SCX8003 : Research dissertation
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Scott Ashley
- Owning School: School X
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 49 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 0 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 0 |
| Semester 3 Credit Value: | 60.0 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
Aims
The research and writing of either:
8-10,000 word piece of original scholarship. The subject of the research proposal will have been agreed between the student and the supervisory team and submitted as an assessed component in the Professional Skills module;
Or:
5-6,000 word piece of original practice-based work. The subject of the research proposal will have been agreed between the student and the supervisory team and submitted as an assessed component in the Professional Skills. Practice-based work would usually include an alternative scholarly component, for example, an exhibition, a digital tool, or an artwork.
The module aims to enable students to:
1) Build on the interdisciplinary research knowledge and skills already acquired during the programme, such as taught modules on climate change and the Live Projects and Professional Skills elements.
2) Undertake sustained and original interdisciplinary research on climate change at an advanced level.
3) Be capable of analysing and interpreting a body of primary data/evidence and published research.
4) Develop their skills in project and time management and independent writing to an advanced level and map these to the SDG Competency Framework in order to help measure the material impacts of the programme.
Outline Of Syllabus
Students will usually select a topic emerging from the taught modules and Live Projects element of the programme. The Professional Skills module will help students draft an initial Research Proposal which will then be finally agreed in consultation with the Module Leader of SCX8003 Research Dissertation and the potential supervisor(s). The research dissertation can be primarily a longer piece of written scholarship or a practice-based project with both a written and non-written component, such as an exhibition, digital tool, or artwork.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 |
Meetings with the dissertation supervisor(s). |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Group meeting for all students to discuss formal aspects of the planning, production, and completion of the dissertation. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 295:00 | 295:00 | Production and final submission of the dissertation. |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 148:00 | 148:00 | Primary research and data gathering. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 147:00 | 147:00 | Further research and analysis. |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Meetings with expert academic supervisors provide opportunities for in-depth discussion of issues, such as the formulation of an advanced and sophisticated research question or practice, the most recent research findings and methodologies, and ways to introduce nuanced and effective interdisciplinary approaches into the final research dissertation. Regularly scheduled meetings provide a robust and tested way to offer advice and guidance during the initial stages of dissertation design and planning, while also ensuring that the student has the support needed throughout the research and writing process to complete the project on time and in a suitable format.
Group workshops provide an effective way to offer practical advice and guidance around good practice in planning, producing, and completing the dissertation that is needed for all students and to give immediate feedback on student questions and concerns. Workshops scheduled towards the beginning of the module provide students with the confidence and frameworks they need to make immediate progress with their written research and/or research practice.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation 1 | 3 | A | 100 | Dissertation to be submitted by 12 noon on the last Friday of Timetable Week 52. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The Research Dissertation will enable students to:
Practice and develop their interdisciplinary research skills around the theme of climate change.
Demonstrate advanced and in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of climate change.
Apply both disciplinary and interdisciplinary specific skills they have gained throughout the programme.
Illustrate their familiarity with gathering data/evidence and locating published research connected to their chosen research question(s).
Provide evidence of their competence in interpreting and presenting that data/evidence and published research in appropriate ways.
Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes and develops key skills in research, reading, and writing.
Through a formatively assessed mapping exercise, learners will situate their learning and skills outcomes within the SDG Competencies Framework, which will provide an internationally recognised benchmark against which their development can be tracked.
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/