Module SPRT3172: DISSERTATION

Department: Applied Social Sciences (Sport)

SPRT3172: DISSERTATION

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To enable the student to develop a specialism in a chosen aspect of academic study of sport.
• To offer the student an opportunity to investigate, solve problems by review or experimentation, and engage in critical analysis and interpretation of their subject.

Content

• October: Meet with Supervisor to finalise project aims and submit Ethical Approval Application (if necessary); Perform literature search and identify articles that need to be ordered; Obtain journal articles from local libraries; Order more obscure articles.
• November: Meet with Supervisor to plan compilation of Literature review/Introduction. Continue collection of articles and other information; Continue to read articles, identifying the key aspects of each; Begin to synthesise journal information.
• December: Complete synthesis of journal information; Write and submit Literature review/Introduction; Meet with Supervisor to plan data collection/analytical component.
• January: Meet with Supervisor to discuss Introduction and forthcoming data collection; Begin data collection; Begin writing up Methods, and refine Introduction based on staff feedback.
• February: Data collection should be finished mid-February; Analyse data, perform statistical tests, interpret data alone and in the context of literature; Plot graphs, draw tables, etc.
• March: Complete write-up with one week to spare, to allow time for proof-reading, binding, and other last-minute modifications.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify and define clearly the major aspect of the problem in question.
• Plan and devise a programme of work applicable to investigating the defined problem.
• Survey and abstract literature relevant to the problem and programme of work.
• Assess the validity of the findings and interpret them with respect to related published work.

• Communicate information and their ideas clearly.
• Plan and manage their own learning.
• Analyse and problem solve within their area of study.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• As a significant piece of self-directed study, the production of a successful final document will satisfy each of the key learning outcomes identified above; namely, the Dissertation will require the student to: Identify an initial problem; Plan and devise a programme to investigate that problem; Review the relevant literature and interpret the data/findings in light of that literature.
• The basis for this study should have been provided in prior study at Levels 2 and 3 with the Research Methods in Sport module (Level 2) being seen as providing a key contribution where many of these skills are addressed.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Optional - to submit Review of Literature by end of term 1.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University