DIS60304 / DESIGN RESEARCH DISSERTATION
The Brief
This module is the continuous exposure to Research and Academic Writing, subsequent to the Design Research Methodology module in the earlier semester, in which students will be trained to work independently. The aim of the dissertation is to develop and promote the ability to analyse and discuss the values of design in relation to the culture in which it finds its place and/or use. The final submission will be a substantial written piece on a topic selected by the student and guided by tutorial supervision. Perhaps, the continuous topic that was researched earlier is best for the extension of the studies. This implies the need to collect further data, assimilate, select and present information in a structured written argument, which shows awareness of authoritative critical opinions on the topic chosen. The culmination of the research writing project investigates an important creative multimedia design-related issue. Tutorials, discussions, and independent study are the few teaching and learning strategies that will be engaged in this class. Formative as well as summative feedback will be conducted upon the completion of assessment through seminar groups and tutorials.
Assignment 1 - Research Implementation – Draft Dissertation
At this stage students will begin to put together relevant primary and secondary data to form an analysis, discussion and conclusion revolving their research problem. This is where the draft of the dissertation is the outcome. Students are to utilise primary and secondary data to write an in-depth evaluation, no less than 7000 words, that critically analyses and discusses their research problem and arrive at a conclusion. The contents of the dissertation are as follows:
• Introduction to the dissertation
• Problem statement
• Research objective
• Research question
• Literature review
• Research methodology
• Results/ Findings
• Analysis and discussion
• Conclusion
• Project Recommendation / Future Research
• Reference list
• Picture credit list
• Appendices (sample interview questions and questionnaire questions)
The Final Draft's PDF:
Assignment 2 - Complete Dissertation with Visual Design Publication
A dissertation is the final outcome in this module that reflects the students’ theoretical and practical knowledge in design.
Students are to design the publication of the dissertation. The concept of the publication must be relevant to the research topic. Since the epublication format is expected, page layout, publication size, font, font size, are predetermined by the lecturer. Best to keep at A5 size in case the programme require to print them in hardcopy format for any future audit or MQA accreditation process purpose. Other design consideration are to be made by the student, guided by the lecturer during tutorials. The dissertation cover should have the title of the research, along with the student’s name. The following must be found behind the title page:
(Please refer to the example provided in this document)
• Student’s full name (as appear in the registry)
• Student number
• The Design School at Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
• Design Research Dissertation (DIS60304)
• Bachelor of Design Creative Media
• Semester intake
• Date of submission
E-book link:
Assignment 3 - Final Assessment – Research for Publication
Writing is the most important means for communicating. Research and publication complement practice and theory. Publication in peerreviewed journals also gives international recognition for an individual, department, university, and institutions. In some cases where a topic of major global importance is included in a publication, the author, country, and even the region, may also get a greater recognition. Doing research is only half the picture. If the results of research studies or program documentations are not published - and where they are published has an important impact also - other researchers cannot appreciate the value of the evidence generated. (Asnake, 2015)
Students are to:
1. Adapt their dissertation into a concise paper suitable for publication, adhering to The Design School KREATE journal’s requirements.
2. The description on KREATE journal is available at https://thedesignschool.taylors.edu.my/Kreate/index.html
3. Students as the author are to download the KREATE Raw Input template from https://thedesignschool.taylors.edu.my/Kreate/how-tosubmit.html with the specific font to be used and the authors are not allowed to edit the format set in the template as described in the Manuscript Preparation Guide of the journal. During weekly tutorials, students must present their progress. An individual tutorial feedback online form will be filled by the students to record the students’ learning progress as reflective practice based on feedback provided by the lecturer.
Journal Publication's PDF:
