Module manager: Dr Syafiq Mat Noor
Email: S.MatNoor@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: 1 Oct to 30 Sep (12mth) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
The Dissertation module is a core component of the Master’s programmes, designed to assess your ability to independently undertake a rigorous research project. This module requires you to adopt a systematic approach to research, including identifying a topic, formulating clear and focused objectives, conducting an in-depth literature review, applying appropriate research methodologies, analysing findings, and drawing meaningful conclusions. Throughout this process, you will refine essential skills such as time management, academic writing, critical analysis, and ethical awareness, all of which are vital for producing a well-structured dissertation. The module also encourages you to address both ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions, ensuring transparency and depth in your work, ultimately demonstrating your competence as an emerging researcher and contributing valuable insights to your practice. With guidance from your supervisor and access to university resources, this module provides you with the tools and confidence to excel in this significant academic undertaking.
In completing this module, you will:
Learn how to design and execute an independent research project in education or childhood studies. This involves engaging critically with academic literature and theoretical frameworks to craft well-defined research questions that address significant issues in your chosen field. Through this, you will develop the ability to identify gaps in existing research, position your study within the broader academic context, and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the research process.
You will gain practical experience in applying appropriate research methodologies to collect and interpret data effectively. Whether you choose an empirical approach, such as qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method research, or a desk-based study, you will learn to navigate the complexities of data collection and use suitable tools and techniques for analysis. You will be able to integrate your findings with theoretical insights, ensuring that your research questions are answered with clarity and precision.
You will develop advanced academic writing and presentation skills, enabling you to communicate your research findings in a clear and scholarly manner. By producing a well-structured dissertation that adheres to academic standards, you will reflect on the implications of your research for theory, practice, and policymaking. Furthermore, you will engage in reflective practice, articulating the personal and professional growth achieved during the process.
- Demonstrate the ability to independently design and execute a rigorous research project, critically engaging with relevant literature, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies.
- Apply appropriate research methods to collect, analyse, and interpret data, integrating findings with existing academic knowledge to address research questions effectively.
- Produce a well-structured dissertation that adheres to academic standards and showcases reflective insights into the implications of the research for theory, practice, and policymaking.
Skills Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
- Develop proficiency in designing, conducting, and critically evaluating research using appropriate research methods.
- Cultivate ethical awareness and professional integrity in conducting research, whether engaging with human participants, or working with secondary data.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Private study hours | 594 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 6 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 600 | ||
Students progress will be monitored through the supervision meetings. Additional meetings may be arranged, as required, subject to agreement between the student and the supervisor.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| In-course Assessment | . | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 26/06/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team