Unit information: D.Soc.Sci. Dissertation in 2017/18

Unit name	D.Soc.Sci. Dissertation
Unit code	SPOLD1006
Credit points	300
Level of study	D/8
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Payne
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

A major component of the Doctor of Social Science (Policy Studies) programme is the dissertation. This allows the students to demonstrate the ability to develop a topic from policy-related fields, establish an appropriate and original research question and methodology, analyse data and provide an analysis which will be of value to the research community as well as being of significance to the policy/practice world. The research and the analysis will be informed by theory and the dissertation will make an original contribution to knowledge in the field. The dissertation is supervised by University staff and will be assessed against the usual criteria of innovation which characterises typical doctoral dissertation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, the student will demonstrate:

1. An ability to frame suitable research questions
2. An understanding of the conceptual and theoretical concerns associated with their chosen topic.
3. An understanding of, and ability to apply an appropriate research methodology to investigate their chosen topic.
4. An ability to analyse data, draw conclusions which are integrated with wider academic debates.
5. An understanding and application of ethical considerations in conducting and reporting on fieldwork.
6. An aptitude to independently plan and carry out a sustained piece of research.

Teaching Information

Self directed study

Assessment Information

Dissertation of up to 45000 words.

Reading and References

Dependant on the dissertation topic.