| CODE | EDS5609 | ||||||
| TITLE | Dissertation | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 30 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Education Studies | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The dissertation is a central element of the course, to which 30 ECTS credits are assigned, and which is expected to be about 25,000 to 30,000 words in length. Students will be expected to submit a detailed research proposal during the second year of study, after the basic research methodology course has been completed. The dissertation will help students focus on a specific aspect of career guidance theory and/or practice, helping to increase our understanding of the career guidance field in Malta, in relation to best practice internationally. While the dissertation is expected to have an empirical dimension, more theoretical and conceptual projects can also be envisaged. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit offers students the opportunity to undertake empirical or theoretical research related to a specific area of lifelong career guidance and development. Throughout such process, students will develop their research skills and increase their knowledge about the specific area under investigation. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Acquire a deeper understanding of an area of lifelong career guidance and development; - Appreciate the strengths and limitations of research methodologies; - Analyze data through quantitative and/or qualitative research techniques; - Analyse relevant ethical issues; - Explain the key stages in research design. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify an area of investigation and formulate relevant research questions or hypotheses; - Investigate literature about an area of interest and write a critical synthesis of such literature; - Develop an appropriate research design to answer research questions or hypotheses; - Plan and carry out data collection strategies; - Discuss research findings and their implications in the light of existing research; - Draw conclusions and recommendations; - Write an academic paper. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Essential text: - Bryman, A. (2012) Social Research Methods (4th Edition). UK: Oxford University Press. Supplementary readings: - Blaxter, L., Hughes, C., and Tight, M. (2010). How to research (4th Edition). Philadelphia: Open University Press. - Brace, N., Kemp, R. and Snelgar, R. (2012). SPSS for Psychologists (5th Edition). London: Routledge. - Wolcott, H. F. (2008). Writing up Qualitative Research (3rd Edition). California: Sage Publications. |
||||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite qualifications: Obtaining 60 ECTS credits assigned to the taught study-units of the Master in Lifelong Career Guidance and Development with a minimum average mark of 65% **September Assessment Session: Students who fail to obtain an overall pass mark will be re-examined in the Dissertation. However, the resit availability for the Oral Examination is at the discretion of the Board of Examiners. |
||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Dissertation | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||
| LECTURER/S | |||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||