MSc/PGDip Deaf Education

By the end of the course unit students will:

• Produce a thorough critique of the relevant literature
• Formulate a sensible, coherent research question, which can be realistically addressed in the dissertation timescale
• Formulate and use a methodology, or methodologies, appropriate for the research question
• Examine and evaluate the research data using appropriate statistical analysis tools
• Appraise the study and produce a thesis adhering to the MSc guidelines

To allow students to conduct an independent piece of research on a specific topic

To produce a written report of the research in the form of a thesis

By the end of the course unit students will:

• Produce a thorough critique of the relevant literature
• Formulate a sensible, coherent research question, which can be realistically addressed in the dissertation timescale
• Formulate and use a methodology, or methodologies, appropriate for the research question
• Examine and evaluate the research data using appropriate statistical analysis tools
• Appraise the study and produce a thesis adhering to the MSc guidelines

Students will select their project from the MSc dissertation question and guidance book. Students will attend online MSc sessions to support the planning and write up process. Students will have at least six meetings with the dissertation supervisor over their period of study. Organising these meetings is the responsibility of the student. These may take place online, face to face or a combination of methods
These meetings will discuss the aims and objectives of the study, to enable the student to arrive at a final design, and to facilitate the conducting and writing up of the research. The supervisor will guide the student through the research process from planning to submission including providing support/guidance with:

• the process of applying for ethical approval (if appropriate)*
• the set up of data management systems

• data collection and analysis

   

Supervisors will also provide detailed feedback on one draft version of each section of the dissertation: literature review, introduction, methods, results, discussion & conclusion. It is the students responsibility to agree dates for formative assessment feedback and to meet any agreed deadlines.

Students will be directed to the Faculty guidance to support the final write up of their dissertation and to the programme handbook to support the presentation of their work.

*Students who are not able to demonstrate best practice for ethical research will not be able to commence/continue with a data collection study. Students will be redirected and asked to complete a Grant Proposal format dissertation.

• Written communication whilst on placement, to monitor assess and promote effective audiological management
• Oral communication, giving both formal and informal presentations
• Interpersonal skills, advocating for optimum practice whilst on placement
• Initiative, seeking help as necessary on campus and on placement
• Self-regulatory skills in taking opportunities to gain extra experience whilst balancing other demands of the course 

Students will produce a 10,000 - 12,000 word dissertation in one of the following formats:

• Empirical study report based
• Publication based
• Research proposal based
• Report based

The dissertation will be marked according to the criteria set out against the above formats. Students should use Faculty and Programme guidance for MSc dissertation presentation.

Written feedback

Students are able to use the reading materials from the PGDip mandatory units to support their research. However there is an expectation that students use the library resources, including database search tools, to source literature relevant to their project.