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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Health in Social Science : Counselling Studies

Postgraduate Course: Dissertation (Health Humanities and Arts) (CNST11088)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Health in Social Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeDissertation AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits80 ECTS Credits40
SummaryThis dissertation is a substantial piece (80 credits) of independent research or literature review work in a field of interest to the student relating to Health Humanities and Arts, which in keeping with the underpinning approach of the programme, offers scope for creative methodologies and forms.

Research projects can draw upon creative and/or collaborative methodological approaches and be presented in a range of forms in line with the themes of the programme, related to a small, delimited study. They can also be both wholly or largely library or document-based.

The design of the research, how it is to be carried out, including reflecting on and minimising 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.
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 15,000 words. It builds directly upon a core research course that students undertake in semester one (CNST11087 - Humanities and Arts-Informed Research Methods in the Social Sciences) as well as drawing upon other research course options.

During the process of undertaking their dissertation research, students will be supported by an academic supervisor. In addition, students will be provided with four, 90 minute dissertation workshops; each workshop will focus on a particular element of the research and dissertation writing/production process.

The dissertation seeks to demonstrate the ability of the students to independently appraise relevant literature, and plan, undertake and present a piece of research.
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 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 800 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6, Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 16, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 748 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Dissertation (100%) (up to 15,000 words).

Dissertations may be individual or collaborative. Where collaborative each individual's contribution will be clearly identified within the text and/or via a cover sheet outlining each individual's contribution (maximum 300 words). Each individual's contribution will be up to 15,000 words, i.e. two people collaborating would need to submit a dissertation of up to 30,000 words.
Feedback Students will receive feedback from supervisors throughout the dissertation writing/production process. From the outset students will expect to send material in advance for each supervision and for the supervisor to provide feedback and written comments. The topics for the supervisory conversations and feedback will not be specified in advance to allow for individual arrangements within the supervisory relationship.

In cases where students are undertaking a collaborative inquiry the supervision process will be undertaken in pairs or groups. These student pairs or groups will contract specific time points and tasks that allow the students to show their work to their supervisor and receive constructive feedback.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate critical awareness, creativity and reflection relating a specific aspect relating to Health Humanities and Arts with a view to advancing knowledge and becoming a research-minded practitioner
  2. Demonstrate the ability to make critically-informed decisions about methodological approaches to explore a particular topic and to assess potential ethical implications
  3. Demonstrate the ability to review and engage critically with relevant literature and theories in the chosen area
  4. Demonstrate ability to critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of their research design and the execution of their research
  5. Evidence significant skills and capacities in managing the development of a project from initial ideas to final text
Reading List
Fox, M., Martin, P. & Green, G. (2007) Doing Practitioner Research, Sage Publications Ltd.

Koro-Ljungberg, M. (2015) Reconceptualising Qualitative Research: Methodologies without Methodology. London: Sage.

Mason J (2002) Qualitative Researching (2nd Ed) London: 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)
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
KeywordsResearch,methodology,ethics,health,data collection,analysis
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jonathan Wyatt
Tel: (0131 6)51 3974
Email: Jonathan.Wyatt@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Fae McNamara
Tel: (0131 6)51 3969
Email: fmcnama2@exseed.ed.ac.uk
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