Dissertation
| Module title | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Module code | GEOM107 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 60 |
| Module staff | Dr Sean Carter (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 | 11 | 14 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 5 |
|---|
Module description
The dissertation gives you the opportunity to pursue a programme of independent research of your determination in agreement with the relevant staff and should be an original and theoretically informed study. You can choose a dissertation which reflects your interest in the subject and which attempts to address current debates in your field of research.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to nurture further your skills in formulating appropriate research questions, developing a research agenda, planning and conducting a research programme, analysis and evaluation of self-generated results and communicating the corpus within a set deadline.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Collect, collate and prioritise disparate sources as appropriate
- 2. Independently select appropriate methodologies to research problems in geography
- 3. Analyse and integrate primary and secondary data in a coherent manner
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Identify and evaluate approaches to problem-solving in a highly specialised context
- 5. Present a clearly structured, well-written and appropriately illustrated dissertation
- 6. Draw valid conclusions based on an ability to synthesise and prioritise relevant data
- 7. Confidently apply understanding of concepts and theories to the research problem
- 8. Approach systematically accuracy, precision and uncertainty in their research with a high degree of autonomy
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Research a topic as an independent worker
- 10. Adhere to deadlines
- 11. Relate material appropriately to an intended audience
- 12. Adapt your knowledge to the often complex, unpredictable and specialised demands of the research process
- 13. Reflect on the research process and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your approach
Syllabus plan
Autumn term:
- Discipline research seminars
Spring Term:
- Discipline research seminars
- One seminar introducing the requirements and scope of the dissertation (short reference handbook to be provided). Dissertation proposal form to be issued and returned prior to Summer Term and Summer Vacation.
- Meeting to discuss and ratify/invite revision of the outline proposal, and to offer specific advice on research topic.
Summer term:
- Discipline research seminars
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 48.5 | 551.5 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 5 | Meetings with dissertation advisor and group meeting |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 48.5 | Geography discipline research seminars (29 x 1.5 hours) |
| Guided Independent Study | 595 | Research, reading and writing of dissertation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal | 1500 words | 1-4 | Oral, written |
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 | 15000 words | All | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | Dissertation | All | Autumn Term of next year |
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 resubmit the original assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Thematic Reading: Varies depending on individual research topic
- Dissertation Process per se: Baxter, L., Hughes, C. and Tight, M. (1996) How to Research; Bell, J. (1993) Doing your research project
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 60 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 30 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/08/2011 |
| Last revision date | 19/10/2017 |
