1. Dissertation / Research project
Professor Cathia Jenainati

2. Plan—session 1 What are dissertations / research projects?
What learning outcomes am I expected to demonstrate?
What will I be taught?
How much independent work am I expected to do?
What format / structure am I allowed to use?
Plan—session 1

3. What are dissertations?
Research project, not a long essay
Opportunity to delve into a topic that you are passionate about
Opportunity to bring together various seemingly disparate intellectual concerns
Your own, individual, original response to a problem
A well-researched, academically conceived, impactful project

4. Learning outcomes By the end of the module you will have:
Learned to design a feasible research project
Planned, implemented and managed a research project
Produced a piece of original research that is based on a topic from your chosen discipline or Specialist Interest
Presented an argument that engages with the topical issue from a variety of perspectives
Presented the findings of your research project in a public forum

5. Teaching pattern Five weeks of scheduled lectures in Year 3-Term 1
Identifying a topical issue and focusing it on a feasible research project
Designing a research project
Implementing and managing a research project
Constructing an interdisciplinary argument
Managing the relationship with your supervisor(s)

6. Supervisions can be conducted in group or individually
Supervision pattern
Fortnightly supervision sessions of 30 minutes each for a total of 12 supervisions
Supervisions can be conducted in group or individually

7. Assessment Viva = 20% Quality of the proposal (10%)
Response to and engagement with feedback (10%)
Evidence of sound deployment of research methods (10%)
Originality in design and level of critical thinking, etc… (50%)
Dissertation / Project = 80%

8. Independent Research 12 supervision sessions = 6 hours
5 lectures = 5 hours
289 hours of independent work; how will you manage your time?
30 CATS = 300 hours of effort
72 days of working 4 hours / day
My recommendation

9. Format 8,000-10,000 words or equivalent Written submission
Creative submission + Written critical reflection
Performance
Visual production
Online production

10. Typical components Introduction Literature Review Methodology Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography

11. Timeline End of term 2 – Start of term 3 : find your project
weeks 1-2 : meet your personal tutor and identify a supervisor
week 3 : prepare your proposal (use the template)
week 4 : submit your proposal (online form)
week 7 : supervisor allocations published; you receive feedback on the proposal
weeks 8- 9 : Revise your proposal and re-submit by Monday week 9
Before you leave campus: agree a plan of work for the summer

12. Session 2

13. Research Proposal Title Context Issue-Problem-Questions Objectives
Methodology
Scope and Limitations
Ethical Considerations

14. Proposal : Title Descriptive No Abbreviations, no acronyms
Avoid being flippant, sarcastic, and using colourful language
Use subtitles to clarify

15. Proposal : Introduce the context
what is your research area?
What is your motivation for undertaking this research?
Why is this research important?
How will your research contribute to the extant knowledge in this field?
Approx. 200 – 300 words

16. Proposal: Issue – Problem - Questions
provide a clear and concise explication of how you see your research in relation to overall issues that you are researching;
identify 2-3 research questions that will guide you towards addressing the problem
Approx. words

17. Proposal: Objectives
provide a list of goals that will be achieved through the proposed research;
what benefits will be achieved if the research problem is addressed?
Approx. 200 – 300 words

18. Proposal : Methodology
explain what method(s) you will use to undertake this research;
how will you collect information?
How will you go about analysing this information?
Approx. 200 – 250 words

19. Proposal : Scope and Limitations
Scope : breadth; what will be covered
Limitations : what will be left out, and why?
Approx words

20. Proposal : Ethical Considerations
Discuss any ethical considerations that may affect your research
Outline how you plan to deal with these considerations
Familiarise yourself with the ethical approval procedures in the department and confirm that you will abide by them
150 – 200 words

21. Proposal : Additional information
List of references
Mention any modules that you have already taken and which will inform your research
Mention modules that you may wish to audit or enrol on next year

22. Reminder : Timeline
End of term 2 – Start of term 3 : find your project
weeks 1-2 : meet your personal tutor and identify a supervisor
week 3 : prepare your proposal (use the template)
week 4 : submit your proposal (online form)
week 7 : supervisor allocations published; you receive feedback on the proposal
weeks 8- 9 : Revise your proposal and re-submit by Monday week 9
Before you leave campus: agree a plan of work for the summer