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MN50178: Dissertation

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2012/3
Follow this link for further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: School of Management
Follow this link for further information on credits Credits: 30
Follow this link for further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Follow this link for further information on period slots Period: Dissertation period
Follow this link for further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 100%
Follow this link for further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Follow this link for further information on unit rules Requisites:
Follow this link for further information on unit content Description: Aims:

* To develop the students' ability to carry out an individual research project in depth, and to permit students to develop and enhance their command in depth of at least one particular field of marketing.
* To give students the opportunity to identify a novel and feasible research question and relate it to relevant literature and empirical material and to develop a cogent, credible and sustained argument that addresses the research question, and to do this within a fixed time period.
The dissertation involves a process of supervised research study for postgraduates aimed at developing understanding of how to:
* define a new research question
* make informed methodological choices using modern techniques
* design a research inquiry
* analyse data
* write a project report
Students will become familiar with the practicalities of undertaking these activities within limited time and other resource constraints.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
* define and answer a research question in a chosen area of interest related to development
* support the argument with relevant empirical evidence and/or reference to appropriate theory, and/or linking together arguments from disparate literatures or disciplinary perspectives
* interpret the significance of findings from relevant sources of quantitative or qualitative evidence
* provide a new interpretation on existing information or provide an original view on an issue
* do all the above in written form in a dissertation that conforms to acceptable standards of presentation and expression, and
* complete the assignment within an agreed deadline.

Skills:

* Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (e.g. essays) (Taught/Facilitated).
* Ability to select, analyse and present numerical or non-numerical data (T/F/Assessed).
* Ability to select, summarise and synthesise written information from multiple sources (T/F/A).
* Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models (T/F/A).
* Ability to synthesise multidisciplinary perspectives on the same problem (T/F/A).
* Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer (T/F/A).
* Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A).
* Ability to work independently, without close supervision of guidance (T/F/A).

Content:
The dissertation may address any area of management for which an adequate level of supervision can be offered. For students taking a variant programme, the dissertation must be in the appropriate topic area. Dissertations may involve any combination of (a) review of published literature (b) analysis of secondary data (c) analysis of primary data collected by the student, for example through administering a questionnaire or running focus groups. The dissertation should include a discussion of the methodology employed in its production and will often make explicit reference to at least one important marketing issue or theme covered as part of the Certificate or Diploma stage of the programme. It will be the students' responsibility to choose their research area, organize their research activities and negotiate access with other organizations if required.
Follow this link for further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

MN50178 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

School of Management
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2012/13.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.