Successful completion of the CE00293-M, Discipline Specific Module or its equivalent.

Recommended texts:

Madsen, D. (1983) Successful Dissertations and Theses: a Guide to Graduate Student Research from Proposal to Completion, Jossey-Bass, ISBN: 0875895557
Rudestam, K. E. and Newton, R. R. (2000) Surviving Your Dissertation: a Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process, Sage Publications, London, ISBN: 0761919627

You will need access to these resources:
- Published journals and text books and the inter-library loan service;
- Electronic and on-line information sources (e.g. BIDS/Searchbank) and World Wide Web;
- Word processing, data analysis and presentation graphics software;
- Regular supervision from a member of faculty staff with advanced research credentials in your research topic.

These learning strategies will occupy your time:
- There will be a heavy emphasis on independent learning as a facilitator of research;
- Personal supervision sessions, between the supervisor and student.
- Students will be invited to attend the programme of regular seminars and presentations given by researchers and external speakers as part of the faculty research activity;

The study of the module is as follows:
- 300 hours on the Research Proposal.

The module is delivered as follows:
- 40 hours direct supervision;
- 260 hours independent learning

The module refines and focuses the individual programme of study that was developed in the Advanced Research Module, as originally defined by the Learning Contract that was produced in the Research Methods Module, and was originally explored in the Discipline Specific Module. An original and advanced research proposal will be produced in the University?s approved format describing and defining the proposed Masters dissertation. The proposal will be presented to a small panel of faculty staff who are active in the chosen topic at an advanced level. The assessment will normally be carried out by the supervisor and a second assessor.
Note: where the word 'originality' appears in this Module Descriptor, this is taken to mean work that is original to the student, rather than to the world in general. Thus, an original piece of work would be one that the student has produced on his or her own initiative that is does not draw heavily on the work of others. A demonstration of originality would mean that the student shows innovation and/or initiative in arriving at an idea, a conclusion or an artefact. It is not expected that the item would be completely original in the sense of never having been done before.

100% Coursework, consisting of 1 item:
- Research Proposal - a research proposal of 7 - 9 pages focused deeply on the chosen topic in the area of research as defined by the Learning Contract. The proposal will be presented in a formal presentation followed by a verbal examination. Both items are combined in the assessment (Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4).

You must write the research proposal in a formal style, showing a clear understanding of your proposed Masters dissertation, and present it in a seminar to a panel, including your supervisor and an assessor. The standard should be that of a research proposal that could be submitted for a minor funded research project. The proposal will define the aim and objectives of and deliverables from the research, the methodological and ethical issues and should include an appropriate research design, literature survey and project plan. It is important to be concise and yet specific in producing the research proposal, which places great emphasis on research design and planning.