Modules

Core Module Information
Module title: Dissertation
SCQF level: 10:
SCQF credit value: 40.00
ECTS credit value: 20
Module code: TBS10130
Module leader: Matthew Dutton
School The Business School
Subject area group: Management
Prerequisites

N/A
Description of module content:

There will be a series of introductory lectures to explain the dissertation process. These will cover:
1. The research cycle; Choosing a research topic; How to develop research aims and objectives;
2. Library searching; The literature review process; Critique of the literature;
3. The differences between Primary research and Secondary research; Methods of data collection for both qualitative and quantitative research;
4. Analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data; Research integrity and ethics; The dissertation structure; Research in practice.

You will plan your dissertations, read the literature, conduct the research, analyse the data collected and write up your findings.

There will also be several workshop sessions to cover:
1. Preparing the dissertation outline
2. Developing the outline into a full research proposal
3. A choice of research methods workshops e.g. library-based, surveys, interviews, case studies, quantitative data analysis, and qualitative data analysis.
Learning Outcomes for module:

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

LO1: Identify a topic for systematic investigation, analysis and evaluation
LO2: Establish a research aim and research objectives
LO3: Select and justify appropriate research methodologies
LO4: Critically assess literature relevant to the research to be undertaken
LO5: Prepare a research proposal
LO6: Collect, analyse and evaluate primary and/or secondary data and produce conclusions and recommendations

Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2022/3, Trimester 1, BLENDED, Edinburgh Napier University
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: BLENDED
Location of delivery: CRAIGLOCKHAR
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Matthew Dutton
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
A series of lectures will be available through Tri 1 to provide you with an in depth understanding of research methods and support the preparation of the both the outline of the research and the full research proposal. Aligned to this will be a series of subject and topic specific workshops to support students across TBS related to their planned research approach and programme of study.

The dissertation process will be new to most of you in particular as the dissertation has to be a self-managed process. Your role is to organise the research programme as a whole, taking advice from your supervisor and taking the initiative in raising problems/difficulties. The supervisor’s role is to give advice and help about the nature and standard of the work, and direct you to useful literature and appropriate methodology
You can expect a minimum of 4 meetings with your allocated supervisor.

You are allocated a supervisor for the duration of the dissertation module, who advises and guides you on the preparation, structure and research design of the dissertation. Supervisors allocated to you do not present new knowledge to you; they act as a facilitators in relation to the research process. Supervisors will be concerned, for example, with the development of the research topic, the suitability of research methods adopted for the dissertation and the extent to which you are making appropriate and timely progress in relation to your work.
Learning materials and signposting to key resources to support the preparation of the dissertation are available through the university VLE.
Formative Assessment:
A dissertation outline is submitted early in the first semester. The dissertation outline, which is not assessed, is the starting point for a proposed area of research, related to your programme of study. The dissertation outline is also used to allocate supervisors . Supervisors can advise on the initial feasibility of the proposed topic in terms of its breadth and depth. You will then make a detailed appraisal of your proposed research by reading key references (including books, journals and electronic sources) to determine the current state of knowledge, considering ideas as to how your research should be undertaken and assessing its practicality.

Summative Assessment:
You submit a 2000-word dissertation proposal providing a detailed ‘road map’ for the preparation of the dissertation and successful completion of the rest of the module.
The dissertation proposal (25% of total assessment) is submitted in Week 12 of the module first trimester, addressing Learning Outcomes 1 - 5.

You submit a full dissertation (75% of total assessment) addressing Learning Outcomes 2-6. (week 24)
Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Lecture 8
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 3
Face To Face Project Supervision 2
Online Guided independent study 10
Independent Learning Guided independent study 377
Total Study Hours400
Expected Total Study Hours for Module400


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Report 25 1 - 5 12 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 2000
Dissertation 75 2 - 6 24 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 10000
Component 1 subtotal: 25
Component 2 subtotal: 75
Module subtotal: 100
2022/3, Trimester 2, BLENDED, Edinburgh Napier University
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: BLENDED
Location of delivery: CRAIGLOCKHAR
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Rosemary Allford
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
A series of lectures will be available through Tri 1 to provide you with an in depth understanding of research methods and support the preparation of the both the outline of the research and the full research proposal. Aligned to this will be a series of subject and topic specific workshops to support students across TBS related to their planned research approach and programme of study.

The dissertation process will be new to most of you in particular as the dissertation has to be a self-managed process. Your role is to organise the research programme as a whole, taking advice from your supervisor and taking the initiative in raising problems/difficulties. The supervisor’s role is to give advice and help about the nature and standard of the work, and direct you to useful literature and appropriate methodology
You can expect a minimum of 4 meetings with your allocated supervisor.

You are allocated a supervisor for the duration of the dissertation module, who advises and guides you on the preparation, structure and research design of the dissertation. Supervisors allocated to you do not present new knowledge to you; they act as a facilitators in relation to the research process. Supervisors will be concerned, for example, with the development of the research topic, the suitability of research methods adopted for the dissertation and the extent to which you are making appropriate and timely progress in relation to your work.
Learning materials and signposting to key resources to support the preparation of the dissertation are available through the university VLE.
Formative Assessment:
A dissertation outline is submitted early in the first semester. The dissertation outline, which is not assessed, is the starting point for a proposed area of research, related to your programme of study. The dissertation outline is also used to allocate supervisors. Supervisors can advise on the initial feasibility of the proposed topic in terms of its breadth and depth. You will then make a detailed appraisal of your proposed research by reading key references (including books, journals and electronic sources) to determine the current state of knowledge, considering ideas as to how their research should be undertaken and assessing its practicality.

Summative Assessment:
You submit a 2000-word dissertation proposal providing a detailed ‘road map’ for the preparation of the dissertation and successful completion of the rest of the module.
The dissertation proposal (25% of total assessment) is submitted in Week 12 of the module first trimester, addressing Learning Outcomes 1 - 5.

You submit a full dissertation (75% of total assessment) addressing Learning Outcomes 2-6. (week 24)
Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Lecture 8
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 3
Face To Face Project Supervision 2
Online Guided independent study 10
Independent Learning Guided independent study 377
Total Study Hours400
Expected Total Study Hours for Module400


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Report 25 1 - 5 12 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 2000
Dissertation 75 2 - 6 24 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 10000
Component 1 subtotal: 25
Component 2 subtotal: 75
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
Dissertation
 

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