Overview

The module enables the student to undertake a piece of empirical work relevant to their area of employment. Ethical approval will be required. Once this has been gained, the approved study can be undertaken.

The module is managed around supervision with an allocated academic.

Module aims

The dissertation represents one third of the degree and provides evidence that the candidate can use the knowledge and skills acquired through the taught components to analyse and review health care systems and clinical or scientific data in a systematic way and to synthesise and evaluate new ideas and approaches.

Learning Outcomes:

• Communicate a framework of reference (such as a literature review) to show the relevance of the proposed research.
• Display evidence of critical analysis, independence of thought and an understanding of advanced concepts and methods related to research.
• Demonstrate the appropriateness and intellectual coherence of the research design/plan of argument for linking questions to methods and conclusions.
• Select appropriate information gathering methods and implement these effectively and with a high level of judgment.
• Show evidence of advanced methods of analysis and of a high level of skill in their execution.
• Where appropriate, evidence of critical evaluation and reassessment of results and techniques during the research period.
• Show evidence of intellectual rigour in the interpretation of the results of the analysis.
• Analyse ethical issues (where appropriate).
• Produce a report of appropriate style, organisation and structure.
• Display a high level of written English and expository methods.

Entry requirements

Normally a postgraduate diploma in a topic relevant to the title of the degree, passed at an appropriate level, as specified by the Course Regulations.

Module content

Based on his or her understanding from a previous research methods module, the student will prepare a dissertation proposal addressing the learning outcomes above and setting out a programme of work including supervisory arrangements.

To assist the student to prepare for the dissertation the Dissertation module leader will provide a calendar of events setting out the timing of arrangements for the submission and approval of a research plan, key dates in the execution of the individual student's plan, the submission date for the dissertation and the Assessment Board dates. This process will begin before the start of the formal dissertation stage.

The outline proposal will be considered by the Dissertation module leader and at least one other staff member, to judge its feasibility and appropriateness, and to ensure comparability between the different approaches likely to be proposed. The content of the proposed dissertation must be demonstrably relevant to the name of the final award.

N.B. At this stage the outline proposal may be referred back to the student as not acceptable and the student will be asked to resubmit. A student whose outline proposal is referred back may find that their progress is delayed.

After the outline proposal is approved, the student is allocated a supervisor who will advise the student of any modifications thought to be necessary and guide the student to prepare a final proposal for formal approval (mandatory for progression to the formal Dissertation stage), and advise the student on appropriate ethical approval and work with them if external ethical approval is required. At this stage the final proposal may be referred back to the student as not acceptable. A student whose proposal is referred back may find that their progress is delayed.

Workshops will be organized to assist students with their progress. Preparatory workshops will be run to help the students prepare their outline proposal, prior to the formal Dissertation stage, and further workshops (approximately 5 hours) will be offered on a cross-Faculty basis to support the preparation of the dissertation, after the proposal has been approved; these will run alongside one-to-one supervision. Workshops therefore take place both prior to and following formal registration on the Dissertation module; they thus serve to prepare students for the Dissertation module as well as support their research once registered on the module.

Teaching and assessment

This module is supported by one to one supervision via either a subject-specific or methods-specific allocated supervisor. Supervision sessions will be arranged at mutually convenient times and via a mutually agreed method, eg. via an online platform.