Dissertation - RSS00003M

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Module summary

This module will allow students to undertake a substantive in-depth project in the Social Science area of their own choice where they will be supervised by a member of academic staff from the specific discipline.

Module will run

None

Module aims

The aims of the module are:

• To provide students with the opportunity to undertake an independent research project in a social science related area
• To provide students with the opportunity to apply the research methodologies, skills and knowledge acquired from taught modules to a substantive piece of work

 

In addition, students will have the opportunity to work with an academic member of staff with expertise knowledge in their field and to present their dissertations idea to their peers.

 

Module learning outcomes

At the end of a module a student should be able to:

• Organise and structure an independent piece of social science research
• Formulate and refine research questions related to social science
• Select and apply appropriate research methodologies to design and conduct an independent piece of research
• Undertake a full or systematic literature review based on up to date up to date sources of information
• Critically appraise and interpret existing literature
• Present complex arguments and synthesise complex ideas
• Critically evaluate their own work and outline strengths and limitations of their approach and choice of methodologies
• Communicate and present research findings
• Organise and manage work load effectively

 

Module content

All students on the MA in Social Research will follow the same dissertation format in relation to word count, timings of formative and summative assessments, and arrangements for supervision and feedback. However, students will be embedded within Departments and will follow Departmental guidance in relation to dissertation structure (e.g abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion etc) and standard referencing (e.g Harvard).

Clear guidance will be provided to students in the programme handbook, and to staff through communications from the ReCCS Board of Studies.

Students will be allocated to a Department/theme/pathway in Autumn and a specific dissertation topic during the Spring term.

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation	100

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Additional assessment information

Students will receive formative feedback on drafts of their dissertation as they progress in accordance with the guidance set out for all MA students.

In addition, a poster and pitch have been included in the timeline as formative work, and feedback will be provided accordingly by dissertation supervisors.

Guidance will be provided on the format of the presentation in advance, and students will be encouraged to ask questions of their colleagues.

Indicative reassessment

None

Module feedback

Students will receive regular feedback on their progress in relation to their dissertation through out the summer term and summer vacation from their supervisor. This feedback may be written and oral.

Information about the dissertation will be provided to students at the start of the spring term.

Individual written feedback will be provided to students following submission of the dissertation in a timely manner and in accordance with University policy.

 

Indicative reading

As each dissertation differs, key texts are provided by the supervisors/Departments.