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Dissertation & Research Skills - SPY00135M

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Module co-ordinator: Ms. Jennifer Threlfall
  • Credit value: 60 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
    • See module specification for other years: 2022-23
  • Notes: This is an independent study module

Module summary

This is an Independent Study module in which you will demonstrate  research skills by undertaking a research project. You will be supported by taught content on research and dissertation skills and you will be allocated an individual dissertation supervisor. 

Professional requirements

 

 

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

 

In this module will: 

LO1: Prepare students to undertake a research project

LO2:  Provide students with the knowledge and skills to undertake an independent research project

LO3: Develop students research and independent study skills 

Module learning outcomes

Students will be able to:

1.  critically appraise social science research and to appropriately apply its findings to evaluate and inform social work practice

2.  understand how to undertake research to evaluate and inform social work practice

3. develop specialist knowledge in an area related to social work practice

Module content

Two full day Skills Days  at the beginning of the module covering:

Study skills needed to write the dissertation

How to search the literature

Research ethics

Choosing and defining a project

 

Nine two hour lectures covering:

Reviewing the literature

Study design

Sampling

Data collection

How to conduct a systematic review

Quantitative data analysis

Qualitative data analysis

Writing the results section

Completing the dissertation

 

1 x 2 hour seminar in Autumn term for any final queries and questions on submitting the dissertation. 

Indicative assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation
Dissertation		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Indicative reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation
Dissertation		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Students will receive verbal feedback on their dissertation proposal from their supervisor in addition to further face to face support. Written feedback will be provided on the dissertation within four weeks of submission.

Indicative reading

 

Aveyard, H. & Sharp, P. (2009) A Beginner’s Guide to Evidence-Based Practice in Health and Social Care, Maidenhead: Open University Press McGraw Hill. 

Aveyard, H. (2014) Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press McGraw Hill

Bryman, A. (2015) Social Research Methods, 5th ed, Oxford: OUP.

Gough, D., Oliver, S. & Thomas J (2017) An Introduction to Systematic Reviews, 2nd ed., London, Sage.

McLaughlin, H. (2011). Understanding social work research. London: Sage.

Padgett, D.K. (2008). Qualitative Methods in Social Work Research. 2nd ed., Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Patton, M Q (2015). Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, 4th ed, Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Petticrew, M. & Roberts, H. (2006) Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide, Malden, MA, Blackwell Publishing.

Thyer, B. (ed.) (2010) The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods, 2nd ed, London: Sage Publications. 


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.