Dissertation [MSc RRR]

PLAN64170 Dissertation [MSc RRR] 60 Full year Postgraduate Taught Level 6 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 30.0 Students on Postgraduate Masters degree programmes within the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management are required to prepare a dissertation of 12,000 words on an agreed topic. This unit provides students with an opportunity to both synthesise existing scholarly work and conduct their own research, thereby contributing novel insights to the field of nature recovery, restoration or rewilding. Students are free to consider a wide range of relevant topics, subject to approval on the basis of advisory expertise from staff in the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management and the feasibility of undertaking the topic within the timescale of the programme. The process of conducting an independent research project and writing a dissertation involves identifying a research problem, proposing a research aim and objectives/questions, reviewing existing literature, selecting appropriate methodologies, collecting and analysing data, presenting findings in a coherent manner and discussing the implications of the findings in the context of existing literature. Throughout this unit, students will get the opportunity to develop advanced research capabilities, enhance their critical thinking, and improve their writing, communication and presentation skills, all of which are essential for both academic and professional success. Upon completion of their dissertation, students will have not only produced a substantial piece of academic work but also developed a deep understanding of their chosen topic. This enhances their expertise in their field and prepares them for future academic pursuits or professional careers. Students on Postgraduate Masters degree programmes within the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management are required to prepare a dissertation of 12,000 words on an agreed topic. This unit provides students with an opportunity to both synthesise existing scholarly work and conduct their own research, thereby contributing novel insights to the field of nature recovery, restoration or rewilding. Students are free to consider a wide range of relevant topics, subject to approval on the basis of advisory expertise from staff in the Department of Planning, Property and Environmental Management and the feasibility of undertaking the topic within the timescale of the programme. The process of conducting an independent research project and writing a dissertation involves identifying a research problem, proposing a research aim and objectives/questions, reviewing existing literature, selecting appropriate methodologies, collecting and analysing data, presenting findings in a coherent manner and discussing the implications of the findings in the context of existing literature. Throughout this unit, students will get the opportunity to develop advanced research capabilities, enhance their critical thinking, and improve their writing, communication and presentation skills, all of which are essential for both academic and professional success. Upon completion of their dissertation, students will have not only produced a substantial piece of academic work but also developed a deep understanding of their chosen topic. This enhances their expertise in their field and prepares them for future academic pursuits or professional careers. The unit aims to:- Provide students with an opportunity to plan, manage and conduct an in-depth, advanced enquiry on a topic of interest related to nature recovery, restoration and/or rewilding; - Develop students’ skills in conducting a review of existing literature and selecting an appropriate research methodology and methods to add to that body of knowledge; - Provide students with an opportunity to apply data collection and analytics skills, developed in other course units, in a research context; - Facilitate students to explore and contribute to knowledge about a current issue that has direct topicality related to nature recovery, restoration and/or rewilding - Enhance students' writing, presentation and bibliographic skills <ul><li>Identify, synthesise and communicate the research problem relating to the chosen topic of enquiry and its relevance to nature recovery, restoration and rewilding</li><li>Comprehend and outline the different stages of the research process from planning, approval to dissemination.</li><li>Identify the importance of conducting ethically sound research in nature recovery, restoration and rewilding</li></ul> <ul><li>Critically assess the complexities of the research process, including the analysis of different literature/documents, the analysis and interpretation of data.</li><li>Apply relevant theoretical concepts in devising, applying and critiquing the chosen methodology, methods, and data analysis.</li><li>Synthesise and conceptualise research data into relatable findings and recommendations.</li></ul> <ul><li>Identify and apply a range of advanced research skills, which may include: ecological surveys, other field surveys, questionnaire design, interviews, observation; and the recording, analysis and interpretation of qualitative and/or quantitative data.</li><li>Articulate the research process and research findings in an agreed format and appropriate written style using terminology and academic language.</li></ul> <ul><li>Employ diverse software, digital tools and analytical techniques that are required and valued in professional practice</li></ul> Lecture-based sessions: 2 x 2 hour sessions (4 hours) Core content on dissertation and research ethics is taught in lecture-based sessions in Semester 2. E-learning content is provided via the VLE including interactive material using a range of multimedia sources.Tutorials: 6 hours Students will use supervision meetings to engage with their advisors to further develop their research plans based on the research proposals they submitted in year 2 and gain further advice on the dissertation including ethics, data collection, analysis, and presentation of findings.Drop-in sessions will be available during the summer vacation period for students to ask general and technical questions.Assessment and independent learning: 590 hours Students will conduct independent learning and research, which includes searching for and reading literature, formulating research questions and objectives, designing methodology, collecting and analysing data, and writing and presenting the findings. In this process, students will be assisted with formative feedback from the teaching team via drop-in sessions and from their supervisors. 4 Dissertation 100% Dissertation 12,000 words 100% Written feedback will be provided upon publication of final degree results N • Adams, John., Khan, H.T.A. and Raeside, Robert. (2014). Research Methods for Business and Social Science Students. 2nd ed. New Delhi: SAGE Publications. • Berry, R. (2004) The Research Project: how to write it, Fifth Edition, Routledge, London.  • Cottrell, S., 2019. The Study Skills Handbook. Bloomsbury Publishing. • Creswell, J. (2003) Research Design: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Method Approaches, second edition, Sage, London.  • Frankfort-Nachmias, C. and Nachmias, D. (2007) Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Arnold, London.  • Karban, R., Huntzinger, M. and Pearse, I.S., 2023. How to do Ecology: A concise handbook. Princeton University Press. • Kitchin, R. and Tate, N. (2013). Conducting research in human geography theory, methodology and practice. Abingdon, Oxford, England: Taylor and Francis. • Montello, D. and Sutton, P. (2012) An introduction to scientific research methods in geography and environmental studies (Vol. 1). Sage, London. • Parsons, T. and Knight, P.G. (2015). How to Do Your Dissertation in Geography and Related Disciplines. Third edition. London: Taylor & Francis Group.  • Robson, C. (2011) Real World Research, third edition, John Wiley, London.  • Vero, S.E., 2021. Fieldwork Ready: An Introductory Guide to Field Research for Agriculture, Environment, and Soil Scientists (Vol. 188). John Wiley & Sons. • Wheater, C.P., Bell, J.R. and Cook, P.A., 2020. Practical Field Ecology: A project guide. John Wiley & Sons. • Wiersma, Y.F., 2022. Experimental Landscape Ecology. Springer International Publishing. • Yin, R. (2013) Case Study Research: Design and Methods, fifth edition, Sage, London.   Lectures 4 Tutorials 6 0 590