Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Produce and present a substantial, independent piece of work within an allocated time and word limit.
• Demonstrate appropriate analysis, evaluation, synthesis and criticality on a focussed topic within education.
• Design, formulate research questions within education and produce, within the scope of an undergraduate programme, a substantial, independent project.
• Conduct research and process data for analysis and synthesise information effectively, taking due account of ethics and research governance.
• Construct clear, detailed and logical line of reasoning.
• Apply knowledge and further develop your skills in quantitative and/or qualitative research.
• Present and articulate findings in a coherent, well-structured and sustained manner.

The individual nature of the projects identified and selected by the students under the guidance of the supervisor, makes it inappropriate to prescribe a detailed syllabus. There are however some key milestones identified regarding:

• Ethics and research governance;
• Writing up a research project; and
• Time management.

These are covered in taught sessions and through the guidance of the supervisor. Importantly the content of the selected project must relate to some aspect of Education as a discipline.

Teaching and learning methods

Front loaded taught sessions will focus on developing and understanding the requirements of achieving ethical and research governance approval for your proposed research project. These sessions will form the key initial tutorial with your allocated dissertation supervisor. A further taught session follows to address the process of writing up your research. You have the opportunity to seek advice and guidance from your allocated dissertation supervisor, normally to a maximum of seven tutorials.

• Lectures/Workshops
• Tutorials

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Other. Inter Library Loans Requests for research papers or books, which are not held in any of the University Libraries, are made through the 'Inter Library Loan' system. Please be aware that, depending on the nature of the source, access through the Inter Library Loan system can take several weeks.

Textbooks

Doing your research project: A guide for first time researchers in education, health and social sciences. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.

Bowell, T. (2010). Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide. London: Routledge.

Paul, R. and Elder, L. (2013). Critical Thinking: Pearson New International Edition - Electronic Resource. Harlow: Pearson.

Bell, J. and Waters, S. (2014). Doing Your Research Project: A Guide For First-Time Researchers (Electronic Resource). Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education.

Bowell, T. (2009). Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide - Electronic Resource. London: Routledge.

Your dissertation in education. London: Sage.

How to do your research project: a guide for students in education and applied social sciences.. Los Angeles: Sage.

The Student's Guide to Research Ethics. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill OpenUniversity Press.

No Sweat! The Indispensable Guide to Reports and Dissertations, The Institute of Management Foundation. Corby: Institute of Management..

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External