Primarily, this is a self -directed piece of research. You will be allocated an individual supervisor who will have responsibility for guiding you to completion of your dissertation. It will be the joint responsibility of the student and the supervisor to design a schedule for the undertaking of the dissertation in relation to appropriate targets of progress, ethical approval, and resources and logistics. To assist you a dissertation guidebook will be issued. This will provide information about the administrative arrangements for the dissertation; guidance on the characteristics and objectives of the dissertation; conventions governing the organising of work for a dissertation and the form of its presentation; the criteria for assessment and the assessment procedures.

Module Learning Outcome
University Learning Outcome
On completion of this module, you will be able to :

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of research methods including project planning, data collection and research ethics
Knowledge & Understanding

2. Evidence the integration of elements of your learning from the programme as a whole to research a theme or topic associated with forensic archaeology and genocide investigation
Analysis, Knowledge & Understanding, Reflection

3. Display competence in applying research skills to collect and analysis primary and/or secondary data and sources
Application, Enquiry, Learning,
Problem Solving

4. Demonstrate cognizance of methodological approaches to forensic archaeology and genocide investigation, focusing particularly on desk based evidence and data integration
Application, Knowledge & Understanding

5. Illustrate a level of communicative skill appropriate for Masters level, utilising standard notational and referencing conventions.
Communication

In this module students will engage in a major research project. As part of this process, students are required to choose a discipline specific topic for research, identify and critically review appropriate literature, conduct the research and write a dissertation. Students are required to communicate the research findings in a discipline specific written format. In accordance with the HEFCE definition of research, the work should comprise an original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding.

The first part of this module will provide the necessary research skills to complete an extended research project. Students will be guided through pre-recorded or live stream lectures and Blackboard tasks and exercises with their Research Supervisor and the module delivery team. Topics will include project management skills, ethical issues and data analysis. Students will then complete Assessment 1, which consists of a project design and ethical review. It will be the joint responsibility of the student and the supervisor to design a schedule for the undertaking of the dissertation in relation to appropriate targets of progress.

The second stage of module involves the completion of Assessment 2, the dissertation. To assist students, a dissertation guidebook will be issued. This will provide information about the administrative arrangements for the dissertation; guidance on the characteristics and objectives of the dissertation; conventions governing the organising of work for a dissertation and the form of its presentation; the criteria for assessment and the assessment procedures.

Indicative Illustrative timetable and content:
Week 18: Introduction to research methods, project designs and ethical reviews
Week 19: Research skills
Week 20: Research ethics at Staffordshire University
Week 21: Project case study
Week 21: Design workshop
Week 22: Research resources, primary and secondary data
Week 23: Assessment “surgery” tutorials
Week 27: Assessment 1 hand in
Week 31: One to one feedback on assessment 1
Week 32 - 37: Undertake Dissertation preparation, research development and field work [if required]*
Week 38: Group progress presentation and discussion*
Week 39 – 48 – Undertake Dissertation write up.*
Week 49: Dissertation hand in

* Specified timetabled meetings [face to face or online] with dissertation supervisor will take place at least every four weeks during this time to review progress.

Temple, A. 2019.The Postgraduate's Guide to Research Ethics. Macmillan research skills series. Red Globe Press

Thomas, G. 2017. How to do your Research Project. Sage Publishing. UK

Peter, L., 2012. Excellent Dissertations! McGraw-Hill Education UK.

Sturdy Colls, C. 2015. Holocaust Archaeologies: Approaches and Future Directions. New York: Springer

Library resources including Ebooks and e-journals, relevant websites.
Blackboard VLE
Computer with internet access; students’ own textbooks

This module will be assessed by:
1/ Report – comprising project design document and ethical review. [LO 1, 5]

2/ Dissertation, length 12,000 words [LO 2-5].

For the MA dissertation, it would normally be expected that students would undertake a theoretical dissertation or one that uses a desk-based dataset (e.g. archival materials, cartographic materials, aerial reconnaissance images, or existing fieldwork data).