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2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5392M Dissertation

60 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Dr. Matthew Davis
Email: m.davis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 01 Jun to 31 Aug View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

The aim of this module is to provide students with an opportunity to conduct a piece of data-driven empirical research of demonstrable relevance to organizational psychology and an organization. It will enable students to develop in depth knowledge of a chosen area of practice and contribute to the academic discourse around this topic. The module aims to offer students the means to apply their academic knowledge and research training gained on their programme to a complete research cycle.

This module offers students the necessary grounding in conducting and reporting applied research – a key skill for scientific-practitioners.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to critically evaluate:
- theory and methodology of organizational psychology
- the ethical implications of their research designs

Skills outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:

Subject specific
- Negotiate project parameters
- Gather, synthesise and critically evaluate large amounts of information from different sources
- Analyse quantitative and/or qualitative data sets and research evidence
- Report research results in a clear and consistent way

Transferable
- Organise their time effectively
- Communicate in writing to an academic standard
- Plan and design studies to evaluate theory and assumptions


Syllabus

The module contributes to stage 1 of the QOccPsych.

The module requires students to undertake the following activities:
- Selecting and deciding on a research topic
- Contacting an organization and negotiating access
- Reviewing and summarizing the relevant literature
- Developing research questions and/or hypotheses.
- Preparing and conducting data collection
- Analysing and interpreting data
- Developing conclusions and identifying limitations and future research
- Visualising and writing up results
- Feeding back to practice

Teaching methods

Private study hours600.00
Total Contact hours0.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)600.00

Private study

The dissertation project is central to developing students’ competence in designing and conducting occupational psychological research, with a view to providing an evidence-base for practice.

Accordingly, the dissertation is a student-driven project that entails a considerable amount of independent study, to include reviewing literature, formulating hypotheses/research questions, developing a research design, collecting data/undertaking fieldwork, analyzing data, reporting and interpreting the implications of results, and writing the formal dissertation document.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Each student develops an outline research proposal that connects with the ongoing research agendas of potential dissertation supervisors within the organizational psychology group at LUBS and a contemporary issue in the practice of occupational psychology.

Once allocated, supervisors will assist students in refining and realizing their proposal. Supervisors will monitor student progress through formal and informal supervisory meetings and tutorials as appropriate.

Students typically receive at least 6 x 1 hour tutorials with their supervisors throughout the dissertation. It is the supervisor’s job to advise and agree on the dissertation outline, direct students towards relevant literatures, discuss appropriate theories and advise on research methods, and approve the general structure and content of the dissertation.

Supervisors will endeavour to provide feedback on drafts of chapters and the dissertation, but it is the student’s responsibility to provide drafts in a timely fashion so that supervisors have an adequate timeframe to provide feedback.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation12,500 words100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

The dissertation should constitute a substantial piece of research. The quality of the coverage, analysis and presentation of the investigation – not the number of words written – signals its significance.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 17/11/2015

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