Dissertation
| Module title | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Module code | CMMM007 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 60 |
| Module staff | Dr Ad Deshbandhu (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
The dissertation project is the culmination of the MA Media and Communications programme. This module will enable you to develop subject knowledge and methodological skills in Media and Communication studies by exploring in detail a topic of your own devising. Across the module you will conceive, plan, research and write an independent study of 15,000 words.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module allows you to develop a sustained piece of critical work as an outcome for your MA degree. It allows you to devise your own research questions and to pursue these lines of inquiry. You will work under the guidance of an academic supervisor, with extra support provided by occasional workshops and lectures to develop key skills for researching a chosen subject and preparing a finished manuscript.
You will be supported from the early stages of planning your dissertation in the second term of your studies, with a series of dissertation workshop lectures. Towards the end of Term 2 you will participate in the annual dissertation conference with the other members of your cohort. This will enable you to develop and submit a proposal by the end of Term 2 (for part time students the proposal will be submitted by the second term of the second year of study).
You will then be assigned a supervisor who has knowledge and research interests appropriate to the proposed topic. Your supervisor will support you as your research, planning and writing progress through one-to-one supervision sessions. These combined activities will offer you consistent guidance and support to help refine your initial plans and bring your research project to completion.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically evaluate at an advanced level current research in the discipline (s), field(s) and sub-field(s) in your chosen area of enquiry.
- 2. Demonstrate an advanced proficiency in utilising research techniques and methodologies that are appropriate for communications and media research, and that align with the selected area of research enquiry.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Demonstrate an advanced and autonomous ability to understand and analyse relevant theoretical ideas and concepts.
- 4. Demonstrate an advanced ability to analyse media texts and/or technologies, with an ability to appreciate the nuance and variation that each medium and approach offers with regards to style, form, and engagement.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Through the dissertation proposal, presentation, and the dissertation, demonstrate advanced research and bibliographic skills, an advanced and intellectually mature capacity to construct a coherent, substantiated argument and to write clear and correct prose
- 6. Through research for the dissertation proposal, presentation, and the dissertation, demonstrate an advanced proficiency in information retrieval and analysis
- 7. Through the planning and organisation of a research project, demonstrate independence of thought, confidence in developing ideas, asking critical questions, and understanding of media markets and audiences.
Syllabus plan
You are encouraged to begin to think about potential topics for your dissertation early in the year in discussion with your course tutors. You will develop an initial proposal by the end of term 2 before being assigned to a supervisor. During term 3 you will work with your supervisor to develop and bring your dissertation to completion. Supervision can take place in a range of formats (for example, face to face or online). You will be responsible for working out a plan for supervision early in the process.
Indicative activities:
Term 2:
- Workshop 1: Intro to the dissertation / identifying your dissertation topic
- Workshop 2: Identifying your methods/carrying out your research / ethical challenges
- Workshop 3: Writing your dissertation / using the library
- Workshop 4: The dissertation conference / the supervision and submission process
- Dissertation Conference
Term 3:
- Supervision sessions
Supervision:
You are entitled to three one-hour supervision meetings with your dissertation supervisor. Supervision can take place in a range of formats (for example, face to face or online). It is the responsibility of the student to arrange these meetings with their supervisor.
Supervisors can offer formative feedback on up to 5,000 words.
- The first meeting will take place early on in the process. This will allow you to discuss and refine your initial ideas and plan your research for the project.
- The second meeting will allow you to discuss how your research is progressing.
- The third supervision meeting will take place at a later stage in your writing process, and will enable you to discuss feedback on an extract of your project
It is expected that the formal supervision process will be concluded by the end of Term 3 (summer term). Since the dissertation is an independent study project, supervisors should not provide any substantial assistance after this date.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | 581 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 8 | Workshop Lectures (4x2) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 3 | Supervisions to be arranged by student |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 8 | Dissertation Conference |
| Guided independent study | 581 | Research, reading, and preparation of dissertation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation (dissertation conference) | 3 minutes | 5-7 | Staff and Peer Feedback |
| Extended Proposal/Plan and written extract/ draft chapter | Up to 5,000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback with tutorial follow up |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 100 | 15,000 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation (15,000 words) | Dissertation (15,000 words) | 1-7 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Hansen, A., & Machin, D. (2018). Media and communication research methods. Bloomsbury Publishing.
- Jensen, K. B. (Ed.). (2020). A handbook of media and communication research: Qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Routledge.
- Quan-Haase, A., & Sloan, L. (2017). The SAGE handbook of social media research methods. The SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods, 1-728.
- Berger, A. A. (2018). Media and communication research methods: An introduction to qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sage Publications.
- Park, D. W., & Pooley, J. (Eds.). (2008). The history of media and communication research: Contested memories. Peter Lang.
| Credit value | 60 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 30 |
| Module pre-requisites | CMMM001: Media and Communications: Theory and Concepts |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 14/04/2023 |
| Last revision date | 14/04/2023 |
