This module provides students with the opportunity to conduct, under supervision, an independent desk-based literature search and review in one of a broad range of areas of psychology.

Students will submit two pieces of work:

1. Written Dissertation - detailing rationale, methods, findings and conclusions from the relevant literature review.

2. Presentation at Student Conference – students will present a poster during a 10-minute session at the Level 6 Psychology Student Conference. The poster will summarise their study and include a reflection on the research process, skills and knowledge developed, identified knowledge gaps, and how these relate to their personal and professional development.

Supervisors will offer formative verbal and written feedback on one full draft version of both the final written assessment and the poster. Drop-in sessions will be available as spaces to check ethics disclaimer forms and conference presentations.

Students will be allocated a supervisor who will support them in developing and completing their dissertation. Supervision will take place in regular scheduled meetings; these could either be individual or group sessions. Learning will be supported by timetabled sessions that aim to assist students in developing, researching and writing up the dissertation. Support sessions will be offered to help with all aspects of the process. Every student will take part in the L6 Student Conference. Students will present a summary of their work at the conference and will also have the opportunity to listen to work presented by their peers. Where possible, the conference will incorporate employer engagement, for example through participation in wider university initiatives such as GradeX. This may involve students delivering an elevator-style pitch to employers.

1. Integrate detailed, contemporary knowledge of psychological literature and its methodological, ethical and conceptual limitations to formulate a coherent research question in a chosen area.

Knowledge and Understanding Application and Problem-solving

2. Synthesise appropriate secondary sources, using appropriate digital tools, to critically examine methodological and ethical considerations and assess the strengths and limitations of desk-based research.

Research Skills Digital Literacy

3. Communicate the rationale, methods, findings, and implications of psychological research clearly and professionally to both specialist and non-specialist audiences, demonstrating the ability to interpret complex information and articulate its practical significance.

Communication

4. Critically reflect on the research process, evaluating personal decision-making and gaps in knowledge or skills, and use these insights to consider how this contributes to ongoing personal and continuing professional development.

Reflection Personal Development and Entrepreneurship

There are no specific texts identified as essential reading for this module. Students are referred to the extensive guidance material available on Blackboard. Students will identify, in conjunction with their supervisors, the most appropriate published sources within the psychological topic being investigated.

This module will involve a desk-based literature search and critical review of your chosen topic within Psychology, to be agreed with your allocated supervisor. The nature and structure of the investigation of the relevant literature is flexible and could include a review of a particular body of psychological research literature or an extended critical evaluation of a smaller population of identified papers. You will include the identification and critical evaluation of key research findings within the topic chosen, an evaluation of the relevant methodological and ethical issues within those key findings, a demonstrated critical understanding of the limitations of the research within the topic chosen and the identification of relevant and appropriate future research directions within the chosen topic area.

Research will be confined to published sources, and no primary data collection will take place.