Unit name | Dissertation and Research Design |
---|---|
Unit code | GEOGM0042 |
Credit points | 60 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
Unit director | Dr. Naomi Millner |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
The dissertation is based upon an independent research project developed by the individual student in consultation with an Advisor. The dissertation provides students with practical experience of formulating, designing, and undertaking a substantive and original piece of social science research. Students are introduced to key principles of research design and research ethics through intensive training in this unit. The submitted dissertation is evaluated to judge the individual student’s ability to formulate, design and conduct independent research into a clearly defined research problem; to select and deploy appropriate methodologies in investigating the problem; and to assess critically the relationships between empirical research findings and broader substantive and conceptual issues.
Successful completion of the dissertation will:
Briefing lectures and tutorials, plus an intensive series of workshops
(10%) Short individual presentation on research design and ethics, to be given immediately after an intensive series of workshops in late May or early June. [ILOs 1]
(90%) 10000 to 15000 word dissertation (including footnotes, bibliography and appendices). Meeting the length limit is part of the task and in the interests of equity, examiners may deduct marks for excessive length. [ILOs 1-6]
There are a huge number of texts that provide advice on various aspects of conducting research, from project design and methods, analysing data, to write-up and dissemination.
Kitchin, R and Tate, N 2000 Conducting Research into Human Geography, Prentice Hall