Research Skills for Dissertation Study

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Formulate a research problem and design a manageable independent study to investigate it
• Conduct a systematic literature review
• Reflect critically on the research process
• Develop appropriate data collection and analysis procedures

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use information technology appropriately to support data collection and analysis
• Manage a substantial independent project
• Search literature effectively and develop and maintain a bibliographic database
• Make an effective oral presentation of work in progress
• Act as ‘critical friend’ to colleagues through peer evaluation and support

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Current theoretical approaches relevant to your chosen topic
• Research methods and ethical issues relevant to the investigation of your topic
• Current empirical studies, policies and/or practices relevant to your topic
• A specialist topic in applied linguistics/ English language teaching relevant to your personal interests and context

This module provides you with support in identifying a topic and developing plans for your independent MA dissertation. The group activities of the module complement the individual supervision received from your dissertation tutor. You will further develop your library research and bibliographic skills and read in depth for your individual topic. You will develop a detailed plan for your dissertation project, and present this to both peers and tutors in oral and written form. You will receive formative feedback on your plans and give feedback to others in group discussion. In workshop sessions you will deepen your knowledge of relevant research skills including IT skills.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• Online tutor led discussion forums on aspects of project design
• Small group sessions on field methods
• Interactive tasks in topic learning objects
• Presentations and lectures via podcasts/audio/video files
• Synchronous chat/small group discussions
• Online presentations of individual projects and discussion/ evaluation with tutors and peers

Learning activities include

• Identifying your area of interest and formulating your research problem
• Accessing online resources to develop your own specialised bibliography
• Developing and sharing specific fieldwork skills relevant to your project
• Preparing and delivering presentations of your project
• Taking part in group evaluative discussions and acting as ‘critical friend’ to peers
• Mastering relevant software packages

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Walliman, N (2001). Your Research Project: A step by step guide for the first-time researcher. London: SAGE Publications.

Bell, J (1999). Doing Your Research Project: A guide for first-time researchers in education and social science. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

McDonough, J and McDonough, S (1997). Research Methods for English Language Teachers. London: Arnold.

Brown, J D and Rodgers, T S (2002). Doing Second Language Research. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Summative

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

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External