Dissertation

PCHN60311 Dissertation 60 Full year Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Helen Chilton Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 30.0 By the end of the course unit students will:<ul> <li>Produce a thorough critique of the relevant literature</li> <li>Formulate a sensible, coherent research question, which can be realistically addressed in the dissertation timescale</li> <li>Formulate and use a methodology, or methodologies, appropriate for the research question</li> <li>Examine and evaluate the research data using appropriate statistical analysis tools</li> <li>Appraise the study and produce a thesis adhering to the MSc guidelines</li></ul> Students can generate their own project ideas but a list of projects is available from programme team which you are able to select. An MSc workshop will be organized in  October of the first year to promote thought and discussion around your project. It is useful to discuss your ideas with colleagues and to get a variety of views to help to focus on a specific area. When choosing a project it might be helpful to think about the following:<ul> <li>Your dissertation is not an attempt at solving the problems of the world or all those in deaf education</li> <li>A good dissertation is one that examines a tightly structured problem/research question, is clearly focused and takes a critical approach with a relevant methodology /structure</li> <li>You might have lots of reasons to be passionate about a particular topic/problem , but will need to convey the importance of this to the reader</li> <li>You will need to make appropriate use of previous work relating to the problem being studied but taking a critical aspect</li> <li>Deaf Education is a pragmatic discipline so dissertations can include discussion of the relevance of your findings, the ‘so what’ factor and what changes and recommendations you think would increase further knowledge and improve a population’s educational experience or a specific group’s experience [deaf children, parents/families of deaf children, Teachers of the Deaf, Deaf adults etc..].</li> <li>You will be expected to show how your work is relevant to the field of deaf education. </li></ul>If your study requires you to data collect you may need ethical approval from the University. Your researcher supervisor will support you in this process. The following dissertation options are available:<ol> <li>Research grant proposal</li> <li>Quantitative research report using existing data</li> <li>A systematic review</li> <li>An Educational report/needs assessment [this would usually be at a strategic/regional level].</li> <li>A qualitative study –a metasynthesis, qualitative study using available data, a theoretical review, a policy or discourse analysis</li></ol> To allow students to conduct an independent piece of research on a specific topicTo produce a written report of the research in the form of a thesis By the end of the course unit students will:<ul> <li>Produce a thorough critique of the relevant literature</li> <li>Formulate a sensible, coherent research question, which can be realistically addressed in the dissertation timescale</li> <li>Formulate and use a methodology, or methodologies, appropriate for the research question</li> <li>Examine and evaluate the research data using appropriate statistical analysis tools</li> <li>Appraise the study and produce a thesis adhering to the MSc guidelines</li></ul> <ul> <li>Written communication whilst on placement, to monitor assess and promote effective audiological management</li> <li>Oral communication, giving both formal and informal presentations</li> <li>Interpersonal skills, advocating for optimum practice whilst on placement</li> <li>Initiative, seeking help as necessary on campus and on placement</li> <li>Self-regulatory skills in taking opportunities to gain extra experience whilst balancing other demands of the course </li></ul> Students will have at least six meetings with the dissertation supervisor over the year, to discuss the aims and objectives of the study, to enable the student to arrive at a final design, and to facilitate the conducting and writing up of the research. Such meetings may be in person, by phone or via Skype or similar electric platform. Supervisors will give general advice and help with analysis when necessary, and will provide feedback on one draft version of the final dissertation.When checking the length of your work you should remember that the following do not count towards the total:<ol> <li>Names in brackets (e.g. Savel, 1991) which relate to references in the reference list;</li> <li>The reference list itself;</li> <li>Words which form the title or other legend on a graph or chart</li></ol> 0 Other 100% A 10,000 – 12,000 word dissertation based on the piece of independent, empirical research, submitted by the agreed deadline. You may submit before the deadline but you must notify your supervisor and Programme Administrator of your intended submission date.  The dissertation will be marked according to the criteria. Written feedback MSc Deaf Education MSc Deaf Education 3 Yr OnCamp PGDT Dissertation Mandatory N All references and reading materials as well as links to other resources are on line and available through Reading lists online Lectures 20 0 580