentation: students will make a short presentation on their proposed research topic, highlighting the research question, the proposed scope of the project and the expected outcomes. | Week 12 Autumn | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 5 | No |
| Individual Project: Presentation: students will make a short presentation on their research, highlighting the background, data collection & analysis & results. | Week 10 Spring | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 5 | No |
| Participation in Learning Activities: Supervisor's report: the student's academic supervisor will complete a report, using an agreed template, to assess the student's participation & engagement. | Week 15 Spring | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 5 | No |
| Report(s): Final submission of research project. | Week 15 Spring | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | Yes | 65 | Yes |

\

###### Carry forward of passed components

Yes

\

### What happens if I fail?

| Remediation Type | Remediation Timing |
| --- | --- |
| In-Module Resit | Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board |

*Please see [Student Jargon Buster](https://www.ucd.ie/students/services/ucdstudentjargonbuster/) for more information about remediation types and timing.* \

### Assessment feedback

###### Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment\
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\

###### How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

### When is this module offered?

**Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.**

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 Trimester (Sep-May) | Lecture | Offering 50 | Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks | Tues 10:00 - 10:50 |
| 2 Trimester (Sep-May) | Lecture | Offering 50 | Week(s) - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 | Wed 11:00 - 11:50 |

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