Studying at York
MSc Dissertation - Mental Health & Wellbeing in Education - EDU00104M
Module summary
In this module you will independently design, conduct, analyse and write up an original empirical research study on a topic of your choice in the context of mental health and wellbeing in education. The module provides an opportunity to integrate and put into practice your learning on research, policy and practice in mental health and wellbeing across the course modules.
Professional requirements
none
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 to Summer Semester 2024-25 |
Module aims
This module aims to integrate and put into practice your knowledge and skills in research, policy and practice in mental health and wellbeing acquired across the programme modules. This will be accomplished by you independently designing, conducting, analysing and writing up an original ethically conducted empirical research study on a topic of your choice in the context of mental health and wellbeing in education. The module will also advance and integrate your transferable skills in critically analysing and synthesizing information from research, policy and practice sources and developing your own perspective on it, formulating well reasoned arguments, and advance your effective written communication, literature search and digital literacy skills.
Module learning outcomes
At the end of this module:
1. You will have an integrated and advanced critical understanding of up-to-date research on mental health and wellbeing,
2. You will be able to formulate integrative critical appraisals of policy and practice in relation to relevant research on mental health and wellbeing in education.
3. You will have effective academic writing skills in communicating research, policy and practice in mental health and wellbeing in education.
4. You will be able to synthesise your research, policy and practice knowledge and prepare recommendations for innovate evidence-based strategies and interventions in mental health and wellbeing in education.
5. You will be able to independently design and conduct an original research project on mental health and wellbeing in education in all its phases including gaining research ethics approvals, collecting data and applying appropriate comprehensive data analysis methods,
6. You will be able to demonstrate advanced communication and research skills in being able to collaborate effectively with policy makers and/or teachers and other stakeholders during recruitment, data collection and results phases of the project.
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:
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MSc dissertation Q&A for students - Semester 1 Week 4.
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MSc dissertation Workshop 1 (Research Questions) - Semester 1 Week 5.
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MSc dissertation topic options released to students - Semester 1 Week 7.
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MSc dissertation Workshop 2 (Research ethics) - Semester 1 Week 7.
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MSc dissertation Q&A for students - Semester 1 Week 8.
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Students submit topic preferences - Semester 1 Week 9.
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Supervision 1 - Semester 1 Week 11 - Students meet with allocated supervisors to specify their dissertation focus.
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Ethics application submission form sent to students - Semester 2 Week 1.
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Supervision 2 - Semester 2 Week 1 - Ensuring student(s) are prepared for ethics application submission.
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Ethics application submissions due - Semester 2 Week 3 (then students work on their literature review or prepare for data collection).
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MSc dissertation Workshop 3 (Writing introduction and literature review) - Semester 2 Week 4.
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Supervision 3 - Semester 2 Week 6 - Students make amendments to their ethics applications if necessary, plan data collection.
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Supervision 4 - Semester 2 Weeks 8-9 - Discussing progress with data collection and providing feedback on drafts of literature review or methods if applicable.
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MSc dissertation Workshop 4 (Data Analysis) - Semester 2 Week 10.
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Supervision 5 - Semester 2 Week 11 - Discussing progress with data collection and providing feedback on drafts of methods or literature review if applicable.
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Supervisions 6-8 - Summer Semester - three meetings over the summer discussing results, discussion and feedback on drafts provided if applicable.
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Final written feedback on drafts provided by supervisors - three weeks before MSc dissertation submission deadline.
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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 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.