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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Sociology

Postgraduate Course: Dissertation MSc by Research Sociology (80 credit) (SCIL11006)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeDissertation AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits80 ECTS Credits40
SummaryThe dissertation is an extended piece of independent scholarship in the field. It is the main work in which students demonstrate achievement of crucial learning outcomes for the MSc by Research, drawing on relevant material covered in the taught element of the degree and through supervision. The dissertation can be up to 19,000 words in length.

The nature of a dissertation for the MSc by Research may vary. For students proceeding to a PhD or MPhil, it will normally take the form of a full research proposal. In this case, it will contain an extended review of the literature, establishing the research questions, plus an extended discussion of the likely research design and any methodological issues. Alternatively, the dissertation may comprise a discrete piece of (usually empirical) research, possibly a pilot study for the eventual doctoral research. This will usually incorporate literature review, research questions, research design and methodology, data collection and analysis elements, and conclusions.

In this 80 credit dissertation, at least one of the elements required for 60 credits will normally be more developed: eg, additional specific canonical bibliographic data relevant to the research topic, more advanced engagement in relevant concepts or theory, more detailed treatment of ethical and methodological issues.

Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 800 ( Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 6, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 16, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 778 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) up to 19,000 words
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Carry out a sustained piece of independent scholarship, involving project and time management
  2. Frame and design a coherent and answerable set of research questions, to justify these in relation to existing knowledge and theories, and to demonstrate that answering them would constitute an advance on existing knowledge
  3. Achieve a command of existing knowledge in their field of research, through a critical review of relevant literature engaging with salient debates. Students will demonstrate an understanding of research methods, appropriate to the research topic and questions, taking due account of any practical, political and ethical issues affecting the conduct of their research
  4. Where relevant, demonstrate the ability to implement the chosen research design and methods of data collection and analysis
  5. Where relevant, produce scholarship that demonstrates the ability to integrate theoretical and empirical elements
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Liliana Riga
Tel: (0131 6)51 1853
Email: l.riga@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Andrew Macaulay
Tel: (0131 6)51 5067
Email: Andrew.Macaulay@ed.ac.uk
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