SD3D03 - Dissertation - Social Policy 01 Sep 2018 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: SD3D03
Module Title: Dissertation - Social Policy
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Leadership and Public Services
Faculty Sub Group: Leadership and Public Services
Module Leader: Howard Williamson
Module Team: Wendy Booth, David Phillips, Howard Williamson
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100502 - social policy
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2018
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

To enable the student to pursue coherent and systematic research

To enable the student to employ established techniques of research, taking into account ethical issues

To enable the student to produce an extended piece of research based on work in an area of their choice, in consultation with social policy staff, related to and informed by their studies in sociology and/or public services

Content Summary

Following study on Research methods for the Social Sciences, Public Services Project or Exploring Public Services students, under the guidance of their appointed supervisor will undertake an extended piece of work which will encourage primary research or an extended literature survey in an area of the student's choice, supported by available resources, materials and staff expertise. Students will be involved in: defining research questions, identifying an appropriate theoretical framework, undertaking a literature review, choosing and applying a relevant research methodology, reliability, validity and ethics in research, data collection and analysis, presentation of findings, or in an extended assessment of research methodologies, data collection and presentation in their chosen area.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 6
Seminar 6
Tutorial 4
Project supervision 20
Independent Study 260
Directed Study 104
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically assess and state clearly research questions and assess appropriate methodology.
LO2 Conductandpresentaliteraturereviewdemonstratingdepthandbreadthacrosstherelevant subjectarea and demonstrate competence in research design, data collection and analysis..

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Portfolio Portfolio 1 Portfolio 0 2000 30 No 40
Dissertation Dissertation Dissertation on an agreed topic to include a literature review 0 10000 70 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 1
Dissertation

Reading List

Up to date versions of text books will be used in the delivery of this module.  Reading lists will be updated annually.

Bell J (2014) Doing Your Research Project 3ndedition : Open University Press

May T (2011) Social Research : 3rd edition :Open University Press

Blaxter L, C. Hughes, and M. Tight (2010) How to Research 2nd edition: Open University Press

Yin R (1991) Case Study Research 2nd edition :London, Sage

Davies, M.B. (2007) Doing a Successful Research Project: Houndsmills, Palgrave

Denscombe, M. (2014) The Good Research Guide: small-scale research projects: Buckingham, Open UniversityPress