Module content
The dissertation may be a conceptual piece or may be based on the analysis of existing or new data sets. The students are required to produce an acceptable, detailed research proposal, a completed research ethics form and a health and safety statement before progressing to the main stages of their study. Detailed guidance on the requirements of the dissertation/project, teaching content, assessment briefs will be provided on the 3300 Gateway page under the relevant content tab.
Module outcomes
To achieve credit for this module, students must be able to:
- Develop a detailed research proposal that presents a well-developed research aim(s) supported by clear research objectives
- Identify and respond to ethical considerations and limitations relating to the dissertation/project.
- Determine and apply appropriate methods to gather, process, present and interpret research data.
- Critically review and synthesise the work of others in the field of inquiry and discuss these in the context of the results analysed within this study.
- Critically evaluate the conduct and outcomes of the research and develop conclusions and recommendations that are reliable and well-supported by the research undertaken.
Assessment
Assessment | Description | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Coursework | 5-10 minute presentation to a progress seminar | 10% |
Coursework | Dissertation / report (12,000 words max) or equivalent | 90% |
Assessments may differ in 2020/21 due to adjustments for Covid-19. Please check Gateway for the latest regulations.
Key texts
- Feather, D. (2015) From proposal to thesis: writing an undergraduate dissertation. White & Maclean Publishing.
- Creswell, J.W., 2014. Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches. 4th ed. Sage Publications.
- Pears, R. and Shields, G.J. (2016) Cite them right: the essential referencing guide. 10th edn. Palgrave. (Palgrave study skills).
- Saunders M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill. A. (2016) Research methods for business students. 7th ed. Pearson
- Parsons and Knight (2015). 3rd edition. How to do your dissertation in geography and related disciplines. Chapman and Hall.
- Walliman, N. (2011) 2nd edition. Your research project: a step by step guide for the first time researcher. Sage Publications.
- Laycock, E., Howarth, T. and Watson, P. (2016). The journey to dissertation success: for construction, property, and architecture students. London. Routledge
- Malmfors, B (et al) (2004) Writing and Presenting Scientific Papers. (2nd edition) Nottingham University Press
- Hewson, C., Yule, P., Laurent, D. and Vogel, C., 2016. Internet research methods: A practical guide for the behavioural and social sciences. 2nd ed. SAGE
- Barbour, R.S., 2014. Introducing qualitative research: a student’s guide. 2nd ed. Sage publications Ltd.
- Bryman, A. and Bell, E., 2015. Business research methods. 4th ed. Oxford University Press.
- Clark, M., Johnson, P. and Gill, A., 2010. Research Methods for Managers. 4th ed. Sage publications.
- Denscombe, M., 2015. The good research guide for small-scale social research projects 5th ed. Open University Press. (Open University study skills).
- Field, A., 2016. An Adventure in Statistics: The Reality Enigma. SAGE.
- Oakshott, l., 2012. Essential quantitative methods for business, management and finance. 5th edn. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Silverman, D., 2015. Qualitative research: theory, method, practice. 4th edn. Sage publications.
- Yin, R.K. (2014) Case study research: design and methods. 5th ed. Sage Publications