MSc Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Interpret research findings.
• Selecting an appropriate research strategy and design
• Communicate research findings effectively
• Carry out data collection and/or curation with attention to scientific, ethical and legal considerations.
• Critically review a relevant literature
• Manage references using computerised search of databases/internet.
• Carry out appropriate data analysis.

The topic of your dissertation is to be determined by you and your supervisor. Here we list a few key milestones for completing the dissertation.

Please note that the dates are to be viewed as a guide to ensure completion. The only hard deadline is submitting the dissertation.

Milestones for completing the dissertation:

October: Discuss possible projects with potential supervisors

November: Log supervisor preferences (details to be communicated).

January: Supervisor allocations.

Early February: Apply for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check or NHS passport, if needed (discuss with supervisor).

Early March: Begin ethics application, determine level of assistance needed from School-based technical team.

End of March: Ethics application submitted. Note this application includes

• The online ethics form
• Participant Information Sheets
• Consent forms
• Copies of questionnaires or interview schedules where
• applicable
• Adverts for participants where applicable

April: Data collection should begin (to make use of undergraduate

population).

Mid July: Data collection should be completed.

End of July: Data analysis completed.

August: Final write up of introduction, methods, results and discussion. Supervisor feedback may be obtained for each section.

September: Hand in date.

You will work with a member of the psychology department to develop a research question and implement a project that generates new knowledge in the field of psychology and that serves to extend the discipline.

Your supervisor will provide verbal and/or written feedback on your progress during the dissertation. This may include, for example, verbal feedback during supervision meetings, written feedback on draft ethics documents.

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.