2020/21 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5138M Economics Dissertation

60 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Luisa Zanchi
Email: L.Zanchi@lubs.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jan to 30 Sep View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Module replaces

LUBS5136M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The dissertation is in many ways the culmination of the Master's programme. Completing a major academic project can be interesting and rewarding. It does, however, require planning and organisation.

Objectives

The objective of the Master's dissertation is to provide students with the skills and knowledge to develop a substantial piece of original research. While the dissertation is prepared under the close guidance of a supervisor, a key aim is to gain a high level of competence in undertaking independent research through 60 credits of self-directed study. Students have the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in other parts of the programme, analyse these concepts in greater depth, and devise a complete piece of work from their own initial idea through to a final written report.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:
- critically assess key contemporary theories and relevant empirical research evidence in the field of economics
- critically assess the implications and relevance of the current knowledge boundaries in economics
- demonstrate a critical awareness of alternative research strategies
- demonstrate a critical awareness of alternative quantitative techniques
- critically evaluate available data sources, their strengths and limitations
- analyse how research projects are designed, managed and delivered
- design a research project
- conduct a literature search for relevant literature
- conduct a data search for relevant data sources
- analyse the various potential methods of quantitative analysis
- conduct appropriate quantitative analysis
- write a research proposal
- demonstrate a critical awareness of different approaches to writing research papers
- write a comprehensive, relevant and critical literature review
- write comprehensive, relevant and critical comments on the results of the quantitative analysis conducted

Skills outcomes
- To be able to identify and analyse current academic problems in economics through self-directed study.
- Independently devise, plan and develop a complete academic project in economics within the limits of the available time and data resources.
- Apply suitable research methods to analyse a chosen topic where appropriate and interpret the results obtained.

Syllabus

Indicative content

Since this is a dissertation module, it does not have a syllabus in the standard sense. Listed here are some of the components that contribute to the process of developing the dissertation.

- There are four compulsory briefing sessions early in semester 2:

1. General Dissertation Briefing with the Module Leader
2. Library Dissertation Briefing with the Library Learning Services
3. Research Design
4. Writing the Dissertation

- After the briefing sessions, students start working on a written proposal for a dissertation topic (approx. 1,000 words). The Module Leader provides advice and support during this phase. The proposal is submitted to the Module Leader before the beginning of the Easter break. On the basis of the proposal, the Module Leader then allocates a dissertation supervisor.

- Work on the dissertation takes place from May/June (after the end of the semester 2 exam session) to August inclusive. The dissertation is developed under the guidance of a supervisor allocated to each student. The supervisor will help monitoring progress in a number of ways, including:
- Agree the dissertation topic
- Direct the student towards relevant literature and other sources of information
- Discuss the appropriateness of theory and methodology
- Read a draft of an early chapter to provide feedback
- Read a late, complete draft of the dissertation to provide feedback
- Advise on the layout and presentation style of the final version of the dissertation.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision Meetings	4	1.00	4.00
Lecture	4	2.00	8.00
Private study hours			588.00
Total Contact hours			12.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			600.00

Private study

This could include a variety of activities, such as reading, watching videos, question practice and exam preparation.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Your teaching methods could include a variety of delivery models, such as face-to-face teaching, live webinars, discussion boards and other interactive activities. There will be opportunities for formative feedback throughout the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	12,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit for this module is 100% 12,000 word dissertation.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 10/08/2020 08:41:49

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