SOCI3112: DISSERTATION (40 CREDITS)

• Research Methods in Action (SOCI2252) or another equivalent research methods module in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health or Faculty of Business (at convenor's discretion)

• None.

• None.

• To give students the opportunity to undertake an extended piece of work concerned with any theme in the study of sociology, social policy or criminology.

• Dissertation on a topic chosen by the student from within the fields of sociology, social policy and criminology, approved on behalf of the Chairs of the Board of Studies and the Board of Examiners;
• To offer the student an opportunity to independently investigate, solve problems by review or carry out empirical research, and engage in critical analysis and interpretation of their subject.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Having completed the dissertation, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate an ability to formulate informed questions relating to a chosen area of research;
• Display a critical understanding of key theoretical concerns and appropriate underlying concepts relevant to their chosen area of research;
• Display a critical understanding of the core methodological issues relating to their area of research;
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the particular issues (e.g. theoretical, methodological and, where appropriate, policy-related) associated with their research topic.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Having completed the dissertation students will be able to demonstrate a capacity to:
• Plan and devise a programme of work applicable to investigating the defined problem;
• Survey and abstract literature relevant to the problem and programme of work;
• Assess the validity of the findings and interpret them with respect to related published work;
• Evaluate arguments and evidence;
• Use abstract concepts with confidence;
• Undertake and present theoretical and empirical material in a scholarly manner;
• Employ both theoretical and methodological expertise in independently analysing key issues related to their chosen research topic;
• Perceive (where relevant) and relate, insights developed from the knowledge of their chosen topic area.

Key Skills:

• Having completed the dissertation, students will be able to:
• Assess the validity of the findings and interpret them with respect to related published work;
• Evaluate arguments and evidence;
• Use abstract concepts with confidence;
• Convey, in writing, the meaning of abstract theoretical and methodological concepts in ways that are understandable to others;
• Communicate complex ideas in writing;
• Plan and manage their own learning;
• Demonstrate a range of numeracy skills where appropriate;
• Demonstrate a capacity to compile extensive bibliographies using a range of online search tools and web-based resources;
• Reflect, in writing, on their experience of conducting an extended piece of research.

• During periods of online teaching, for asynchronous lectures in particular, planned lecture hours may include activities that would normally have taken place within the lecture itself had it been taught face-to-face in a lecture room, and/or those necessary to adapt the teaching and learning materials effectively to online learning;
• The module is assessed by a 10,000 word dissertation thesis based up an empirical social research project or an extended, critical literature review focused on a salient Sociological or Criminological topic;
• The basis for this study is provided in prior study with Social Research Methods (level 1) and Research Methods in Action (level 2) providing the core foundation for students' work;
• Core teaching is via one-to-one tutorial sessions with the student's allocated supervisor, for a total of four to six hours across the final year;
• Supplementing individual supervision are two general lectures in term 1 focused on developing a literature review and preparing an ethics application; as well as a workshop in term 2 focused on writing analysis and discussion;
• Students have the option of submitting a draft chapter of their dissertation thesis for feedback from their supervisor (usually a literature review or similar) to help support the development and writing of their project.

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