Module POLM013M for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
POLM013M: MPA Dissertation
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
1. To provide students with an opportunity to conduct independent research-based academic work in the area of Public Administration or in the sub-discipline in which they wish to pursue further research or their career
2. To develop students' ability to apply originality and analytical skills alongside theory and practice to a specific research topic. This may be workplace based.
3. To enhance students awareness of the methodological, ethical and practical concerns of social science research in the field of public administration and specific examples of public sector management
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate knowledge in depth of a specialised subject area; 2. Design an individual research programme, incorporating appropriate social science research methods; 3. Collate and analyse subject-specific information from a range of appropriate sources; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Assimilate and critically analyse data from an appropriate range of sources; 5. Develop cogent argument; 6. Communicate complex information and ideas effectively in writing; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. Undertake an individual research project; 8. Use IT for information retrieval and presentation; and 9. Manage own work. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
1. Research project skills workshops over two days to prepare students.
2. At least four supervision meetings: one to discuss the research project plan, followed by three meetings to give academic guidance including specific feedback on draft work.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 590 | 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 | 8 hours | Research project skills workshops over two days and research workshops in the summer term |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 2 hours (Min 4 x 30 minutes) | Supervision of research project in the form of at least four supervision meetings. |
| Guided independent study | 590 hours | Independent study |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Indicative web based resources e.g.ELE:
The module will be supported by ELE materials, including study skills materials and guidance. Subject-specific reading will varying according to research topic
Other Learning Resources
Subject-specific reading will varying according to research topic
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.
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 | 1-9 | Written feedback |
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 (15,000 words) | Dissertation (15,000 words) | 1-9 | Next reassessment period |
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.
G King, R Keohane and S Verba, (1994); Designing Social Inquiry, Princeton UP
D Burton (ed), (2000) Research Training for Social Scientists: A Handbook for Postgraduate Researchers, Sage.
