Module Description Template
s
Title / Dissertation
Code / NAM96
Level / 7
Credit rating / 60
Pre-requisites / Successful completion of six modules of the GPHSS programme
Type of module / extensive
Aims / The module is designed to allow students the opportunity to engage in an extended and rigorous piece of personal and independent study which for some programmes may include a research project, a systematic review of the literature, a concept analysis or a work based learning project arising out of their prior programme of study and allied to their professional field.
Learning outcomes/objectives / By the end of the module the student will have produced a dissertation.
At the end of the module the student will be able to:
  • identify clear aims appropriate to a master's level dissertation and to the participant's professional situation;
  • develop and demonstrate a high level of autonomy and responsibility in planning and executing research, a project or an analysis of a concept;
  • develop their ability to identify a research question, to carry out an investigation of the problem, and to present findings in a clear and thoughtful way;
  • identify and apply appropriate methods and critical awareness of methods used, including those for the interpretation of data
  • identify limitation(s) of the study;
  • exercised appropriate ethical and methodological awareness both in planning and execution of the study;
  • develop a depth of knowledge in the appropriate field of study
  • develop an increased independence of view, and demonstrate the ability to analyse critically, make judgements and draw conclusions;
  • demonstrate a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights at the forefront of their academic discipline, field of study, or area of professional practice.

Content / This will depend on the nature of the students chosen topic. It will include: the research process; using electronic databases; scientific writing; critical analysis; qualitative and/or quantitative research; quantitative data analysis statistics/associated computing and/or qualitative analysis techniques; reliability, validity, experimental design, survey and/or questionnaire design; ethics and research. Frameworks for systematic review of the literature and concept analysis and project planning and process.
The dissertation must be to the appropriate depth for this level of study and must focus on an area of new and original work, which will normally be a research based empirical study. It is expected to contain significant data collection and detailed data analysis for the results to be generalised. The study may follow a number of avenues of investigation.
The Work-Based Learning project will demonstrate the processes involved, including the planning, and will include an evaluation culminating in a portfolio of evidence capturing the essence of the project and its impact on practice.
Teaching and learning strategies /
  • A variety of research modules available within the GPHSS, will underpin this module:
  • A notional 600 hours of independent study:
  • The student will be entitled to 12 hours of supervisory contact time. The supervisor will help students become self critical, and support their growing autonomy as researchers:
  • Students will submit to their course leader a completed dissertationproposal, after which a supervisor will be appointed:
  • The supervisor will normally be a member of the course team who is familiar with the broad area of study selected by the student and who has the appropriate academic and professional expertise. Where necessary, alternative supervisors may be identified within the Faculty:
  • Joint supervision may be necessary in some cases:
  • Where necessary and appropriate a mentor will be appointed in the work based setting in order to provide additional support for the student in that environment:
  • Students are strongly advised to attend a Faculty of Health dissertation day, held once a year:
  • Students are asked to attend regular research seminars with other students to discuss the progress of their dissertations:

Learning support / The pattern of supervision tutorials will be a matter of negotiation between the individuals concerned. It is suggested that the student should contact their supervisor on a monthly basis via the telephone, fax, e-mail, by post. A learning contract may be used to facilitate the supervisory process.
The student’s responsibility is to initiate and maintain contact with
Thesupervisor and work independently with some supervisory
guidance. Students are expected to demonstrate initiative and take
control oftheir own research. The student should make every effort
to present possible solutions to problems and to share these with
the supervisor.
The supervisor’s responsibility is to provide guidance for the student throughout the research, project process and to give critical and evaluative comment on the progress of the project work and the dissertation. Where appropriate, supervisors will visit students in their chosen project environment.
The supervisor will see drafts of the introduction, method and results section. It is policy that supervisors will not read and comment on drafts of the discussion and conclusion section. These sections demonstrate the ability of the student to interpret and analyse findings and so must be independent work.
The following is a small indicative reading resource. The dissertation hand book gives a comprehensive range of resources including useful web sites:
Chin, P.L. and M.K. Kramer, 1995 Theory and Nursing: a systematic approachSt Louis: Mosby.
D Orr,A.2004 Advanced Project Management: a complete guide to the key processes/models and techniques. London: Kogen Page.
Gray, D. S. Cundell, D. Hay and J. O’Neil 2004 Learning through the workplace: a guide to Work-Based Learning.Cheltenham Nelson Thornes.
Greenhalgh, T. 1997 How to read a paper: the basis of evidence based medicine London: BMJ publishing group.
Hart, C. 2001 Doing a Literature Search: a comprehensive Guide for the social sciencesLondon: Sage.
Howitt, D. & and D. Cramer, 2000. First Steps in Research and StatisticsLondon: Routledge.
Polgar S and S A Thomas 1995. Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences Churchill Livingstone.
Rainbird, H. A. Fuller and A Munro 2004 Work Place Learning in ContextLondon: Routledge.
Rudestram, K.E. and R. Newton 2001 Surviving your Dissertation: a comprehensive guide to content and process . Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Silverman , 2000. Doing Qualitative Research: a practical handbook. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Walker L.O and K.C Avant 1995 Strategies for theory construction in nursing (3rd ed.) East NorfolkCT: Appleton and Large
Assessment tasks / Written thesis of 16000-20,000 words (excludes reference list and appendices). The exact word length depends on the type of research or other mode undertaken, guidance will be given by the supervisor. Failure in the dissertation will result in an overall failure in the Master’s Degree. The award of Postgraduate Diploma will be considered by the Examination Board. Criteria for marking the dissertation are given in the part 2 of the handbook.
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / The dissertation is seen as a major test of Master’s Degree level and as such involves the integration of the research knowledge and philosophies underpinning the Master’s course. The student is required to demonstrate a high level of understanding of the philosophy and principles of research and show competence in the design, execution and reporting of a project.
Students will choose a dissertation topic, which is relevant to their professional interests and is capable of practical application and benefit in their work setting.
Area examination board to which module relates / INaM GPHSS AEB
Module team/authors/ coordinator / Course Leaders for INaM courses with a dissertation
Semester offered, where appropriate / N/A
Site where delivered / As appropriate
Date of first approval / 2002
Date of last revision / 2002
Date of approval of this version / 12th May 2005
Version number / N/A
Replacement for previous module / N/A
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field / GPHSS
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in course / All courses within the GPHSS for which NAM 96 is applicable
School home / INaM
External examiner / as appropriate (EE for programmes in INaM portfolio)

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