Undergraduate Course: Dissertation (MA in Health, Science and Society) (SHSS10008)
Course Outline
| School | School of Health in Social Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | This dissertation gives students the opportunity to do an original piece of research to deepen their knowledge on a topic related to the themes of the MA programme: societies and communities; individuals, personhood and experience; and healthcare, social care and professional development.
Research can be wholly or largely library or document-based, it can use secondary data sources, or it can involve a small, delimited empirical data collection process.
The design of the research, how it is to be carried out, including reflecting on and minimizing any potential ethical issues related to the research, will be undertaken in close consultation with a dissertation supervisor and with the advice of the dissertation course organiser.
This is a compulsory course for students in the fourth year of the MA (Hons) in Health, Science and Society.
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| Course description |
The dissertation is an independent piece of research that a student undertakes over two semesters, in order to produce a document of no more than 10,000 words. The dissertation course builds upon the core course, Understanding and Investigation: Methods for Health (SHSS10004).
During the two semesters in which students undertake their dissertation research, they will be supported by an academic supervisor. In addition, they will be provided with three, two-hour seminar meetings; each meeting will focus on a particular element of the research and dissertation writing process.
Consistent with the learning outcomes of the MA in Health, Science and Society, the honours dissertation seeks to demonstrate the ability of the students to independently appraise relevant literature, and plan, undertake and present a piece of research.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2018/19, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
378 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 100% (dissertation)«br /»
«br /»
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| Feedback |
Students will submit one draft chapter of their choosing at the beginning of Semester 2 (January) via Learn. Their supervisor will give them detailed feedback on this chapter, but no grade.
In addition, students will receive ongoing formative feedback through supervision. Supervisors will provide feedback on practical matters of doing a dissertation as well as ongoing development of the student's thinking and reflecting. The supervisor will give detailed feedback on one chapter in addition to the one submitted in January, and will look over a chapter plan, providing general comments on the planned dissertation as a whole. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Students will develop their ability to critically review and synthesize existing literature
- Students will develop their ability to make informed decisions about the appropriate methodology to investigate a particular topic, as well as their ability to assess potential ethical consequences
- Students will develop their ability to analyze primary or secondary data sources in order to give an insightful account of this material.
- Students will develop their ability to reflect on the strengths and limitations of their research design and the execution of their research
- Students will develop their ability to manage the development of a project from initial ideas to final project report
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Reading List
Allison, B. (1997) Preparing Dissertations and Theses London, Kogan Page.
Bell, J. (1999) (3rd ed.) Doing Your Research Project Buckingham, Open University Press.
Humphries. B (2000) Research in Social Care and Social Welfare, London: Jessica Kingsley.
Mason J (2002) Qualitative Researching (2nd Ed) Sage,
Robson, C. (2016) Real world research: a resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers, Oxford, UK: 4th ed. Madden, Mass.: Blackwell.
May, T (2011) Social Research: Issues, Methods and Process, 4th Ed. Oxford University Press (Available online through the library)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The following main graduate attributes will be enhanced:
Ability to critically evaluate published research evidence
Understanding of the stages of research and the contingent nature of evidence
Ability to learn independently and to reflect on project learning
Effective use of communication to exchange knowledge and ideas
Project management within time and resource constraints
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| Keywords | research,methodology,ethics,health,data collection,analysis |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Marion Smith
Tel: (0131 6)51 3966
Email: marion.smith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Morven Sutherland
Tel: (0131 6)51 3972
Email: Morven.Sutherland@ed.ac.uk |
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