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Dissertation

Module description

This module pertains to the individual specialist project module for students taking the MSc Economics (Development Economics), MSc Money and Banking and MSc Financial Economics programme.

For Development Economics students, this will be a specialist applied project where students will have the opportunity to develop an original Development Intervention Proposal. For MSc Money, Banking and Finance and MSc Financial Economics students, this module will  provide students with the opportunity to independently produce a carefully designed, original and scientifically rigorous literature review and/or empirical study of a topic drawn from the field of Economics, Money and Banking and/or Finance. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

For Development Economics students, student will develop skills to identify and analyse an economic problem in the context of people living in poverty. The student will acquire knowledge of the existing literature, identify the key economic trade-offs, apply necessary tools to analyse these trade-offs, and analyse the economic problem using appropriate rigorous social science techniques.

For Money, Banking and Finance and Financial Economics students, the aim of writing a literature review is to understand and critically analyse and summarize the findings of previous research of a topic drawn from a field of choice. The review should describe, summarise, evaluate and clarify the existing literature on a given topic. A good literature review should (i) compare and contrast different author’s views on an issue, (ii) group authors who draw similar conclusions, (iii) criticise aspects of methodology, (iv) note areas in which authors are in disagreement, (v) highlight exemplary studies, (vi) highlight gaps in research and (vii) conclude by summarising what the literature says. The aim of an empirical study is to apply empirical skills to draw new conclusions by carrying out an original analysis of data. The study should review the existing literature, describe the data and methodology, carry out the analysis and report the findings.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Plan and execute an original literature survey, empirical research or intervention proposal extensively and critically on a chosen academic topic
• 2. Demonstrate application of the underlying discipline concepts and/or research processes

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 3. Use appropriate information, research and data resources (via library or Business School data sources)
• 4. Assemble and synthesise a complex body of relevant, existing research

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 5. Pursue, under supervision, a sustained program of individual work outside of a classroom setting
• 6. Evaluate critically existing ideas and to perceive areas of weakness or areas which may be usefully analysed
• 7. Complete, as an individual, a multistage task within a defined period, as assisted by the supervision process

Syllabus plan

• Stage 1: Proposals as agreed with module convenor
• Stage 2: Proposal submission and assessment
• Stage 3: Writing and submission of project to a deadline in September (exact date to be announced)

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 have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. 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 expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Students will read recent research articles relevant to their specific project following introductory textbooks as in the list below:

• Caulley, D. (1992). Writing a Critical Review of the Literature. Bundoora: La Trobe University
• Cooper, H. (1998). Synthesizing research a guide for literature reviews (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications
• Galvan, J. (2009). Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioural sciences (4th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Pyrczak
• Greenlaw, S. (2006). Doing economics: A guide to understanding and carrying out economic research. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
• Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students (5th ed.). Harlow, England: Prentice Hall

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• Google Scholar (www.scholar.google.com )
• Econlit (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/media/level1/academicserviceswebsite/library/documents/essentialsguides/econlit.pdf)
• Ideas (https://ideas.repec.org/ )

Key words search

 Economics, Research