BA Global Social Challenges

The aims of this course unit are to: 

The course unit will run over Semester 1 and Semester 2. In Semester 1, students will attend specialised workshops to help them identify and refine a suitable dissertation topic that is relevant to the programme theme of ‘Global Social Challenges’. Workshops will consist of blended learning (e-learning and active learning on campus), including an emphasis on refining a focus from a broader subject area, formulating research questions, as well as discussions on research design, sampling, methods, and ethical issues / ethics application processes where applicable. During Semester 1, students will be allocated to a dissertation supervisor who will advise them on the structure and content of their dissertations. Dissertations may take the form of empirical projects or secondary/library-based projects. 

Structured support will be provided to students on the ethics approval process. This will include clear signposting at the start of the dissertation course unit to manage expectations and minimise the likelihood of disappointment if empirical projects are not / cannot be approved in time. There will be a dedicated workshop early on in semester 1 to provide this support and information on ethics approval. Students will also have a general talk towards the end of Year 2 from the programme director on the importance of dissertation research, ethical issues, and the approval process so that students have sufficient time to consider their options. 

The 15 contact hours are broken down as follows: 

- 3x hours for dissertation supervision during the academic year – 6x 30-minute meetings. 

- 10x hours for 5 workshops during semester 1, each lasting 2 hours – will cover key material such as research design, methods, and preparing for ethics approval where appropriate. 

- 1x hour for additional one-to-one meetings with course convenor on workshop content. 

- 1x hour for additional support on ethics panel approval with supervisor or course convenor. 

• Carry out an independent research project – either desk-based or empirical.

• Critique a range of approaches suitable for a research project. 
• Critically engage with existing literature in the area of the dissertation. 

• Collect and analyse new or existing data for a research project. 

• Develop project management skills that are appropriate for an independent research project. 

Dissertation (6000 words, end of semester 2, 100%)

Students will receive feedback on this course unit in the following ways: 

- During taught workshops – staff can provide informal feedback on discussion points 

- During individual dissertation supervision sessions – mostly verbal feedback on project ideas and other guidance 

- Written feedback on a draft structure / plan of the entire dissertation – in consultation with the dissertation supervisor. Draft plans would be 1-2 sides of A4 so that this is manageable for staff. 

- Written feedback on the final dissertation project – this will include detailed comments on the structure, understanding, data analysis, and overall presentation of the project. 

Creswell, J.W., and Creswell, J.D. (2018) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods. 5th edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. 

Denscombe, M. (2017) The Good Research Guide: For Small-Scale Social Research Projects. London: Open University Press. 

Kara, H. (2015) Creative Research Methods in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide. Bristol: Policy Press. 

O’Leary, Z. (2021) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. 4th edn. London: SAGE. 

Skott, B.P., and Ward, M. (eds.) (2013) Active Learning Exercises for Research Methods in Social Sciences. Los Angeles: SAGE. 

Contact Hours   15