University of the

West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

Code: USPJM8-60-M Title: DISSERTATION IN PSYCHOLOGY Version:

Level: UWE credit rating: ECTS credit rating:

Module type: Dissertation

Owning Faculty: Health and Life Sciences Field:

Faculty Committee approval: Q&S Committee (School of Life Sciences) Date: Summer 2009

Approved for Delivery by: N/A

Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: USPJHX-20-3 Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology or USPJEM-20-M Research Design and Experimental Methods or USPJKA-20-M Advanced Statistics in Psychology or USP JF4-20-M Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Health Psychology.

Entry Requirements: N/A

Excluded Combinations: None

Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

    • carry out a critical literature review in a chosen area of psychology, appropriate to programme undertaken (i.e. MSc Health Psychology students must undertake research within Health Psychology, MSc Research Methods in Psychology students must make the justification and critique of methods relevant to their dissertation);

    • identify and locate a research question within that area. Select and defend approach to the research question;

    • design a research protocol;

    • plan and execute a piece of independent research;

    • analyse and interpret the data collected and defend both the analysis and interpretation;

    • critically locate the research findings against published work;

    • produce a written report of the research demonstrating an in depth understanding of the chosen area of study;

    • engage appropriately with supervision, demonstrating an ability to present ideas and respond appropriately to feedback.

Syllabus Outline:

Specific content covered will typically include:

    • Specialist area of study within psychology selected by the student with the advice of a supervisor with expertise in Psychology Research Methods or in Health Psychology, dependent upon programme registered for.

    • Research methods advice appropriate to the selected area of study

    • Research communication principles

    • Programme of research seminars and invited external speakers

Teaching and Learning Methods:

Each student will be allocated a dissertation supervisor. Supervision will be on an individual basis and there will also be small group meetings as appropriate, some of which will be programme-specific. A programme of regular supervision sessions (minimum of eight) will be planned with each student who will be encouraged to prepare work for discussion at each meeting. Once the research question and protocol are established a research timetable will be agreed with each student.

A programme of research support workshops will be offered in particular aspects of the research process, including applying for University Ethics approval, approaches, data analysis and research communication, as appropriate.

Reading Strategy:

All students will be encouraged to make full use of the print and electronic resources available to them through membership of the University. These include a range of electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through web sites and information gateways. The University Library’s web pages provide access to subject relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can be accessed remotely. Students will be presented with opportunities within the curriculum to develop their information retrieval and evaluation skills in order to identify such resources effectively.

Any essential reading will be indicated clearly, along with the method for accessing it, e.g. students may be expected to purchase a set text, be given or sold a print study pack or be referred to texts that are available electronically, etc. This guidance will be available either in the module handbook, via the module information on Blackboard or through any other vehicle deemed appropriate by the module/programme leaders.

If further reading is expected, this will be indicated clearly. If specific texts are listed, a clear indication will be given regarding how to access them and, if appropriate, students will be given guidance on how to identify relevant sources for themselves, e.g. through use of bibliographical databases.

Indicative Reading List:

Recent versions of the following:

APA. (2001). The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 5th ed. New York: American Psychological Association.

Bensley, A. (1998). Critical Thinking in Psychology: A Unified Skills Approach. International Thomson Publishing, London.

Bowling, A. (1997). Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health & Health Services, Buckingham, Open University Press.

Bowling, A. (2005). Handbook of Health Research Methods: Investigation, Measurement & Analysis, Buckingham, Open University Press.

Breakwell, G. M., Hammond, S. and Fife-Shaw, C. (1995). Research Methods in Psychology. Sage, London.

Giltrow, J. (1995). Academic Writing. Baltimore, Ontario.

Glatthorn, A.A. (1998). Writing the Winning Dissertation, Corwin Press.

Graziano, A. M. and Raulin, M. L. (1993). Research Methods: A Process of Inquiry. Harper Collins, New York.

Luey, B. (1995). Handbook for Academic Authors. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Miles, J. and Gilbert, P. (2005) A Handbook of Research Methods for Clinical and Health Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Murray,M. and Chamberlain,K. (Eds) (1999). Qualitative Health Psychology Theories and Methods. London: Sage

Rosnow, R. L., & Rosnow, M. (2008). Writing papers in psychology: A student guide to research reports, literature reviews, proposals, posters, and handouts (8th ed.). Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.

Rudestam, K.E. (2000). Surviving your Dissertation, Sage.

Swetnam, D. (2000). Writing Your Dissertation, Oxford, How to Books.

Assessment:

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 100% B: 0%

FIRST ATTEMPT

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A (controlled) Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

CW1

Masters dissertation assessed by dissertation – (15,000 words)

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Component B Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes )

Component A (controlled) Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

CW1

Masters dissertation assessed by dissertation – (15,000 words)

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Component B Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes .

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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