Module Descriptors
DISSERTATION
LAWS61717
Key Facts
Health, Education, Policing and Sciences
Level 6
30 credits
Contact
Leader: Keith Wharton
Email: Keith.Wharton@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities:
Independent Study Hours:
Total Learning Hours: 300
Assessment
- Coursework - 12,000 word dissertation weighted at 100%
Module Details
Indicative Content
Directed and detailed guidance on the development of research skills
- Guidance on methods of carrying out a literature review of the research topic.
- Guidance on other methods of empirical research eg postal questionnaires, interviews and small-scale structured surveys, where appropriate.
- Detailed guidance on the practical application of research skills in the production of an extended written dissertation on a subject of the student's choice.
- Guidance on methods of carrying out a literature review of the research topic.
- Guidance on other methods of empirical research eg postal questionnaires, interviews and small-scale structured surveys, where appropriate.
- Detailed guidance on the practical application of research skills in the production of an extended written dissertation on a subject of the student's choice.
Learning Strategies
Lecture -a general introductory lecture will be delivered to explain the aims, objectives and requirements of the Dissertation option. (1 hour)
Tutorials -The Dissertation Co-ordinator will hold preliminary meetings with individual students to discuss a topic chosen by the student who must then produce a detailed Dissertation Outline on that topic, for approval. Upon approval, each student will be assigned a supervisor according to the area of law being investigated and then be entitled to a minimum of a further six follow-up tutorials with the supervisor. However, further tutorials will be arranged to ensure the student is making progress with the dissertation, according to the individual needs of the student. These tutorials will focus on developing and refining the relevant research and written skills required to enable the student to write the dissertation through independent study and research. (7 hours)
Independent research - this will consist of research usually carried out in libraries, in pursuance of investigating the topic chosen for the dissertation. However, structured interviews, postal questionnaires and small-scale structured surveys may also be carried out as part of the research methodology, subject to ethical approval . Students will be referred to current and recently reported cases, legislation, reports, and other sources which require the use of online databases. Use of the worldwide web will be strongly encouraged. (286 hours)
Tutorials -The Dissertation Co-ordinator will hold preliminary meetings with individual students to discuss a topic chosen by the student who must then produce a detailed Dissertation Outline on that topic, for approval. Upon approval, each student will be assigned a supervisor according to the area of law being investigated and then be entitled to a minimum of a further six follow-up tutorials with the supervisor. However, further tutorials will be arranged to ensure the student is making progress with the dissertation, according to the individual needs of the student. These tutorials will focus on developing and refining the relevant research and written skills required to enable the student to write the dissertation through independent study and research. (7 hours)
Independent research - this will consist of research usually carried out in libraries, in pursuance of investigating the topic chosen for the dissertation. However, structured interviews, postal questionnaires and small-scale structured surveys may also be carried out as part of the research methodology, subject to ethical approval . Students will be referred to current and recently reported cases, legislation, reports, and other sources which require the use of online databases. Use of the worldwide web will be strongly encouraged. (286 hours)
Assessment Details
Dissertation of 12,000 words, submitted at the end of the of Semester 2. (100%) assessing all learning outcomes
Resources
Access to appropriate texts, legislation and cases
Dissertation Guide
Computing facilities will be needed to access materials on the
web and specialist on-line databases
Specialist software: WESTLAW.
Dissertation Guide
Computing facilities will be needed to access materials on the
web and specialist on-line databases
Specialist software: WESTLAW.
Texts
No set text
Learning Outcomes
1. THE ABILITY TO EXHIBIT AND APPLY A RANGE OF SOPHISTICATED RESEARCH SKILLS.
Enquiry
2.THE ABILITY TO TRANSPOSE MATERIAL COLLATED AS A RESULT OF THE EXERCISE OF THESE SKILLS INTO A COHERENT AND STRUCTURED EXTENDED ESSAY SHOWING AN UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA OF LAW INVESTIGATED.
Analysis
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning
3. THE ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF REFERENCING SKILLS WITHIN THE DISSERTATION.
Learning
4. THE ABILITY TO SYNTHESISE A RANGE OF SOURCES OTHER THAN BASIC MATERIALS, WHICH INFORMS THE DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC BEING INVESTIGATED.
Analysis
Reflection
5.THE ABILITY TO CRITICALLY ANALYSE THE AREA OF LAW BEING ANALYSED.
Analysis
6. THE ABILITY TO FORMULATE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL.
Communication
Enquiry
2.THE ABILITY TO TRANSPOSE MATERIAL COLLATED AS A RESULT OF THE EXERCISE OF THESE SKILLS INTO A COHERENT AND STRUCTURED EXTENDED ESSAY SHOWING AN UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA OF LAW INVESTIGATED.
Analysis
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning
3. THE ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF REFERENCING SKILLS WITHIN THE DISSERTATION.
Learning
4. THE ABILITY TO SYNTHESISE A RANGE OF SOURCES OTHER THAN BASIC MATERIALS, WHICH INFORMS THE DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC BEING INVESTIGATED.
Analysis
Reflection
5.THE ABILITY TO CRITICALLY ANALYSE THE AREA OF LAW BEING ANALYSED.
Analysis
6. THE ABILITY TO FORMULATE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL.
Communication