| Unit name | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | DEAFM1006 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Professor. Jim Kyle |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Research Methods for Deaf Studies (DEAFM1008) |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School of Applied Community and Health Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
A major component of the MSc in Deaf Studies is the dissertation. This will allow the students to demonstrate the capability to develop a topic from the field, establish a research question, choose and implement the methodology, analyse data and provide a report which will be of value to the research community as well as being of significance to the practitioners. The student is encouraged to choose a topic of relevance for both theory and practice. It is expected that the dissertation topic will evolve fom negotiations with relevant professionals, experiences in the field as well as from stimulation by course content and discussions with staff. The dissertation is to be supervised by University staff and will be assessed against the usual criteria of innovation and rigour. Students will apply appropriately all procedures as set out by the CDS Ethics Committee.
Students will be able to focus a research topic with researchable hypotheses; identify and draw on appropriate literature in the design and theorisation of a research study; understand the range of theoretical viewpoints pertinent to the research study; ability to compare research methods and select an appropriate one for the research study; utilise new technologies appropriately in the data collection and analysis process; identify the relationship between research evidence and theoretical development.
The teaching strategy will employ broad approaches, where appropriate, with the aims of contextualising as well as theorising issues of central importance, the development of student autonomy, and the individualisation of study and support. However, these approaches will be individualised as befits the nature of dissertation supervision. These may include:
Face to Face Teaching
This will be centred on individual tutorials but may include small group teaching, including presentations from staff and students and practical workshops where appropriate to support students with similar needs.
ELearning
ELearning approaches will be used to facilitate individualised study and support. These will include: on-line discussion (with individuals and groups, online supervision and peer mentoring, guidance and feedback. Critical use of Web resources will be encouraged.
Research
To provide data for analysis for the dissertation study. The use of action research, small-scale empirical studies and observations of professional practice will be encouraged and facilitated.
Completion of 15,000 word dissertation
Further reading will be specific to the students chosen area of research.
