SD4T100 - Dissertation 01 Jul 2023 - 31 Aug 2029 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | SD4T100 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Dissertation | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Life Sciences and Education | ||
| Faculty Group: | Education, Early Years and Social Work | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Youth and Community | ||
| Module Leader: | Mark Iggulden | ||
| Module Team: | Kelly McCarthy, Paul Lewis | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2023 | 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: | 100466 - youth and community work | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Jul 2023 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2029 |
Module Aims
To enable the student to develop a critical understanding of the role, value and application of research within the field of Youth and Community Work, demonstrating independent learning, critical reflection and reflexivity.
To provide the student with the appropriate skills to ethically design, implement, sustain and write up a Dissertation in the field of Youth and Community Work reflective of the students’ professional interests, relevant legislation, guidance, policy and practice and their employment/placement experiences.
To enable students to produce a logical, coherent, and defensible study which is critical and analytical, which evaluates the research process and findings and draws logical and thoughtful conclusions and recommendations for practice and /or for further research.
Content Summary
Module content reflects the course and module aims seeking to produce critically reflective students who are innovative, enterprising, digitally literate, commercially aware with the leadership skills required to deliver effective Youth and Community Work within a multi-agency and inter-professional context (USW, 2030 Strategy).
Students will work independently to develop a 18,000 word Dissertation. The Dissertation will take a primary data collection approach (empirical study) or a secondary data collection approach (extended literature review or theory-based study). The students’ practice may serve as an in-depth case study around which to structure the empirical Dissertation, the main purpose of which will be to demonstrate a solid grasp of the interface between theory and practice. Case studies and examples from practice using vignettes may also be used in secondary data collection (extended literature review or theory-based study).
Students will engage in the USW Research ethics approval process.
Students will participate in supervision. This is detailed in the discussion on learning and teaching methods below.
Learning and teaching includes:
Supervision arrangements, expectations, process and paperwork
Self-assessment – what do and don’t you know?
What is a Dissertation? Which route best suits your research ideas?
Essential information before you start (process, structure, expectations, word counts)
Appropriate writing style and conventions
Ethical considerations, particularly when working with children and young people participants
Research design: strengths and limitations
Research aims and questions
Participatory research
Ethically informed project planning
Recommendations and dissemination strategies
Research methodology and methods
Literature reviews and use of secondary data
Data collection and analysis
Consent, assent and the involvement of gatekeepers
Sampling participants
Reflexivity and critical reflection in a research context
Assessment – what and how markers mark.
Recap on handbooks, guidance and self-assessment ‘check lists’
Formatting and presentation
Learning from alumni: Student perspectives on their own research
Module mapped to the National?Occupational Standards for Youth Work (CLDSC, 2019) YW03, YW04, YW05, YW06, YW10, YW13, YW20, YW22, YW23, YW24, YW25, YW26.
Module mapped to the following course learning outcomes: A1, A3, A4, B1, B2, B3, B4, C3, C4
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 30 |
| Seminar | 2 |
| Tutorial | 24 |
| Project supervision | 9 |
| Independent Study | 415 |
| Formative Assessment - Scheduled | 60 |
| Formative Assessment - Independent | 60 |
| Total Hours Selected | 600 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role and application of research within the field of Youth and Community Work, evidencing independent learning, critical reflection and reflexivity. |
| LO2 | Demonstrate that you can ethically design, implement, sustain and write up a Dissertation in the field of Youth and Community Work reflective of professional interests, relevant legislation, guidance, policy and practice and their employment/placement experiences. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Dissertation / Major Project 1 | Dissertation: A major piece of work reporting the results of a substantial research project (typically conducted over more than one term in the graduating year), providing a coherent argument about the topic addressed and aiming to incorporate an element of originality in the argument and /or the evidence used to sustain it. The work may be written or practical | 0 | 18000 | 100 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Dissertation / Major Project 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |