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Independent Research

Module description

This module provides you with the opportunity to carry out an in-depth and sustained research project on a subject of interest to you, resulting in the production of a dissertation. This independent research project is an important step in developing your specialism in the field of Arab & Islamic Studies. You should choose your topic in consultation with an academic supervisor—normally from the Institute—who will then guide you through the research and writing process.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This project aims to allow you to acquire knowledge of a particular subject, to benefit from one-to-one tuition from a specialist in the field, and to develop your research skills. These include the ability to collate, assess, analyse and order material from relevant types of sources, and the ability to communicate ideas, arguments and findings in academic prose.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Acquire knowledge of the issues which form the subject matter of the dissertation;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 2. Acquire knowledge of relevant literature in the field;
• 3. Collate, analyse and assess material from a range of sources, including primary sources (where relevant).
• 4. Understand and use relevant terminology, and engage with different theoretical approaches and debates in the field.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Develop the capacity to work independently and to organise your own time to produce a substantial piece of research to a deadline;
• 6. Collate and critique material to produce a coherent, well-planned, well-presented and well-argued piece of academic research.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that your engagement with your supervisor and online course information will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Identifying a suitable research topic
• Writing a research proposal
• Researching and writing a literature review
• Deciding upon a methodology and approach
• Planning the dissertation and time management
• Academic writing and development of a coherent narrative

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)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Atkinson, P. A. (et al.) (2007), Handbook of Ethnography, Sage

Brady, H. E. and Collier, D. (2004), Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards , Rowman and Littlefield

Burnham, P.,Gilland, K.,Grant, W.and Layton-Henry,Z.(2004), Research Methods in Politics, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

Burton, D.(ed) (2000), Research Training for Social Scientists , SAGE.

Creswell, J.W. (2008), Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches , Sage

DiYanni, R. (2007), Writing about the Humanities (3rd ed.), Prentice Hall

Dunleavy, P. (2003), Authoring a PhD , Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

King, G, Keohane, R.O.and Verba,S. (1994), Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton University Press.

Silverman, D. (ed) (2004), Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice, SAGE

Storey, W.K. (2008), Writing History. A Guide for Students (3^rd ed.), Oxford University Press

Turabian, K. (1996), A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9704

Key words search

Dissertation, skills, approaches, research