Major Dissertation.

Regular one to one supervision with designated tutor and group sessions.

The dissertation should contain between 12 000 and 15 000 words (excluding appendices)

A great variety of studies can be accepted as legitimate research exercises for the Dissertation. An experiment of classic design; a survey by questionnaire; interviews of pupils and staff; a study by ethnographic, systematic or participant observation; a case study; a review of policy; discourse analysis of official reports are possible examples.

To provide students with an opportunity to conduct a supervised research exercise that involves examining literature, gathering relevant data and analysis of findings.in an educational context.

For the MEd, successful students will be able to:

■ delineate, from a critical review of the literature and, as appropriate, of personal experience or other relevant context, an issue of strategic importance to their field of professional practice

■ adopt and demonstrate an ethical approach to the research process and to research materials

■ develop from such a strategic issue a series of researchable questions which will act as the conceptual basis of the research

■ develop a research strategy, whether empirical, historical, philosophical or other, which is adequate to the research questions

■ develop rigorous methods of engagement with research material which are adequate to the research strategy

■ engage with research material in a disciplined and ethical manner consistent with the research methods developed

■ analyse research material in a manner consistent with its nature , the research methods employed and the research questions posed

■ draw conclusions from the research process which are rooted in the research, are in proportion to its scope and have relevance for the researcher's filed of educational practice

■ reflect critically, in the light of the conclusions of the research, on the literature and, as appropriate, on professional experience, arguing priorities for future development

■ present a text which conforms to the remit and guidelines for completion of the dissertation.

For the MSc, students will be able to:

■ delineate, from a critical review of the literature and, as appropriate, of personal experience or other relevant context, an issue of strategic importance to their field of concern

■ adopt and demonstrate an ethical approach to the research process and to research materials

■ develop from such a strategic issue a series of researchable questions which will act as the conceptual basis of the research

■ develop a research strategy, whether empirical, historical, philosophical or other, which is adequate to the research questions

■ develop rigorous methods of engagement with research material which are adequate to the research strategy

■ engage with research material in a disciplined and ethical manner consistent with the research methods developed

■ analyse research material in a manner consistent with its nature , the research methods employed and the research questions posed

■ draw conclusions from the research process which are rooted in the research, are in proportion to its scope

■ reflect critically, in the light of the conclusions of the research, on the literature, arguing priorities for future development

■ present a text which conforms to the remit and guidelines for completion of the dissertation.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.