COMP763 MSc Dissertation Module Handbook, LBU

Module Aims:

Masters degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

●    A systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at (or informed by) the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study, or area of professional practice; 

●    A comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research or advanced scholarship;
 
●    originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline; 

●    conceptual understanding that enables: 
o    critical evaluation of current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline; 
o    the evaluation and critique of methodologies and, where appropriate, the proposal of new hypotheses.

Module Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, you should be able to:

1.    Identify realistic and coherent objectives for a project requiring research and advanced scholarship in a subject area that is appropriate to your award.

2.    Systematically and effectively apply appropriate research methods in pursuit of a clear and coherent set of objectives.

3.    Demonstrate a rigorous appreciation of the strengths and limitations of the research methods, tools and/or techniques employed and provide a substantial account of the academic, ethical and technical issues encountered in the research.

4.    Critically evaluate the evidence collected as part of the research process and reflect upon the relationship between evidence of different types and/or from different sources. 

5.    Provide and justify a balanced set of conclusions that draws upon the evidence collected, addresses the particular research questions within the chosen field of study and relates them to existing knowledge or state of the art.

6.    Create a finished piece of work that is accessible to an academic audience (and, if relevant, to a professional audience) and complies with the Harvard referencing system as well as with other previously defined criteria.

Module Learning Activities

There are no formal lectures or tutorials for the Dissertation module. You are expected to use the knowledge and skills gained from the Research Practice module and put them to practice in your own research project. You will carry out your project and dissertation work under the direction of an academic supervisor. You are advised to maintain regular contact with your supervisor.

Formative Assessments

During the course of this module, you are expected to submit two pieces of formative assessment: a proposal and a draft chapter. Although these submissions are not graded, the feedback you receive from your supervisor(s) is very important to ensure you have a viable project and are on the right track for a successful dissertation.

●    Proposal: You must submit a formal proposal (2,000-3,000 words) specifying the work you intend to carry out. A good structure to follow can be found here. Examples of good proposals and further guidance are available on the VLE. The deadline for submitting your proposal is 25/01/2024.

●    Draft Chapter: You should submit one draft chapter of your dissertation to your supervisor for feedback. This must be either the Literature Review or Methodology, and must be submitted before 18/03/2024.  The supervisor allocation process does not allow for supervisors to provide feedback on other chapters or on further draft submissions.