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Apr 19, 2024

Assignment Task

Introduction

For many people a dissertation is a step into the unknown, something they know that must be done but something they think they have little experience of. This is not really true because the dissertation is an academic device that pulls together many of the things you have studied in previous years. Because of this many staff consider it to be the culmination of your studies.

There are no weekly timetabled/scheduled classes for the dissertation module. It is not a taught (in-class) module.

A significant part of your learning here and research will be self-driven, with regular guidance from your supervisor. You will be undertaking the research and writing your thesis. You will be expected to keep in regular contact with your supervisor with meetings to reflect your progress for each Thesis chapter. The expectation is that you will be working to build on the research topic idea that was in your proposal.

You will have access to resources and materials via Blackboard and these will be helpful in the research process. You will be expected to develop a deeper understanding of the topics increasing your chances of success.

Summary 

Module summary content and aims Some of the phrases and ideas that occur regularly, and so can be regarded as ‘key’ to what a dissertation is, are:

  • An extended or prolonged piece of work.
  • Something involving independent study.
  • It involves you in selecting a subject or topic.
  • Defining your own research questions.
  • It is a piece of scholarly activity.
  • It involves an element of original research - i.e. something that you do for yourself
  • It involves doing research i.e. collecting data and analysing data.
  • It is produced working alongside a mentor or supervisor.

Pulling these ideas together a definition of a dissertation is: ‘an extended piece of writing, supported by a supervisor, on a topic chosen by the student that is the result of the student’s own independent and in-depth research’. (Webb 2008)

Aim

This module aims to teach students to demonstrate responsibility in planning and managing resources necessary to produce a coherent academic/business research project that shows a detailed knowledge of a topic relevant to the student`s programme of study. When taken with the Research Methods module the various topics to be covered in this module are:

  • Approaches to research.
  • Developing and ‘actioning’ a research proposal
  • Reviewing the literature and writing a literature review.
  •  Data collection methods: Quantitative and qualitative methods including questionnaires, interviews, observation, content analysis, case studies.
  • Sampling and accuracy of the research method.
  • Quantitative and qualitative data analysis
  • Evaluating and reporting findings
  • Ethics of research
  • Writing a dissertation

Assessment 1 Dissertation

Abstract

This is a maximum of one page which concisely summarises the research. It consists of three paragraphs – what the research was about (aim and research question, what you did (the methodology) and what you found out (your findings/conclusion).

Contents page

This should be detailed and identify each section of the dissertation with corresponding page numbers. You write the contents list last. It should include all appendices and be followed by separate lists of tables and figures if appropriate.

Literature Review

This chapter should demonstrate that you have conducted a thorough and critical investigation of relevant current sources, outlining, comparing and discussing key ideas, explanations, concepts, theories and models associated with your chosen topic.

You should present these ideas in a systematic, well-structured and logical sequence. It should be written in an essay style but it is normal to subdivide the literature review in to numbered subsections. Short paragraphs of one or two sentences are not the correct writing style as the argument cannot be developed or the point made to any depth if the paragraph is not of sufficient length.

All literature should be referenced in the Harvard System, not just for quotations but also for ideas and information drawn from the works of others.

Methodology

This chapter describes and assesses the approach you have taken to the data collection process. It is an opportunity for you to be self-critical (which what the markers are looking for). Do not assume you have been perfect in collecting your data - reflection is important in this chapter. The chapter is likely to be sub-divided into three sub-sections.

The first sub-section will refer to the theory of research and present a clear rationale for your methodology. This will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of possible methods (do not discuss all research methods) and an explanation of why you have chosen your particular method(s) and discounted the others.

Do not just restate the notes you have been given by us but refer to the research methods literature and texts. You will probably find that some advantages are actually disadvantages for your research, and vice versa, or you may come up with some of your own.

The second section should explicitly describe what you actually did (where, when, how many, pilot survey etc ) and any issues related to sampling theory (sampling frame, sampling techniques used). It should be possible to replicate your research from the detail given here.

The third section will be a critique of the success, or otherwise, or your method(s). The technical names are reliability and validity. You would also include some suggestions for improving the research should it be done again either by you or somebody else.

Analysis and Discussion of Findings

1. Analysis of the results. The analysis can be discussed here but the details of any analysis (calculations, spread sheet print outs, etc ) should be shown in the appendices.

2. Discussion of the results of the analysis. You should present any discussion clearly and logically and it should be relevant to your aim, objectives and research questions/hypotheses. Put any tables or diagrams that you decide to include as close as possible to the text and not in the appendices, and discuss them fully – do not leave it to the reader to try and workout what a diagram means or what the most important element is.

3. How your findings relate to the literature. Make sure that you relate the findings of your primary research to your literature review. You can do this by comparison: discussing similarities and particularly differences. If you think your findings have confirmed some literature findings say so and say why. If you think your findings are at variance with the literature say so and say why.

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