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

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Basic reading:

Bell, J. (2014) Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers (6^th edition). Berkshire: Open University Press
Cohen, L., Manion, L. and Morrison, K. (2013) Research Methods in Education, 7th Edition. London: Methuen
David, M. and Sutton, C. (2011) Social Research: An Introduction. London: Sage.
Gilbert, N. (2011) From Postgraduate to Social Scientist: A Guide to Key Skills. London: Sage.
Gitlin, A. (Ed.) (2014) Power and Method: Political Activism and Educational Research. Abingdon: Routledge.
Gray, D.E. (2011) Doing Research in the Real World. London: Sage.
Hancock, D.R & Algozzine, B. (2017) Doing Case Study Research: A Practical Guide for Beginning Researchers 3^rd edition. New York: Teachers College Press.
Hartas, D. (Ed) (2015) Educational Research and Inquiry: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. New York: Continuum International Publishing
Kemmis, S., McTaggart, R & Nixon, R (2014) The Action Research Planner: Doing Critical Participatory Action Research. London: Springer
Menter, I., Elliot, D. Hulme, M., Lewin, J. and Lowden, K. (2011) A Guide to Practitioner Research in Education. London: Sage.
Wellington, J. (2015) Educational Research: Contemporary Issues and Practical Approaches. 2^nd Edition. London: Bloomsbury.