Module FSOC3012: Interdisciplinary Dissertation

Department: Social Sciences Faculty Hub

FSOC3012: Interdisciplinary Dissertation

Tied To

• LMV0: Combined Honours in Social Sciences
• LMVA: Combined Honours in Social Sciences (with Year Abroad)
• LMVP: Combined Honours in Social Sciences (with Placement Year)

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To give students the opportunity to undertake an extended interdisciplinary study bringing together the theories and concepts from the subjects they have studied within their Combined Social Science degree programme.

Content

• Dissertation on a substantial topic in the field of social science chosen by the student and bringing together theories and concepts from their other subject modules.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an ability to formulate informed research questions relating to a chosen topic;
• Display a critical understanding of key theoretical concerns and appropriate underlying concepts relevant to their chosen area of research;
• Display a critical understanding of the core methodological issues relating to their area of research;
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the particular issues (e.g. theoretical, methodological and, where appropriate, policy-related) associated with their research topic.

• Plan and devise a programme of work applicable to investigating the defined research questions;
• Identify and survey literature relevant to the research questions;
• Evaluate arguments and evidence;
• Undertake and present theoretical and empirical material in a scholarly manner;
• Employ both theoretical and methodological expertise in independently analysing key issues related to their chosen research topic

• Communicate complex ideas in writing;
• Plan and manage their own learning;
• Demonstrate a range of numeracy skills where appropriate;
• Demonstrate a capacity to compile extensive bibliographies using a range of online search tools and web-based resources.

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

• Students are given three plenary general dissertation workshops. The first is held in the June of Year 2; the second and third workshops are held in Year 3 - early Michaelmas term and early Epiphany term.
• There will be six individual supervisions each lasting for thirty minutes.
• A formative plan (including list of chapter headings, summary of contents and working bibliography) will be submitted and returned during Michaelmas term.
• A formative draft chapter will be submitted and returned during Epiphany term.
• Summative assessment will be a 12,000 word dissertation submitted at the start of Easter term.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Plan (list of chapter headings, summary of contents, working bibliography) and draft chapter.