PSYC30510 10 Full year Undergraduate Level 6 Donna Lloyd Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <p>The dissertation is a substantial piece of individual research conducted by the student, under the guidance and supervision of a member of staff acting as advisor. The dissertation can be on any topic that the advisor feels competent to supervise (and mark) and should be mutually agreed by the student and advisor. Crucially, the dissertation topic must not overlap with the content of the student’s other final year units. Although the student and advisor may wish to share relevant references, there should be no expectation on the advisor to provide a reading list or guide literature searches.</p> <p>The dissertation is a substantial piece of individual research conducted by the student, under the guidance and supervision of a member of staff acting as advisor. The dissertation can be on any topic that the advisor feels competent to supervise (and mark) and should be mutually agreed by the student and advisor. Crucially, the dissertation topic must not overlap with the content of the student’s other final year units. Although the student and advisor may wish to share relevant references, there should be no expectation on the advisor to provide a reading list or guide literature searches.</p> <p>This unit aims to allow students to show their ability to identify, assimilate and critically evaluate a body of contemporary psychological research, demonstrating both breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding in respect to a specific question or a particular topic. The unit is designed to encourage largely independent and self-motivated study, with opportunities for discussion of key concepts with an advisor. The dissertation format provides students with the chance to demonstrate the research, organisation, writing, reasoning and communication skills they have developed over the course of their degree.</p> <ul><li>Demonstrate evidence of extensive reading of relevant and current literature</li><li>Demonstrate a good breadth and depth of knowledge on the topic under study</li><li>Demonstrate an ability to grasp complex issues (methodological, theoretical and conceptual) and disentangle core from peripheral issues</li><li>Demonstrate the relevance to the question of the information covered in the dissertation Demonstrate knowledge of APA writing conventions by citing and referencing appropriately</li></ul> <ul><li>Demonstrate the ability to present, assimilate, and summarise scholarly literature on a particular topic</li><li>Demonstrate the ability to structure, criticise and/or evaluate complex information</li><li>Demonstrate an ability to argue and persuade the reader of a given position/answer/conclusion</li><li>Demonstrate the ability to write in fluid and grammatically correct prose Present a clear, logical and concise argument</li></ul> <ul><li>Conduct research and literature reviews using a wide range of relevant materials and appropriate databases and software</li><li>Identify and collate relevant theoretical work and research findings, which together amount to a comprehensive, systematic and current review of the topic under study</li><li>Present the results of their research in a coherent and accessible form</li><li>Present material in a professional and conventional format</li></ul> <ul><li>Work largely independently</li><li>Define and elaborate a problem or question for review</li><li>Apply insights, substantive and/or methodological knowledge gained from past experience</li><li>Design an effective way of investigating a question or problem Review existing literature/research of relevance to the agreed topic</li><li>Collect relevant evidence from appropriate sources</li><li>Present a well-reasoned and clearly expressed argument Write fluently and succinctly</li><li>Cite and reference sources systematically within the conventions of the discipline</li><li>Work effectively with a advisor; conduct useful and professional meetings with an advisor</li></ul> <p>Students’ learning will be largely based on independent and self-motivated: reading, research, thoughtful and effortful evaluation; critical thinking and reasoning about a given topic. This should be supported and extended by discussions with the advisor on critical and complex issues which are relevant to the topic.</p><p>Students and advisors are expected to meet on at least three occasions. All students will attend a preliminary meeting with their advisor who will explain the learning aims and outcomes. This meeting should also involve a discussion of possible dissertation topics and agreement on a general area of interest should be reached. The student is then expected to conduct an initial review of relevant literature in order to identify a more specific focus or question for the dissertation. This focus should again be agreed with the advisor at a second meeting. Subsequent meetings will provide an opportunity for discussion of key issues and guidance on scope and progress.</p><p>Support from the advisor is expected to be limited to discussion of ideas, approach, direction and scope. The advisor is not expected to provide any specific content-related help or help with writing, and they should not read a draft of the work to be submitted. Although the student and advisor may wish to share relevant references, there should be no expectation on the advisor to provide a reading list or guide literature searches.</p> 4 Dissertation 100% <p>Meetings between the student and advisor will provide an opportunity for discussion of issues relevant to the topic of focus. Ideally, agreeing a topic of mutual interest to both parties will facilitate stimulating discussions which will help to identify critical issues and clarify an appropriate perspective. However, the student, rather than the advisor, should expect to initiate and lead such discussions. The student is encouraged to use these discussions to present their ideas to their advisor, in terms of approach, direction and scope in order to receive verbal feedback. However, the advisor is not expected to provide any specific content-related help or help with writing, and they should not provide written feedback or read a draft of the work to be submitted.</p><p>The student will receive a grade and written feedback on the submitted dissertation.</p> N Project supervision 3 0 97