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Dissertation

Module description

The dissertation module provides you with an opportunity to devise and develop an original research project of your choosing. Focusing on understandings of, and the intersections between, diverse cultures and environments of health, you will conduct your own independent research (either archival/library based, or incorporating empirical data). You will be able to consolidate much of what you have learnt throughout the taught element of the programme, whilst exploring and developing key areas of interest. The dissertation can arise from practice (for example, from a research question that an organisation wants answering) or from debates in academic research.  The transdisciplinary nature of this programme means there is plenty of scope for your dissertation to add original data and analysis and contribute to our growing understanding of the inter-relations between cultures and environments of health. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module you will pursue an individual programme of social research, applying appropriate research methodologies and drawing on appropriate materials, to a title approved by the programme director and under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
The aims of the dissertation module are to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your abilities in the collection, handling and ordering of material; to communicate effectively; demonstrate your understanding of the inter-relationships of cultures and environments of health; and identify implications of new knowledge for policy and/or practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of transdisciplinary health scholarship, theory and methods
• 2. Design an individual programme of research which identifies a cogent and realistic research question and utilises appropriate research methods to acquire data from a range of relevant sources
• 3. Undertake an original, coherent individual research project which makes a valuable contribution to scholarship.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources across the humanities, social and medical sciences
• 5. Apply appropriate theoretical models in the analysis of your data
• 6. Develop a cogent argument and communicate complex information and ideas effectively, conforming to appropriate scholarly standards of referencing.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Effectively use a range of sources and IT skills for information retrieval and presentation
• 8. Manage your own work and take responsibility for the successful completion of the research project.

Syllabus plan

• A workshop on planning a proposal and what makes a good dissertation
• A student-led workshop on dissertation research and writing
• At least four supervision meetings: one to initiate the dissertation, followed by three meetings to provide academic guidance including specific feedback on draft work.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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

• Brett-Davies, M. (2007) Doing a Successful Research Project, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
• Burton, D. (ed.) (2000), Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers, London: Sage
• Furseth, I. (2013) Doing your Master’s Dissertation: From Start to Finish, London: Sage
• Green, J. and Thorogood, N. (2018) Qualitative Methods for Health Research, London: Sage
• McClean, S., Bray, I., de Viggiani, N., Bird, E. and Pilkington, P. (2020) Research Methods for Public Health, London: Sage