G108495 - Masters Research and Dissertation 01 Sep 2015 - 31 Aug 2019 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: G108495
Module Title: Masters Research and Dissertation
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology and Therapeutic Studies
Faculty Sub Group: Therapeutic Studies
Module Leader: Nicola Blunden
Module Team: Sheila Spong, Diane Workman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 60 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100495 - counselling
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2015
Valid To 31 Aug 2019

Module Aims

To develop critical understanding of a range of research paradigms, strategies and methods used for data collection, analysis, reporting and evaluating within research, relevant to their subject area.

To develop an in-depth critical understanding of one approach to research, to be demonstrated in the completion of a research study relevant to the subject area.

To provide the student with the appropriate skills to initiate, develop, sustain and report a substantial research project in a selected topic area related to their degree subject area.

To facilitate the writing of a dissertation.

To build the theoretical, interpersonal and practical skills required to complete the dissertation from initiation to completion.

Content Summary

1) The significance of research for counselling, psychotherapy and consultative supervision

2) Academic skills for research

3) Understanding and critiquing research paradigms
a) quantitative and positivist paradigms
b) qualitative research paradigms
c) case study research
d) theory based research

4) Ethical issues of research and practice

5) Methods of data collection and analysis

6) Presentation and dissemination of research findings

Students will work independently on the development of a substantial project supported by an allocated supervisor/s. Students are expected to negotiate specialist resources from outside partners where appropriate.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 15
Seminar 10
Project supervision 9
Practical classes and workshops 5
Independent Study 555
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 6
Total Hours Selected 600

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To specify and independently undertake a research project on a relevant topic, identifying and using appropriate resources and demonstrating ethical awareness.
LO2 To identify, collate, interpret, contextualise and critically analyse current literature and methodological approaches in a specialised field.
LO3 To write up the research undertaken as a dissertation, according to the requirements specified.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Dissertation Dissertation Research dissertation on a topic relevant to Degree subject. 0 20000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Dissertation

Reading List

COOLICAN, H. 2014 Research methods and Statistics in psychology, 6th edn, Hove: Psychology Press.

HANLEY, H and LENNIE, C. 2012. Introducing Research Methods for Counselling. London: Sage Publications

SANDERS, P and WILKINS, P. 2010. First steps in practitioner research: a guide to understanding and doing research in counselling and health and social care. Ross-on Wye, PCCS Books

BARBOUR, R. 2008. Doing Focus Groups. London: Sage.

BOND, T. 2004 Ethical guidelines for researching counselling and psychotherapy. Report for British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Rugby.

BRETT DAVIES, M. 2007 Doing a Successful Research Project. Houndmills, Palgrave.

BRINK-BUDGEN, R 2000 Critical Thinking for Students: Learn the Skills of Critical Thinking and Argument. London: How to Books.

DENZIN, N. and LINCOLN, Y. eds. 2008 Collecting and interpreting qualitative materials. 3rd edn. London: Sage.

FIELD, A. and WRIGHT, D.B. 2009 Discovering statistics using SPSS. 3rd edn. London, Sage.

GRANELLO, D. H. & WHEATON, J. E. 2004 Online data collection: Strategies for research. Journal of Counseling & Development, 82(4), 387-393.

JOSEPH, S., DYER, C. & COOLICAN, H. 2009 BACP Information Sheet R13: Statistics in counselling and psychotherapy. Lutterworth, BACP.

LEPPER, G. AND RIDING, N. 2006 Researching the Psychotherapy Process: a Practical Guide to Transcript-based methods. Houndmills: Palgrave.

MCLEOD, J. 2010 Case Study Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy. London, Sage

MCLEOD, J. 2011. Qualitative research in counselling and psychotherapy. 2nd edn. London, Sage.

PUNCH, K. 2003 Survey research: The basics. London, Sage.

REISSMAN C 2008 Narrative methods for the human sciences. London: Sage

SALDANA, J. 2009 The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. London, Sage.

SILVERMAN, D. 2006 Interpreting Qualitative Data 3rd ed. London: Sage.

SILVERMAN, D. 2009 Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook. 3rd edn. London: Sage.

SPEEDY, J. 2008 Narrative inquiry and psychotherapy, Houndsmills, Basingstoke, Palgrave.

SPONG, S. 2010 BACP Information Sheet: Using Interviews in Counselling Research. Lutterworth, BACP.

STILES, W.2007 Theory-building case studies of counselling and psychotherapy. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 7(2), 122 - 127.

TIMULAK, L. 2008 Research in counselling and psychotherapy. London, Sage.

BACP website
www.bacp.co.uk

BABCP website
www.babcp.com

UKCP website
http://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/