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Empirical Dissertation - EDU00076M

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  • Department: Education
  • Credit value: 60 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
  • Notes: This is an independent study module

Related modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25 to Summer Semester 2024-25

Module aims

This module aims to support students in designing and executing an empirical psychological study that is of interest to them, and in writing a report of their study in APA style. In the course of this module students will have the opportunity to put much of their psychological knowledge and skills into practice and, potentially, to make an original contribution to knowledge in their chosen area.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content

The knowledge and skills required for this module is taught in Autumn and Spring term modules. In addition students will be tutored by supervisors in knowledge and skills that are specific to their individual research question. Students will also be offered dissertation workshops which cover study design, ethical approval, data collection, and extended academic writing.

By the end of the module students will have developed:

  • Expertise in conducting an in-depth literature review to address what it currently known about a question of their choice.
  • Experience in study development and design.
  • Knowledge and experience of the ethical approval process.
  • New knowledge of data collection techniques and awareness of issues in real-world research.
  • Expertise in choosing the most appropriate form of analysis and interpreting results.
  • An enhanced ability to consider alternative interpretations of findings.
  • Academic writing skills

Academic and graduate skills

Students will develop their skills in:

  • Focused literature search and reviewing
  • Research design
  • Considering ethical issues and applying for ethical approval
  • Selection or design of measurement tools
  • Data collection
  • Data analysis and interpretation
  • Academic writing
  • Reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of their study
  • Identifying implications for education and/or further research

Module content

Teaching on the module involves Q&A sessions orienting students to the module, dissertation workshops to support them throughout the dissertation process and meetings with their dissertation supervisor. In Semester 1 students will have an opportunity to select a research topic for their dissertation from topics they will be provided with or propose their own topic.

The schedule of the activities and milestones for dissertation work is listed below:

  • MSc dissertation Q&A for students - Semester 1 Week 4.

  • MSc dissertation Workshop 1 (Research Questions) - Semester 1 Week 5.

  • MSc dissertation topic options released to students - Semester 1 Week 7.

  • MSc dissertation Workshop 2 (Research ethics) - Semester 1 Week 7.

  • MSc dissertation Q&A for students - Semester 1 Week 8.

  • Students submit topic preferences - Semester 1 Week 9.

  • Supervision 1 - Semester 1 Week 11 - Students meet with allocated supervisors to specify their dissertation focus.

  • Ethics application submission form sent to students - Semester 2 Week 1.

  • Supervision 2 - Semester 2 Week 1 - Ensuring student(s) are prepared for ethics application submission.

  • Ethics application submissions due - Semester 2 Week 3 (then students work on their literature review or prepare for data collection).

  • MSc dissertation Workshop 3 (Writing introduction and literature review) - Semester 2 Week 4.

  • Supervision 3 - Semester 2 Week 6 - Students make amendments to their ethics applications if necessary, plan data collection.

  • Supervision 4 - Semester 2 Weeks 8-9 - Discussing progress with data collection and providing feedback on drafts of literature review or methods if applicable.

  • MSc dissertation Workshop 4 (Data Analysis) - Semester 2 Week 10.

  • Supervision 5 - Semester 2 Week 11 - Discussing progress with data collection and providing feedback on drafts of methods or literature review if applicable.

  • Supervisions 6-8 - Summer Semester - three meetings over the summer discussing results, discussion and feedback on drafts provided if applicable.

  • Final written feedback on drafts provided by supervisors - three weeks before MSc dissertation submission deadline.

  • MSc dissertation submission deadline in September.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation 100

Module feedback

Individual written feedback reports with follow-up tutor discussion if necessary. The feedback is returned to students in line with university policy. Please check the Guide to Assessment, Standards, Marking and Feedback for more information.

Indicative reading

Bloomberg, L. D., & Volpe, M. (2018). Completing your qualitative dissertation: A road map from beginning to end. London, UK: Sage.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. London, UK: Sage.

Wood, C., Percy, C. & Giles, D. (2012). Your Psychology Project Handbook. London, UK: Pearson.

Fallon, M. (2016). Writing up quantitative research in the social and behavioral sciences. Boston, MA: Sense Publishers.

Hatcher, L. (2013). Advanced statistics in research: Reading, understanding, and writing up data analysis results. Shadow Finch Media, LLC.



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.