Public Adminstration-Based Dissertation

Module title	Public Adminstration-Based Dissertation
Module code	INT3608B
Academic year	2019/0
Credits	30
Module staff	Yvette Bryan (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		10	5

Number students taking module (anticipated)	40

Module description

This module prepares students for conducting independent research. It provides an opportunity for the student to design a research project in a business area of interest, to collect and analysis data. The module includes secondary and primary research, consideration of ethical issues and academic criticism on the journey to producing an extended piece of written work (6000 words), as well as a presentation based upon the student experience of the process, this module helps prepare students for academic research and writing.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module will prepare students for project proposal and dissertation writing. The dissertation itself brings together all the skills and knowledge students have gained in the taught programme. It gives students the opportunity to apply these skills to a specific business based programme. Students will be encouraged to develop independent study skills and be given an opportunity to develop their communication and preparation skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

1. Demonstrate understanding of how to make correct use of source material for study
2. Demonstrate skills in data collection and research for writing a dissertation
3. Give an oral presentation on your dissertation

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

4. Analyse research data
5. Apply theory to a practical situation
6. Evaluate research material

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

7. Demonstrate self-management skills including the ability to set personal objectives, manage time and tasks and evaluate your own performance
8. Learn effectively and be aware of your own learning strategies, learning independently and co-operatively

Syllabus plan

Research topic selection. Paradigms of research. Using the literature and the literature review. Research design, methodology and methods. Creating a research proposal. Primary and secondary data sources. Qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Research ethics. Data reliability and validity. Reporting and presenting research.

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
30	270	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Contact Hour	10	Lectures
	10	Seminars
	10	Tutorials
Secondary Research	120	Collecting, evaluating and describing other published works on the chosen subject
Primary Research	120	Designing, implementing and evaluating a small-scale research project
Presentation preparation and rehearsal	30	Summarising the research & dissertation, including critical reflection.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Research topic choice support, review of project design, data collection methods, data analysis and project results.	Not specified	1, 2, 5-8	E-mail or verbal

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
80	0	20

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Project Proposal including preliminary theoretical literature reviews	20	1,500 words	1, 2, 5, 6	Written
1 individual presentation of the dissertation findings	20	15 minutes	1-6	Verbal and Written
Dissertation	60	6000 words	1, 2, 4-8	Written

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
Project Proposal including preliminary theoretical literature reviews	Re-submission	1, 2, 5-8	2 weeks after results publication
Presentation	Individual viva	1-6	Within 4 weeks of examination board
Dissertation	Re-submission	1, 2, 4-6	Within 4 weeks of examination board

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for reasons judged legitimate by the Mitigation Committee, the applicable assessment will normally be deferred. See ‘Details of reassessment’ for the form that assessment usually takes. When deferral occurs there is ordinarily no change to the overall weighting of that assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to take a re-sit exam and re-submission. Only your performance in this exam will count towards your final module grade. A grade of 40% will be awarded if the examination is passed.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Collis, J. & Hussey, R. (2014). Business Research, A Practical guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students (4th Ed.).Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan.

Saunders, M. & Lewis, P. (2014). Doing Research in Business and Management . London: Pearson. http://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/plus/C__SDoing%20Research%20in%20Business%20and%20Management%20__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=cobalt

Available online via DawsonEra please logon via Exeter IT if prompted.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3294

University of Exeter Library online catalogue

Key words search

Research, dissertation, data, methodology

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	2001
Last revision date	16/07/2018