Dissertation
Module title | Dissertation |
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Module code | ESS3302 |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
Credits | 45 |
Module staff | Dr Gavin Buckingham (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 100 |
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Module description
The final year of your course gives you the opportunity to pursue a topic that has a personal interest to you. Having developed your understanding of themes in previous modules, you will use the concepts, techniques, and skills you have learnt to pursue your topic systematically and in depth. The dissertation can allow you to focus in on a particular area you find fascinating, or it can be interdisciplinary in nature, encouraging you to gather the appropriate knowledge from different areas. A main factor of the dissertation is cultivating your independence of thought and your ability to find and interpret your material. There are no pre or co-requisites for this module, and it is suitable for students on interdisciplinary pathways that have studied relevant research methods modules and have a sufficient background in sport and health science.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of the dissertation is to provide an opportunity for you to pursue, systematically and in depth, personal interest in a particular topic utilising the concepts, techniques, and skills developed in previous modules. The dissertation may be based within a particular area of the course (Physiology, Psychology, Biomechanics, Social Science) or may be interdisciplinary in nature, and will encourage the synthesis of appropriate knowledge from different areas. The dissertation is an independent study that will develop your ability to find, interpret and present material according to selected approaches of understanding and prescribed methods of investigation
Graduate attributes. As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:
- Strategic thinking and problem solving in designing your data collection.
- Application of knowledge in interpreting findings of your research.
- Building confidence as a communicator in discussing your research with peers and your supervisor
- Enquiring mind in pursuing further reading on topics covered in the module.
- Data management skills in collecting and recording data and analysing findings
- Ethical awareness when planning your research
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Identify and define a research topic
- 2. Appraise the relevant research literature or documentation
- 3. Employ an appropriate form of investigation
- 4. Use appropriate techniques of data collection and analysis
- 5. Interpret data and draw meaningful conclusions
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate skills of research, analysis and critical evaluation, including justification of study methodology
- 7. Examine the meaning from quantitative or qualitative data
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Take responsibility for your own learning, including appropriate time management, arranging student-supervisor meetings, data collection, study write-up
- 9. Present ideas and information competently in both written and poster formats
Syllabus plan
- Dissertation proposal
- Literature review, data collection, and fieldwork.
- Analysis and interpretation of results
- You will be required to obtain ethical approval by the SHS ethics committee prior to any data collection taking place. Any dissertation submitted without ethical approval will receive a mark of zero.
- Dissertation progress report 1
- Dissertation progress report 2
- Dissertation write up and hand-in date – present dissertation research in writing
- Dissertation conference - present dissertation research via an oral presentation
NOTE: All students will be required to obtain ethical approval by the SHS Ethics Committee. Any dissertation submitted without ethical approval will receive a mark of zero. Please ensure that you are aware of the ethics committee deadlines.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
20 | 430 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 4 | Dissertation supervision meetings (maximum of 8x30 minutes) |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 2 | Ethics application support meeting (email or meeting) |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 5 | Equipment demonstration and supervised data collection sessions (supported by technical team) |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 3 | Lectures from the module leader |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 4 | Drop in sessions from module leader |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 2 | Dissertation conference including delivery of poster presentation |
Guided Independent Study | 150 | Complete ethics application, research and produce review of the literature and methodologies |
Guided Independent Study | 200 | Carry-out research project and analyse data |
Guided Independent Study | 80 | Write up final version of dissertation and prepare poster presentation |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Commenting on one draft of dissertation (not to include the discussion section of the dissertation) | Up to 4000 words | 1-9 | Written |
Commenting on the design and content of the poster presentation | 15 minute tutorial | 1-9 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
80 | 0 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Written dissertation | 80 | 200 word abstract plus 5000 words written in Journal format (Journal of Sports Sciences) (Tables, figures, appendices, and table/figure captions are not included in the word limit) | 1-9 | Written |
Conference presentation | 20 | A2-sized poster along with 5 minute presentation and 5 minutes questions | 1-9 | Written |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Written dissertation | Written dissertation | 1-9 | August/September assessment period |
Conference presentation | Conference presentation | 1-9 | August/September assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Please note that you are encouraged to read more specific texts related your research question. You should familiarise yourselves with the Dissertation Guidelines document, available on ELE.
- American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: APA.
- Barrass, R. (2002). Scientists must write: A guide to better writing for scientists, engineers, and students (2nd ed.). London, UK: Routledge.
- Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics (4th ed.). London, UK: Sage.
- Huck, S. W. (2008). Reading statistics and research (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
- Nevill, A. M., Atkinson, G., & Scott, M. A. (2009) Statistical methods in kinanthropometry and exercise physiology. In Eston, R.G. and Reilly, T. (Eds.) Kinanthropometry and exercise physiology laboratory manual: Tests, procedures and data (3rd ed., Vol 1, pp. 250-299).
- Vincent, W. J. (2005). Statistics in kinesiology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
- Winter, E. M., Eston, R. G., & Lamb, K. L. (2001). Statistical analyses in the physiology of exercise and kinanthropometry. Journal of Sport Sciences, 19, 761-775.
- Strunk, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (2000). The elements of style (4th ed.). New York, NY: Longman.
- Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K., & Silverman, S. J. (2011). Research methods in physical activity (5th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
- Williams, C., & Wragg, C. (2004). Data analysis and research for sport and exercise science: A student guide. London, UK: Routledge.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE page: ele.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=19441– provides a selection of key readings for qualitative and quantitative studies, dissertation guidelines, dissertation appendices (including proposal form, progress form, ethics application, tutorial appointment sheet, informed consent, table of consent, front cover).
Credit value | 45 |
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Module ECTS | 22.5 |
Module pre-requisites | ESS2303 Research Methods and Analytical Procedures, ESS2304 Quantitative Research Methods, PSY2206 Methods and Statistics in Psychology II, or equivalent |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 6 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 21/09/2011 |
Last revision date | 20/08/2024 |