Course unit details:
Dissertation (MA Criminology and MSc Digital Trust, Society and Security
Unit code | CRIM62000 |
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Credit rating | 60 |
Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Aims
With the guidance of an assigned supervisor, students are asked to produce one of the following:
- A critical, original and thorough review of literature and research on a specified area.
- A research proposal. This will include a critical review of the literature and a research proposal detailing methods, ethical considerations and limitations of the proposed study.
- A small piece of qualitative or quantitative empirical research – only to be attempted if agreed to be feasible in an initial meeting (in February) with the assigned supervisor (this format will be rare for the MA student pathway) or
- Secondary analysis of an existing qualitative or quantitative dataset (eg BCS or other data held by ESDS) – Likewise, this must be agreed in an initial meeting in February and will be rare on the MA pathway.
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly whole-class lecture or workshop; (3) a tutorial; and (4) one-to-one support via subject specific office hours.
Knowledge and understanding
Students will understand the core elements of research design, as well as developing specialist expertise on a self-selected area of criminology.
Intellectual skills
Develop capacity to formulate research questions, plan research designs, and conduct original literature-based or empirical research.
Practical skills
Dissertation planning, research design, critical analysis
Transferable skills and personal qualities
Evidence-gathering, literature reviewing, critical thinking, creativity, writing
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
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Dissertation | 100% |
Feedback methods
Students receive written feedback in the text of the dissertation as well as commentary at the conclusion of the dissertation.
Study hours
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 600 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Nico Trajtenberg | Unit coordinator |