Acquiring robust research skills is key for postgraduate students, both as preparation for your dissertation and your future work and study. In this module, you will acquire the foundations of these skills. In particular, you will be guided through the following stages:• producing a systematic appraisal of the literature, identifying strengths and weaknesses of published research, as well as identifying gaps in the knowledge base;• developing a research methodology to address a gap in the knowledge base; and• producing a sound analysis of a dataset to determine whether you have adequately addressed the gap.Throughout, ethical research skills will be embedded, so that others will have confidence in the research you propose, and, ultimately, undertake.