Department of Psychology, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
PS50044 MSc dissertation |
| Credits: 30 |
| Level: Masters |
| Dissertation period |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take PS50043 and take XX50136 and take XX50138 |
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Aims: This unit further develops research skills that students have acquired in the precursor units, enabling them to expand and extend pilot research projects, refine hypotheses and methods of investigating them, extend their knowledge of research methods in the humanities and social sciences, deepen and apply knowledge acquired on taught units, discuss work in progress with a supervisor, and write an extended research report.
Learning Outcomes: On completion students will be able to: * Design and plan a research project and revise the working plan on the basis of (a) a literature review, (b) opportunities and pitfalls encountered during the research, and (c) discussion with the supervisor; * Refine working hypotheses on the basis of emerging findings and advice given by the supervisor; * Evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of research methods: Adapt and refine methods accordingly * Plan, draft and finalize an extended written report. Skills: Facilitated Practical/Key skills: * Project planning, * Project-related communication (e.g. with subjects) * Execution of plans according to an agreed timetable. * Structuring an extended written report. Facilitated intellectual skills: * Application and adaptation of research methods to an investigation; * Critical evaluation of contenting positions; * Critical evaluation of one's own findings Assessed skills: * Delineation of a problem or issue for investigation. * Writing an extended report of the research. Content: Supervised research and writing-up of a research topic -- normally the topic piloted by the student in the precursor unit PS50043. |