Unit information: Dissertation in 2024/25

Unit name	Dissertation
Unit code	ORDSM0053
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Gamboa
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	Bristol Dental School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

This unit aims to draw from all the skills acquired during the course and generate an authentic and unique assessment where you will be able to expand on independent learning and generation of knowledge.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?

The aim of the dissertation is to:

• Allow you to develop independent intellectual ability, critical and analytical thinking in carrying out a literature review in a chosen area related to your discipline
• Support you in developing high level skills in the organisation and analysis of selected materials
• Give you guided experience in the planning and execution of literature searches +/- clinical audit/ service evaluation
• Enable you to critically evaluate experimental data/ published papers.
• Expose you to the processes by which scientific results are communicated and debated

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

This unit is a very individualised process allowing you to use the skills you acquired during the other units to generate an authentic and unique piece of work.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

As a result of this unit you will be able to produce a dissertation.

Learning Outcomes

You will be able to:

1. Reflect on current evidence for Periodontal research
2. Summarise the evidence base in Periodontics
3. Appraise scientific papers and available evidence such as guidelines using a variety of information sources
4. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the importance of hypothesis-setting and the design of suitable projects to address questions relating to the practice of Periodontics

How you will learn

There will be an assigned dissertation supervisor. Supervisor responsibilities include guidance on aspects of the dissertation preparation:

• Generating novel and relevant research question in the field of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry
• Guidance with scientific writing, generation of appropriate and sound research methods, identifying experts’ guidance (e.g. guided help from librarian on search strategies)
• Guidance on ethics or audit approval where appropriate
• Guidance and support for relevant training on data collection and analysis as applicable

How you will be assessed

Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):

Mid Unit feedback Report from supervisor.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

Dissertation, up to 15,000 words (100%)

When assessment does not go to plan:

If you do not pass the unit, you may be given the opportunity to resubmit your work depending on the mark you have achieved and as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

Resources

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. ORDSM0053).

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.