Unit information: Dissertation (MSc Counselling) in 2014/15

Unit name	Dissertation (MSc Counselling)
Unit code	ACHSM0006
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Sutton-Spence
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Research Methods for Counselling and other Therapeutic Settings
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Applied Community and Health Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit provides opportunity for students' own independent guided research, exploring a topic of specific interest to the student that is relevant to both theory and practice. Through their dissertation, students will demonstrate their capability to identify an innovative topic, establish a research question or aim, choose and implement the appropriate methodology, analyse data and provide a report which will be of value to the research community and practitioners.

Aims:

The unit aims to prepare and support students in the production of their small scale research projects and the writing up of these.

The practice of carrying out of the research study will lead to the development of an honours level dissertation and appropriate level of expertise in research, writing a literature review, conducting a small scale research project using a suitable method, analysing and interpreting data, and presenting and discussing findings.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit under general supervision students will demonstrate their ability to:

• design and implement an independently motivated and ethically sound investigation in the area of their chosen topic

• construct an effective literature review

• develop a suitable set of research questions

• implement an appropriate research method aimed at answering the questions

• manage the research process from conception to submission

• complete a 10,000 word thesis which is appropriately constructed, internally consistent and well written.

• apply all the necessary academic conventions relating to acknowledgment and referencing.

Teaching Information

Workshops, seminars, presentations, and tutorials.

Assessment Information

Students will prepare and submit a 10,000 word dissertation submitted at the end of Semester 3 of the programme. Criteria for the assessment of this will include:

• Overall effectiveness of critical analysis
• In-depth appreciation of issues
• Applicability of material to counselling
• Appropriate research questions developed
• Appropriate research methods used
• Conclusions drawn from evidence/analysis
• Range of sources
• Logical structure
• Clarity of communication
• Effective presentation and accuracy of referencing

Reading and References

• Bell, J. (2005) Doing Your Research Project, Milton Keynes: Open University Press

• Gilbert, N. (2009) Researching Social Life (3rd Edition), London: Sage

• Gray, D. E. (2004) Doing Research in the Real World, London: Sage

• Levin, P. (2005) Excellent Dissertations!, Milton Keynes: Open University Press

• Murray, R. (2006) How to Write a Thesis (2nd Edition), Milton Keynes: Open University Press

• White P. (2009) Developing research questions : a guide for social scientists, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan