Real World Research: Designing Your Dissertation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• 2.Design a study to address these research questions including relevant and appropriate tools and techniques for sampling, data collection and data analysis.
• 6.Produce a clearly written research proposal for a dissertation
• 3.Identify methodological challenges of a research project and propose ways to address them.
• 5.Present and discuss research design ideas to peers and staff
• 1.Undertake a literature review for a research study, outlining and synthesising relevant substantive and methodological debates and drawing on these to formulate clearly articulated research questions.
• 4.Identify ethical issues and data practices associated with research and take action in accordance with the guidelines of ethical practice developed by the BSA, SRA BCA and cognate professional bodies

Research in the real world – understanding the research process

Reviewing the literature - establishing what we know and what we want to know

Forming research questions – employing an epistemological lens

Designing research -Qualitative and quantitative methods for collecting and analysing data

Research ethics, data management and policy

This module is delivered via a programme of 5 x 2 hour interactive lectures, 5 x 1 hour workshops in the first half of semester 1. Lecture content will include guest segments by SSPC staff discussing their own research. The workshops will support students through the research design process from a short ‘1 pager’ of ideas to producing a fully formed research proposal. Students will be supported to present and discuss their designs with peers and staff. In week 6 students will submit a research proposal. This will be a short, structured document with a 1500 word limit. Module grade will be based on 2% for the 1 pager, and 98% for the proposal.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.