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 1.

2) To submit a dissertation in the format of a submission to a recognised peer-review journal in the area of sport and exercise psychology. This is worth 80% of the module grade and assesses LO's 2-6.

(3) To deliver a 20 minute oral presentation of the research and undergo a viva-voce examination (approx 20 minutes) relating to the dissertation. Attendance at this event is compulsory. This is worth 10% of the module grade and assesses LO 7.

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 must pass all elements of assessment in order to pass the module (grade point 7)

This module will support students in identifying a suitable area of research and in conducting a Masters level dissertation. The module will begin by building on the material covered in the Research Methods and Data Analysis module. Specifically, the focus will be on project management skills, ethical issues in sport and exercise psychology research and the importance of pilot work. Additional data analysis activities will be made available for those students who may require it in both quantitative (e.g. Factor Analysis) and qualitative analysis (e.g., IPA, Discourse Analysis and Grounded Theory). Students are required to choose an appropriate research question in Sport and Exercise Psychology, identify and critically review appropriate literature, and conduct an empirical research project. Students are also required to communicate the research findings in both oral and written formats.

Students will follow a forty week guided study programme and access support material via Blackboard. Students will be required to access additional support material independently. Understanding of key concepts will be self-assessed via questions posed on Blackboard and tutors feedback will be provided. Students should engage in on-line discussion sessions and will be required to support discussions with evidence based arguments. After this students will follow a thirty one week programme of research under the guidance of their supervisor.

Course textbooks and learning materials as suggested above. Access to PC with word processing and PowerPoint programmes and internet. To access Blackboard you must have a PC running Windows NT4, 95, 98, 2000 or XP or a Macintosh. You must also have either Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator 4.0 or above. Remote access to library facilities.
SPSS software package and CD ROM.

- Clark-Carter, D. (2004) Quantitative psychological research: A student?s handbook. Hove:Psychology Press.
- Hopkins, W.G. A New View of Statistics, to be accessed at: http://www.sportsci.org/resource/stats/index.html
- Locke, L.F., Spirduso, W.W., Silverman, S.J. (1999) Proposals that work: a guide for planning dissertations and grant proposals (4th edition). London. Sage. ISBN 0761917071
- Ntoumanis, N. (2001). Step-by-Step Guide to SPSS for Sport & Exercise Studies ISBN: 0-415-24978-3
- Willig, C. (2001). Qualitative research in psychology. Maidenhead: Open University Press. ISBN: 0335205356