University of Surrey - Guildford
Registry
  
 

  
 
Registry > Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
View Module List by A.O.U. and Level  Alphabetical Module Code List  Alphabetical Module Title List  Alphabetical Old Short Name List  View Menu 
2011/2 Provisional Module Catalogue - UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 Module Code: SOC3028 Module Title: DISSERTATION
Module Provider: Sociology Short Name: SOC3028
Level: HE3 Module Co-ordinator: TYLER K Dr (Sociology)
Number of credits: 45 Number of ECTS credits: 22.5
 
Module Availability
Semesters 1 and 2 
Assessment Pattern

Unit(s) of Assessment

 

Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)

 

Dissertation  (8000-12000 words)

 

 

80%

 

Preparatory assessment 1 (research proposal)

 

10%

 

Preparatory assessment 2 (literature discussion)

 

10%

 

Qualifying Condition(s) 

 

A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module.

 

Module Overview

This module involves working on an individual dissertation with the guidance of an individual supervisor and participating in a series of workshops designed to provide guidance for key stages of the dissertation. The dissertation requires students to conduct independent, original research on a topic of significance in relation to the student’s degree programme (i.e. sociology, criminology or media studies as appropriate). This will involve reviewing appropriate literature, developing a suitable research approach and carrying out appropriate forms of analysis. This analysis  may relate to data collected by the student (through interviews, self-completion questionnaires or observation for example), to secondary analysis of large-scale or other existing data sets, to library research on primary theoretical sources, or to  artistic, literary or media content.

 

Prerequisites/Co-requisites
None
Module Aims

·         The dissertation aims to provide experience of undertaking an individual research project

 

  • The workshops aim to provide support for all stages of dissertation preparation
Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module students should be able to:

 

·         Formulate a clear research question and design appropriate methodology for a small piece of social, criminological or media research

 

·         Critically review academic literature relevant to the research question

 

·         Identify or collect relevant data, documents, media content or primary theoretical sources

 

·         Undertake appropriate analysis and identify findings

 

·         Develop conclusions through relating findings to existing research and/or theory.

 

Module Content

The dissertation requires students to conduct independent, original research on a topic of significance in relation to the student’s degree programme (i.e. sociology, criminology or media studies as appropriate).

 

 

The workshops will provide support for key stages of dissertation preparation including:

 

  • developing a research question

     

  • reviewing literature

     

  • designing a research project

     

  • ethical issues

     

  • data analysis

     

  • drawing conclusions

     

Methods of Teaching/Learning

·         6 x 2 hr workshops which will integrate elements of lecture style content with practical, student-centred exercises

 

·         Individual sessions with dissertation supervisor

 

·         Individual reading, data collection, analysis and writing up of dissertation

 

Selected Texts/Journals

Bell, J. (1993) Doing Your Research Project Open University Press

O’Leary, Z (2004) The Essential Guide to Doing Research London : Sage

Robson, C. (1993) Real World Research Oxford: Blackwell

Smith, K., Todd, M, & Waldman, J. (2009) Doing Your Undergraduate Social Science Dissertation London : Routledge

 

Last Updated
April 2011