In your dissertation you will apply the learning outcomes of your research methods module. The learning strategy for the part-time module requires students to commit to 450 learning hours (including assessment). Support will be provided through 8 hours of workshop sessions on principles of writing a dissertation and individual tutor support for feedback at each stage of your dissertation. You will arrange these tutorials with your tutor who will also be able to provide feedback on your progress through comments on your work via e-mail and post.

Dissertation, which assesses all learning outcomes and reviews a relevant professional context in the light of relevant literature:
14,000 words maximum

BERRY, R. (2000) The Research Project: How to write it, (London: Routledge).
COHEN, L. AND MANION L. (1996) Research Methods in Education, (London: Routledge).
COLEMAN, M. AND BRIGGS, A. (2002) (Eds.) Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management, (London: Paul Chapman Publishing).
HART, C. (1998) Doing a literature review - releasing the social science imagination, (London: Sage).
McNIFF, J. WHITEHEAD, J. AND LOMAX (1996) You and your research project, (London: Routledge/Hyde).
MIDDLEWOOD, D., COLEMAN, M. and LUMBY, J. (1999) Practitioner research in education: Making a difference, (London: Paul Chapman Publishing).

Study pack for the module
Access to the library and web resources
As a student of Staffordshire University access is available to other universities through UK Libraries Plus.

Framing of research in educational management; the planning of a research project - stages, timing and review processes;
The content of the dissertation will be determined by the selection of the topic to be studied and the framing of the research questions. The choice of topic and research questions will be guided by the module tutor in response to the student's identification of issues relevant to their current practice and interests.