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HS52009: Dissertation

[Page last updated: 15 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences (units for MRes programmes)
Credits: 40 [equivalent to 80 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 800
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Dissertation Period
Assessment Summary: CWDI 90%, CWOI 10%
Assessment Detail:
  • Oral presentation (CWOI 10%)
  • Dissertation (CWDI 90%)
Supplementary Assessment:
HS52009 Reassessment dissertation (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, the students should be able to:
* understand the basic principles of research design and appreciate alternative approaches to research;
* understand the significance of alternative epistemological positions that provide the context for theory construction, research design and the selection of appropriate analytical techniques;
* define researchable problems and formulate questions and hypotheses;
* understand the relationships between, and the rationale for, particular qualitative and quantitative research methods and be able to select appropriate strategies for research and/or evaluation;
* understand and apply concepts relevant to the integrity and rigour of research such as generalisability, validity, reliability and replicability, transparency;
* develop, apply, test and hone on a modest scale the professional practice skills taught in the research methods units of the programme, depending on the particular nature of their MRes programme;
* understand issues posed by social research in relation to ethics, confidentiality and legality;
* have a good command of language skills where appropriate;
* develop, apply, test and hone on a modest scale some of the transferable/key skills taught in the research methods units of the programme, depending on the particular nature of their project;
* show competency in the use of particular research designs and techniques within their own specialist discipline or subject area;
* produce a dissertation of academic and professional merit that defines a research question/questions, identifies an appropriate methodology and engages with relevant theory and data.


Synopsis: Identify, investigate and present your own piece of original research. You'll do this across 12 months. During this unit, you'll receive guidance to develop the necessary research skills to produce a pilot study and a dissertation of academic and professional quality. You'll identify an appropriate methodology and engage with relevant theory and data to answer your research question(s).

Content: Any area of social science research for which an adequate level of supervision can be offered. The nature of the Dissertation is that students 'learn-by-doing', and so they will be expected to demonstrate their ability to define a research question, design an appropriate and coherent methodology to answer the research question, conduct primary research through a pilot exercise, and produce a dissertation that conforms to acceptable standards of presentation.

Course availability:

HS52009 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Education Department of Economics Department for Health Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies Department of Psychology Department of Social & Policy Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.