| CODE | SWP3041 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Dissertation | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit entails the successful completion of a 7,500 word dissertation on a topic related to the field of social policy. This study-unit aims to guide students to take responsibility for their own learning by selecting a topic of their choice, producing a literature review, choosing a method for undertaking a study, documenting and analysing their findings, discussing their findings in relation to theory and developing social policy recommendations. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit is intended to foster students' originality, intellectual development and independence. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to undertake a piece of supervised, independent in-depth research into a specific area or issue of interest and to apply the full range of associated research skills required to produce a dissertation. It will enable students to deepen their knowledge through prolonged engagement with a chosen subject, drawing together issues of theory, method and methodology and bring them to bear on their chosen topic. To demonstrate skills of analysis, critical evaluation, reflection, problem solving, logical argument and communication. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Plan and write a suitable dissertation proposal; - Clearly identify the rationale, aims and research questions for that dissertation; - Undertake a comprehensive literature review of the topic under investigation and write a comprehensive and logical evaluation of the salient aspects; - Explain and justify the proposed method for undertaking the dissertation; - Systematically and competently implement the method identified in the dissertation; - Demonstrate rigour in the analysis of data and information from primary and/or secondary sources and in the synthesis and interpretation of facts and ideas; - Write a dissertation which demonstrates a logical consistency in approach and structure, and critical evaluation of theory, process, solutions and outcomes. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate skills of analysis and synthesis through wide reading and critical reflection on a number of pieces of written research in an appropriate and thorough manner; - Design appropriate research methodology and choice of instruments; - Demonstrate the ability to reflect, through the analysis of their findings; - Demonstrate the ability to make logical argument, through the discussion of their findings; - Reflect on the strengths and limitations of their work; - Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and cogently; - Demonstrate the ability to reference work appropriately. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - Becker, S., Bryman, A., Ferguson, H. (eds). (2012). Understanding research for social policy and social work: Themes, methods and approaches (2nd ed.). Policy Press. - Clark, T., Foster, L., Sloan, L., & Bryman, A. (2021). Bryman鈥檚 social research methods (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. - Greetham, Brian (2014). How to write your undergraduate dissertation (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. - Ravitch, S. M., & Riggan, M. (2017). Reason & rigor: How conceptual frameworks guide research (2nd ed.) SAGE. Supplementary texts: - American Psychological Association. (2020). Concise guide to APA style: The official APA style guide for students (7th ed.). American Psychological Association. - Bassot, B. (2020). The research journal: A reflective tool for your first independent research project. Bristol University Press and Policy Press. - Denscombe, M. (2017). The good research guide for small-scale research projects (6th ed.). Open University Press. - Guest, G., MacQueen, K. M. & Namey, E. E. (2012). Applied thematic analysis. SAGE. - Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination (2nd ed.). SAGE. - Holosko, M. J. (2006). Primer for critiquing social research: A student guide. Brooks/Cole. - Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). SAGE. - Punch, K. F. (2016). Developing effective research proposals (3rd ed.). SAGE. - Sarantakos, S. (2013). Social research (4th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. - Yin, R. K. (2016). Qualitative research from start to finish (2nd ed.) The Guilford Press. |
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| 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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