SPRT40160: Dissertation

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• The dissertation module aims to:
• Enable students to undertake a substantive 60-credit independent research project, through application of advanced skills and methods (acquired in core and open modules) to a specialist topic in the field of physical activity, health and society.
• Enable students to demonstrate dissemination of research to a range of audiences (academic and non-academic).

• Students will develop and execute a substantive piece of research on a specialist topic. The topic must be agreed with the dissertation supervisor and module convenor and be within the scope of the programme learning outcomes. University ethical principles must be adhered to as appropriate. Detailed guidance will be provided in the dissertation handbook, or equivalent. As part of the summative assessment, students will be required to write up their research as a formal academic thesis. Together with completion of a lay abstract and a stakeholder-oriented oral presentation (e.g. to employers), this will provide students with the opportunity to communicate research to a range of audiences.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate:
• An advanced critical understanding of methodological issues within a focused area linked to physical activity, health and society.
• An advanced critical understanding of current research, including theory and practice as appropriate, linked to a key topic within physical activity, health and society.
• Understanding of key ethics principles as related to a research project.

Subject-specific Skills:

• On completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Independently manage, problem-solve, conduct, analyse data for and report on, an advanced piece of focused research suitable for M-level study.
• Meet requirements for ethical approval, and articulate and manage these within their project as appropriate.
• Demonstrate complex critical thinking skills to research and interrogate relevant literature.
• Communicate research linked to physical activity, health and society, in a range of formats, and to a range of audiences.
• Synthesise and apply knowledge from complementary disciplines to critically understand physical activity, health and society.

Key Skills:

• On completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Communicate a substantive written research project in a clear and concise manner.
• Disseminate research to a range of audiences using different media.
• Successfully manage a research project from conception to presentation.

• Four 1-hour lectures will prepare students for the independent research project, linking directly to research methods modules available on the programme. Lectures will consider the dissertation process, research design: quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods (term 1), ethics principles (term 2). Two 1-hour workshops will allow students the opportunity to formatively engage with ethics policies and processes and to formatively practice pitching work to a non-academic audience. Ongoing formative feedback will be provided during terms 2 and 3 through up to 10 hours of tutorials with a designated dissertation supervisor and via written feedback on an initial research proposal. The summative assessment consists of three parts, the first of which is to produce a formal academic thesis. For qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods work, a word limit range will be provided. Work may differ in methodology, in terms of being (for example) qualitative, mixed methods, or quantitative, or may deal with secondary data (e.g. through systematic review). Given the interdisciplinary nature of the programme and these differences in presentation requirements, the word limit of the thesis is presented as a range. Students will also write a lay-abstract to communicate their work to a broader audience, and finally will complete an oral presentation to a range of stakeholders.
• This major research-based project will provide a 'capstone' to students Durham education and will allow them to demonstrate their ability as independent learners and researchers. Given the 60-credit nature of the module, students will be expected to undertake a study commensurate with the self-directed learning hours, and thus this will be a larger, or more in-depth project than would be taken at undergraduate level, in line with university core regulations for Masters awards.

Students will submit a formative research proposal in term 2. Written feedback will be provided. Ongoing formative feedback will be provided through up to 10 hours of tutorials with a designated dissertation supervisor.

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