Research Design for Dissertation
| Module title | Research Design for Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL3076 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Gabriel Katz Wisel (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 7 | 7 | 11 |
Module description
This module provides you with a foundation from which to undertake a Masters level dissertation. You will be taught through a combination of seminars, peer review sessions and individual meetings with your supervisor. Through these taught sessions you will develop a research proposal and literature review that will form the basis for the dissertation in the fourth year of your degree. Seminars will acquaint you with the fundamental aspects of developing a research proposal, including identifying a viable topic, generating a research question, working out your conceptual framework and methodological approach, undertaking a literature review and articulating the significance of your research to a non-academic audience. This is a requisite module for students undertaking the integrated Masters Politics and International Relations. It is not available to students who are enrolled on other undergraduate degrees.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to:
- equip you with the skills necessary to undertake and independent piece of research;
- identify, analyse and reconstruct scholarly debates in order to situate your own project and contribution in relation to a research community; and
- develop an understanding of academic conventions and protocols required to complete a Masters level dissertation under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods;
- 2. Collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources;
- 4. Undertake an independent research project in Politics and/or International Relations;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Use IT for information retrieval and presentation; and
- 6. Work effectively in groups and to manage own work.
Syllabus plan
A range of generic topics will be covered through a mix of interactive lectures and student-led workshops, including:
1. Introduction to the MA dissertation
2. Research design for the MA dissertation
3. Defining the research question
4. Gathering evidence search skills, resources and methods
5. Assembling a bibliography
6. Building an argument case study selection and theoretical lenses
7. Writing a research plan
8. Drafting, completing and submitting the dissertation
You will learn through a combination of four components: Interactive lectures; Peer-led topic workshops (students will work in groups of 15); Independent study and Supervisor input.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 280 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 12 | 6 x 2 hour seminars |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 2 | 4 x 30 minutes supervision meetings |
| Guided Independent study | 200 | Researching and writing literature review |
| Guided Independent study | 86 | Developing, writing and revising |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional research proposal | 1,000 words | 1-5 | Written and or oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | 70 | 5,000 words | 1-5 | Written and Oral Feedback |
| Final Research proposal | 30 | 2,000 words | 1-5 | Written and Oral Feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | Literature review (5,000 words) | 1-5 | Next reassessment period |
| Final Research proposal | Final research proposal (2,000 words) | 1-5 | Next reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Burton, D. (ed) (2000) Research Training for Social Scientists SAGE.
Dunleavy, P. (2003) Authoring a PhD Palgrave MacMillan.
Harrison, L. (2001) Political Research: An Introduction Routledge.
Hay, C. (2002) Political Analysis: An Introduction Palgrave MacMillan.
King, G., Keohane, R.O. and Verba, S. (1994) Designing Social Inquiry Princeton University Press.
Burnham, P., Gilland, K., Grant, W. and Layton-Henry, Z. (2004) Research Methods in Politics Palgrave MacMillan.
Marsh, D. and Stoker, G. (eds) (2002) Theory and Methods in Political Science 2nd edition Palgrave MacMillan.
Silbergh, D.M. (2001) Doing Dissertations in Politics Routledge.
Silverman, D. (ed) (2004) Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice SAGE.
Turabian, K. (1996) A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Wisker, G. (2001) The Postgraduate Research Handbook Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2008 |
| Last revision date | 12/08/2020 |
