Dissertation by Placement MSc Social Research (P01990)

? Credit Points : 60 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-P01990

All students undertake a 15,000 word dissertation on a topic (largely) of their choosing. For those undertaking the placement dissertation, the topic should be chosen so as to be appropriate to their placement context. The dissertation is an extended piece of scholarship which provides an opportunity to pursue in some depth an interest. It should be submitted by a date specified in the University Regulations. It should demonstrate an ability to engage critically and analytically in literature in the field, building upon relevant concepts and theory covered in the taught element of the degree. There is usually expected to be a balance of empirical and theoretical work. However, students are not required to conduct primary empirical research. The subject should be chosen iteratIvely on the basis of students' own interests, what subjects staff are able to supervise, and what is feasible in terms of the literature and time available.

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Entry Requirements

none

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 : 1 hour(s) per week for 30 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

To provide the student with the opportunity to work in a placement of their choosing, which could be within a public sector, voluntary, charitable or private organisation actively engaged in social research.
- To test the ability of students to undertake a sustained piece of supervised but independent work which displays the research skills, training and knowledge acquired in the previous coursework.
- to test the ability of students to demonstrate an ability to engage critically and analytically with the literature in the field of their specialist interest.
- to develop and test the ability of students to employ relevant social science concepts and theories in formulating a thesis.
- to test the ability of students to identify and explore a body of primary sources
- to examine the ability of students to manage the conduct, presentation, and timing of an independent research project, employing appropriate data-ana