| CODE | PSY5706 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Dissertation | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 60 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Psychology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The dissertation will involve an empirical study in a psychological area of inquiry that will be supervised by a member of faculty. It will involve a written submission of 30 000 words -40,000 detailing an introduction, a detailed methodology following a literature review with adequate emphasis on the operationalisation of concepts for empirical inquiry, findings and discussion of these in light of literature, as well as an overarching conclusion, an abstract and full references. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit aims to assist and supervise students throughout their dissertation undertaking. Specifically, this study-unit aims at assisting students in applying their knowledge and skills of research methods in psychology to undertake a full empirical project according to prevalent disciplinary standards in the psychological sciences. The study-unit aims at teaching students to apply their skills and competencies to formulate a research question based in the psychological literature and to design an empirical study that addresses the research question. The study-unit further aims to teach students to evaluate their research in light of the discipline鈥檚 and the university鈥檚 ethical standards and to guide students obtain ethical clearance for their research. Finally, the study-unit aims to supervise the procedure of data gathering and data analysis to satisfy disciplinary standards in a way that addresses the research question articulated at the start and to develop practical recommendations for the future. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - critically evaluate the psychological literature by developing an articulated research question that is amenable to empirical inquiry; - conceptualize psychological phenomena and operationalise these concerns by translating theoretical questions into research questions; - identify and implement research strategies that answer the research questions; Critically evaluate their findings to address the identified gaps in the psychological literature and to recommend practical psychological and social interventions. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - design an empirical study that addresses psychological research questions in their individual and cultural complexity; - formulate psychological research questions in quantitative and qualitative terms; Operationalise psychological phenomena as variables for empirical inquiry; - undertake research to gather data; - analyse the data gathering in line with disciplinary requirements and according to disciplinary standards and procedures; - draw correct and relevant conclusions from research findings; - report research findings in such a way to provide an answer to psychological research questions; - articulate recommendations for research and advance relevant suggestions for psychological practice. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Publication Manual of the American Psychology Association. - Harre, R., & Moghaddam, F.M. (eds.). (2016). Questioning Causality: scientific explorations of cause and consequence across social contexts. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger. - Swetnam, D., & Swetnam, R. (2000). Writing your dissertation: how to plan, prepare and present successful work. Oxford: How to books. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | **September Assessment Session: Students who fail to obtain an overall pass mark will be re-examined in the Dissertation. However, the resit availability for the Oral Examination is at the discretion of the Board of Examiners. | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Dissertation | ||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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