Dissertation (DSIS)

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to plan, execute and report a significant piece of research or creative work with at least some element of originality;
• provide in depth, critical reflection in your analysis and discussion of results;
• ensure that your own ideas and analysis are a prominent part of your dissertation;
• demonstrate the ability to present ideas and research findings in a well-structured and convincing way;
• present a clear, logical, and coherent line of argument throughout your dissertation;
• evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline
• demonstrate the ability to synthesise ideas and research findings.
• demonstrate the ability to formulate and test new ideas from a variety of approaches and justify the foundation of those ideas;
• evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them and, where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses;
• demonstrate the ability to test ideas including the application of models as appropriate, using a suitable research design, methodologies, measurements and techniques of analysis;

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• your chosen subject and related conceptual literature, making appropriate reference to relevant sources of literature;
• how to scope a study in your subject area, stating clear objectives for your study and ensure that the dissertation addresses these objectives;
• how to use concepts/techniques/frameworks from one or more of your taught modules.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate your ability to work independently, carry out and evaluate a research project relevant to a business context;
• demonstrate the ability to interpret, conceptualise and critically evaluate the literature, and to relate it to practice as appropriate;
• demonstrate independent judgement and critical self-awareness.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, at, or informed by, the forefront of your academic discipline or field of study

Details of supervision processes, deadlines and handing-in processes will be clarified in the PG Dissertation Handbook provided as part of the module.

Over the course of the academic year, there will be a selection of (full or partial) lectures, guest talks, seminars, practicals, and/or help sessions. These sessions will help you, for example, to:

• Identify the type of dissertation you would like to write;
• Write a comprehensive literature review;
• Avoid plagiarism;
• Find the suitable methodology;
• Reference properly other works.

A supervisor will normally be appointed in April/May; you are entitled to 6 hours of supervision which you must organise and complete by the 31 July when supervision ends. The dissertation must be handed in mid-September (date to be confirmed in the PG Dissertation Handbook). In brief the supervision process will assist you to:

• Identify a suitable topic for study;
• Design and undertake an appropriate investigation strategy;
• Complete the research ethics application and gain approval;
• Identify and access useful sources of information;
• Plan and manage an appropriate schedule of work;
• Write a well presented dissertation.

Subject to the completion of the University’s Risk and Ethics procedures, students are encouraged to study international topics and may carry out fieldwork in overseas contexts.

• Supervision (as detailed in Dissertation Handbook)
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Your Programme Leader/Supervisor may recommend attendance at other seminars or tutorials to aid the development of your topic

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.