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Dissertation in Management Studies - MAN00111M

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Des Williamson
  • Credit value: 50 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Term 2021-22 to Summer Vacation 2021-22

Module aims

The dissertation is a research-based activity involving sustained private study over the summer term and the summer vacation, culminating in the submission of a dissertation of not more than 10,000 words. The aim of the dissertation is to develop and exhibit abilities to initiate, design, and implement a research project, and to write-up the results.

By undertaking a longer piece of sustained research and writing, students will demonstrate critical analytical skills; ability to gather data and draw together information from a range of sources; writing and presentational skills; and subject-specific knowledge. As this is a self-study module, you will also draw on the skills that you have acquired throughout your whole degree, including self-management, working to deadlines and subject knowledge.

Module learning outcomes

Academic and graduate skills

Successful completion of the dissertation will demonstrate that students are able to:

  • Undertake a research project

  • Apply knowledge of research philosophy and methods

  • Undertake empirical research involving the collection of primary data (where appropriate)

  • Undertake secondary analysis of existing data and information (where appropriate)

  • Critically analyse significant bodies of literature in the chosen topic area

  • Prepare and write a well-presented and substantial piece of academic research

  • Engage with ethical issues in undertaking research

  • Critically reflect on the research skills and their relationship to future development and employability

Module content

In preparing the dissertation proposal and the dissertation itself, students will:

  • Critically engage with relevant literature in relation to their named degree

  • Identify a meaningful research question/topic/problem

  • Engage with the key issues and questions arising in the topic area

  • Identify and deploy an appropriate research methodology

  • Collect and analyse data (where appropriate)

  • Extrapolate key findings

  • Consider the contribution of the dissertation to scholarship, policy, and practice as appropriate

The "(Dissertation) Research Proposal", to be completed by week 7 of the Summer term, will consist of the following elements:

- Indication of relevant literature and topic context

- Identification of a specific research problem/question(s)/topic

- Identification and explanation of an appropriate research method

- Research plan including an indication of potential data sources

- Completion of Ethics Approval

Written feedback on the proposal will be provided, which will feed-forward into the completion of the dissertation itself.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Dissertation		 N/A 75
Essay/coursework
Dissertation Proposal plus ethics approval form		 N/A 25

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Dissertation resubmission		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Written feedback from both examiners is released to students after the final exam board. In cases of a marginal fail where minor amendments are permitted, students will be given written guidance on the required amendments and the deadlines for submission in accordance with University regulations on reassessment and resubmission.

Indicative reading

  • Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods (3 rd edn). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bryman, A., Bell, E. and Harley, B. (2019) Business Research Methods (5 th edn). Oxford:
  • Oxford University Press.
  • Buchanan, D. A. and Bryman, A. (Eds.) (2009) The Sage Handbook of Organizational
  • Research Methods. London: Sage.
  • Cameron, S., & Price, D. (2009) Business Research Methods: A practical approach.
  • London: Kogan Page Publishers.
  • Marschan-Piekkari, R. and Welch, C (Eds.) (2004) Handbook of Qualitative Research
  • Methods for International Business. London: Edward Elgar Publishing:
  • Neuman, W.L. (2011) Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
  • Approaches. Boston and London: Pearson Education
  • Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2019) Research Methods for Business
  • Students (8 th edn). London: Pearson.
  • Symon, G. and Cassell, C. (2012) Qualitative Organizational Research: Core Methods
  • and Current Challenges. London: Sage.
  • Thomas, G. (2016). How to do your Case Study, 2 nd edn. London: Sage.
  • Yin, R. K. (2013) Case Study Research: Design and Methods (5 th edn). Thousand Oaks,
  • CA: Sage.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.