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EDUC56660: Postgraduate Dissertation

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 60
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Education

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • EDUC47120 Design & Methods in Education Research

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To enable students to research an appropriate educational issue through the use of a justified research strategy and report the outcomes satisfactorily.

Content

  • The focus of the dissertation will be decided in consultation between the student and the supervisor.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Critically appraise a body of literature related to their specialist topic;
  • Apply an appropriate research approach to their enquiry;
  • Apply academic and professional ethical codes of conduct in the design and conduct of their research;
  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of their research approach;
  • Appreciate the complexities of educational research;
  • Report on the outcomes of their enquiry in a scholarly fashion.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of the module students will be able to:
  • Locate and analyse independently a relevant range of educational research;
  • Design and carry out an appropriate educational research study;
  • Demonstrate an ability to act on feedback;
  • Write a report in accordance with accepted academic conventions.

Key Skills:

  • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
  • Demonstrate an ability to work independently;
  • Demonstrate an ability to work ethically;
  • Demonstrate an ability to solve problems;
  • Demonstrate an ability to manage their time effectively.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Workshops on elements of the research and writing process
  • Tutorial supervision
  • Resources supplied by tutors and peers
  • Summative presentation to peers
  • Formative feedback from tutors
  • Written summative assessment of a 15,000-word dissertation

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
SupervisionAs required9Yes
Workshops5 1.5 hours7.5Yes
Summative Presentation1One day7Yes
Preparation, independent reading and writing576.5 
Total600 
 

Summative Assessment

Component: DissertationComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Dissertation15,000 words85Yes
Ethics ApplicationPass/Fail0 
Conference Presentation15 minutes15Yes

Formative Assessment

Dissertation proposal - 1000 words maximum. Draft dissertation material - 20% maximum. 300 word conference abstract. All students are given regular formative feedback from the supervisor on the progress of the dissertation through tutorial discussions and the presentation of draft material.

More information

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