Dissertation (MSW) (P00658)

? Credit Points : 60 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-P00658

The dissertation course is an independent programme of study in which students are engaged throughout their degree programme which culminates in the submission of a 13,000 word dissertation. Students are expected to take responsibility for identifying their chosen topic, carrying out all the necessary work and producing the dissertation. Input on dissertation preparation is provided through three workshop sessions and students will be encouraged to keep a learning log or diary detailing their developing knowledge of their topic. In addition, individual support and guidance in the form of written feedback work is available at key points through the process, and students may request additional help if needed.

The MSW dissertation is not designed as an empirical study. Instead, its focus is an investigation of a social work topic through two fields of enquiry: firstly, a critical appraisal of written sources (research and literature, legislation, policy documents relevant to the topic etc) and secondly, an analysis of material from discussion with key informants (e.g. practitioners, researchers, service user groups, managers from social work and social care settings). Students are expected to bring together these two sources into a series of implications for social work policy and practice.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Social Work in Context; Social Science for Social Work; Research and Evaluation in Social Work; Learning for Practice (PG) 1

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of Social and Political Studies), (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 3 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Ability to work independently

Ability to think and write creatively

Ability to carry out a literature search (through library and internet research) and identify relevant reading

Ability to examine a topic in depth, critically analysing sources and producing a balanced review of evidence

Ability to set up meetings and interview key informants purposefully

Ability to write at length coherently and to purpose

Ability to identify implications for social work policy and practice

Ability to work to and meet deadlines

Assessment Information

The student's study is assessed formatively through the proposal and critical review of the literature (its submission is a pre-requisite for progress to dissertation) and summatively through the 13000 word dissertation. It is intended to test:

a) the participant's knowledge, understanding and critical appraisal of theory and research findings related to the topic;

b) the participant's ability to examine a topic in depth, drawing on material from a range of sources to carry out an empirical research activity;

c) the participant's ability to use research methods, and to present a critical evaluation of his/her material demonstrating a mastery of the subject;

d) the participant's understanding of the implications of this material for social work policy, practice and management. Reference should be made to the legal context of the topic undertaken.