Module GEOG41260: DISSERTATION BY RESEARCH

Department: Geography

GEOG41260: DISSERTATION BY RESEARCH

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• UNDERSTANDING RISK, FUNDAMENTALS OF RISK RESEARCH, RISK FRONTIERS

Excluded Combination of Modules

• VOCATIONAL DISSERTATION

Aims

• To enable students to apply the skills and methods acquired in the core and option modules to a specialist topic of their own choosing.
• To acquire an advanced knowledge and understanding of a specialist sub-field of hazard, risk and resilience analysis.
• To enable students to undertake a research-based (academic-facing) project of their own choosing, subject to the constraints set by the route through the programme that they are following.

Content

• The dissertation enables students to develop and execute an extended piece of research on a specialised topic. It is chosen in consultation with an allocated adviser, and must be within the spirit and practical scope of the degree programme. The topic will be approved by the Programme Manager. Detailed guidelines on format and procedures will be provided in the degree programme handbook.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will have an in-depth understanding of a single specialised topic in risk, in relation to the programme route followed, and their own engagement with the literature and their supervisor (PK3)
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of a specialised area, including, where appropriate, theory and method;
• Advanced understanding of data analysis in the area of hazard, risk and resilience in which they conduct their research

• Students will be able to frame a piece of research and then to identify and to develop their necessary capacity to conduct research under that framing (PS3)
• Students will be able to demonstrate that they can research and report a piece of focused research (PS4)
• Acquisition of sufficient research skills through the production of a dissertation to enable students to start move on to doctoral research (PS5)
• Critical awareness of a specific area of the HRR literature;
• Awareness of ethical issues in research, and of the importance of reflexivity about the role of the researcher.

• Ability to deliberate, to discuss and to decide on research directions, through contact with their supervisor (PG1)
• Ability to write an advanced level thesis of a substantial nature (PG4)
• Ability to write clearly and concisely, explaining why the chosen topic of research is important, critiquing previous research, and providing a coherent discussion of findings;
• Independent management of a research project (under guidance from an adviser) from the formulation of research questions, to the collection and analysis of data, to the presentation of a dissertation;
• Advanced quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis.
• Exercise of initiative and skill in written communication.

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

• Individual or small group supervision provides a forum in which ongoing work can be discussed in a focused manner with a subject expert, and in which the student is able to acquire and enhance their knowledge and understanding of a specialised field. Students will be directed to an existing body of literature relevant to the subject under study, and advised on the potential sources of data and modes of analysis. As set out below meetings between student and supervisor will take place during the course of planning, research and writing.
• Individual supervision will be provided from the academic except during July and August when team support will be arranged for the module.
• The student will produce a dissertation proposal, and will additionally get feedback on two draft chapters of the dissertation. The timing and content of this work will be specified in the module guide.
• Assessment is by means of a dissertation of 15,000 words (including footnotes but excluding references) and a 10 minute oral presentation followed by a 5 minute questioning time. The dissertation is an extended piece of work which requires students to develop and execute independent research, use data in an advanced and sophisticated fashion, and interrogate literatures appropriate to the chosen specialism.
• Dissertations must be presented in clearly written and structured form.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Research proposal (500 words).The student will produce a dissertation proposal, and will also get written feedback on two draft chapters of the dissertation. NB: formative work is a compulsory part of this module.

■ 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