Postgraduate Module Descriptor

ERPM004: Dissertation

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The dissertation will involve:

work which draws on the 4 taught modules (specifically the main research paradigms, methodologies and methods used in educational research and various forms of communicating research);
making a choice about a possible area for research;
drawing up an individual study plan with the supervisor;
student-centred sessions to plan and discuss work in progress;
negotiation with the supervisor to refine research topic and to make it relevant and feasible;
student written accounts, normally to include: research topic or question, dissertation plan, relevant literature review, research methodology, implemented research activity, description and analysis of results, reflective discussion and conclusion of study;

- submission of these written accounts in stages with formative assessment by the supervisor; and

- guidance for the writing of a dissertation

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
37	563	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	7	7 hours of meetings with your supervisor to plan and discuss work. You will devise a dissertation topic. You will then be assigned an appropriate specialist member of staff as your supervisor. Your supervisor will set targets and provide you with feedback on a draft of your dissertation
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	30	10 hours of advanced research skills support in each of the three terms. These sessions will run alongside the dissertation and the taught modules to help you develop the necessary skills for research.
Guided Independent Study	100	Produce literature review and research methodology
Guided Independent Study	163	Research and develop proposal/ carry out project and initial analysis
Guided Independent Study	300	Write final dissertation

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Web based and electronic resources:

British Educational Research Association (BERA) http://www.bera.ac.uk
European Educational Research Association (EERA) http://www.eera.ac.uk
American Educational Research Association (AERA) http://www.aera.net

ELE:

http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3161

http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3162

http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2500

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Coursework - written assessment on nature of study	250 words	8	Written
Coursework - written assessment outlining basic research plan	1,000 words	2, 8	Written and verbal

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Dissertation	100	15,000 words	1-11	Written
	0
	0
	0
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Dissertation	Dissertation (15,000 words)	1-11	Six weeks from notification of previous results or re-entry to study