Students will initially follow an eight week guided study programme and access support material via Blackboard. Students will be required to access additional support material independently.

Once ethical approval has been obtained students will work with a supervisor to complete the dissertation using agreed milestones.

Core required tasks will amount to an average of 6 hours of engagement per week, representing a total of 48 activity engagement hours for the module.

The number of independent study hours is 552, representing the independent study required to complete a Masters level dissertation and specific preparation for the module assignments.

This module will support students in identifying a suitable area of research and in conducting a Masters level dissertation. Students from a number of different awards will be enrolled on this module although where appropriate material will be delivered in award specific contexts using discrete strands within Blackboard.
Broadly the module:
1. Will begin by revisiting award specific issues relating to data analysis and interpretation.
2. Then focus on project management skills, ethical issues in research and the importance of pilot work.
3. Will make available additional award specific data analysis activities for those students who may require it in both quantitative (e.g. Factor Analysis) and qualitative analysis (e.g., IPA).
4. Require students to choose an appropriate award specific research question, identify and critically review appropriate literature, and conduct an empirical research project.
5. Require students to communicate the research findings in both oral and written formats.

None

Access to an appropriately specified PC, with accompanying Word, PowerPoint, Adobe and Java software.

Bryman, A. (2001). Social Research Methods, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Clark-Carter, D. (2009). Quantitative Psychological Research: The Complete Student's Companion. Hove: Psychology Press.
Gratton, C. and Jones, I. (2004). Research Methods for Sports Studies. London: Routledge.
Hopkins, W.G. A New View of Statistics, to be accessed at: http://www.sportsci.org/resource/stats/index.html
May, T. (2001). Social Research: Issues, Methods and Processes (3rd Edition) Buckingham: Oxford University Press.
Ntoumanis, N. (2001). Step-by-Step Guide to SPSS for Sport & Exercise Studies
Willig, C. (2008). Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

All assessment elements of the module must be passed.

Students will be required to complete 3 pieces of summative assessment.

(1) To provide a detailed research proposal (2000 words) that outlines the rationale, proposed method, proposed analyses, costings, a schematic timetable of research and consideration of ethical issues to the Sport and Exercise Dissertation Approval Committee (if necessary it may also be referred to the University Ethics Committee). This is worth 10% of the module grade and assesses LO's 1.

(2) To submit a dissertation in line with the guidelines provided. Depending on the award specific demands, the dissertation will be (a) in a format suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, (b) a 12,000 word (maximum) thesis typically comprising an abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion and conclusion, or (c) a portfolio of research summarising research undertaken as part of a coherent theme or topic area. This is worth 70% of the module grade and assesses LO's 2-7.

(3) To deliver a 20 minute oral presentation of the research and undergo an oral defence (20 minutes) relating to the dissertation. Attendance at this event is compulsory. This is worth 20% of the module grade and assesses LO 8.

In addition, students are required to submit to the module leader three, two monthly, progress reports, following a template provided at the beginning of the module. Students are required to submit 2 bound hard copies of their dissertation.

Additional Assessment Details:

Students will be provided with formative assessment and feedback via on-line tasks and discussions.

Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising a combination of task related feedback and (more importantly) comments on online discussion contributions offered up throughout the module.