| Unit name | Social Work Research Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0039 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Demi Patsios |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This is a mandatory unit on the MSc in Social Work Research. The dissertation gives you the opportunity for independent learning, through undertaking and evaluating a piece of research. In this unit, you may conduct primary research in which you gather your own evidence or alternatively, you may achieve it through the analysis of secondary data, or reviewing existing literature on a chosen topic within the general field of social work or social care.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The dissertation is the final piece of work that you will complete on the Social Work Research programme. It represents the Masters component of the qualification and enables you to qualify with the full MSc in Social Work Research.
An overview of content
The dissertation is an opportunity to carry out some original independent study, enabling you to select a field of inquiry relevant to social work or social care and to carry out research in depth over a sustained period of time. It is an opportunity to apply some of the research skills to your chosen area of study. Your learning is supported by regular individual supervision sessions and a dissertation workshop, though the expectation is that the dissertation is primarily an individual piece of work.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will be provided with the opportunity to investigate a topic of your own choice (within the broad framework of social work/social care). The dissertation will allow you to apply some (but not necessarily all) of the research skills developed during the taught component of the programme in carrying out a short piece of research. Through the dissertation, you will demonstrate your practical and transferable skills of locating and using knowledge and information, conveying ideas in written format, and planning and managing your study time.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
The dissertation is a unit based on independent study and it is designed this way to help you achieve the aim of becoming skilled as a social work researcher able to sustain a piece of critical analysis over the course of a study.
You will draw from your previous learning on the programme, in particular from the mandatory and optional research training units.
You will benefit from the support of your supervisor, the availability of library resources, online literature databases and the subject librarian. In addition, there will be dissertation workshops and information sessions about specific aspects of the dissertation process, namely searching for relevant literature and applying for ethical approval.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare for your summative tasks (formative)
Before you begin the dissertation, you will submit a proposal for the dissertation of up to 500 words. This proposal will outline: the broad issue / problem statement; aims, objectives and research questions; overview of the research design, methods and analysis; any particular problems, issues or constraints that they need to resolve at an early stage, including any research ethics considerations; and, a dissertation timetable/workplan template (in tabular format). The Dissertation Unit Convenor will provide formative feedback on this proposal which you can use to plan your study with your supervisor. You must apply for ethical approval. You will also receive formative feedback from your dissertation supervisor on drafts.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Dissertation (15000 word maximum, 100%)
This assessment covers all of the unit learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. If you are eligible to resubmit, this will normally be a revised version of your previous assignment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0039).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
