Postgraduate Independent Study (Dissertation) - SPY00171M

Department: Social Policy and Social Work
Credit value: 60 credits
Credit level: M
Academic year of delivery: 2025-26
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24 2024-25
Notes: This is an independent study module

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Summer Semester 2025-26

To introduce you to independent research activity
To offer you the opportunity to select a topic of your own choice and analyse it in-depth
To familiarise you with literature search techniques, retrieve published outputs relevant to your topic and synthesise arguments available in the literature
To identify research gaps in the literature and develop relevant research questions
To identify appropriate methodological approaches and research method to answer your research question
To collect and retrieve appropriate primary and/or secondary evidence, as appropriate to answer your research question
To present and analyse findings, expand on their importance and identify answers to your research questions
To analyse and draw conclusions balancing the weight of evidence and in doing so, reflecting on strengths and weakness of your own approach
To identify appropriate conceptual, methodological and policy implications of the analysis
To conduct your research ethically and subject to the University code of conduct.

Demonstrate advanced understanding and knowledge of key theoretical and analytical approaches, including concepts and tools as appropriate to your field of study
Identify research gaps in the literature and promote knowledge creation by setting appropriate research questions
Identify appropriate research approaches and methods and critically reflect on their use in answering your research questions
Formulate a research question and undertake a piece of independent research using primary and/or secondary data sources, with awareness of the social, ethical and political context of policy research.
Demonstrate balance and judiciousness in the analysis of research evidence, whether this refers to primary or secondary evidence, and selected literature.
Communicate research in an authoritative and accessible way both in written and visual form.
Undertake independent study; project management; problem solving; time management skills; dealing with critical feedback; work to deadlines; preparing a longer piece of work.

Task	% of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation	100

None

Task	% of module mark
Graduate/Postgraduate Dissertation	100

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

TBC