| Unit name | Social Work Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0036 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Symonds |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
In the dissertation, you will gain important research skills, engage directly with the research process and potentially contribute to the knowledge base of social work. You will undertake and evaluate a piece of research, either primary research in which you gather your own evidence or alternatively, through the analysis of secondary data or reviewing existing literature on a chosen topic.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The dissertation is the final piece of work that you will complete on the Social Work programme. It represents the research component of the Masters’ qualification and enables you to qualify with the full MSc in Social Work.
An overview of content
You will prepare a proposal for your dissertation, drawing on the skills you have learned from the Research Methods unit. Based on the topic and the research methods you propose to follow, you will be assigned a supervisor with expertise in either the topic area or research methodology. You will work independently, under your supervisor’s guidance and supervision, to conduct your study and write it up in a logical argument over several chapters. You will receive feedback on one draft of each chapter and additional teaching sessions offering guidance on searching the literature and making your application for ethical approval.
How students will, personally be different as a result of the unit
The dissertation can help you become a more effective evidence-based (or evidence-informed) social worker. You may become experts on particular topics within your teams or with your employer. The dissertation can also be referred to in your CVs.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
The dissertation is a unit based on independent study and it is designed this way to help you achieve the aim of becoming skilled as an evidence-informed practitioner able to sustain a piece of critical analysis over the course of a study.
You will draw from your previous learning, in particular from the Research Methods unit, from earlier in the programme.
You will benefit from the support of your supervisor, the availability of library resources, online literature databases and the subject librarian. In addition, there will be information sessions about specific aspects of the dissertation process, namely searching for the literature and applying for ethical approval.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Before you begin the dissertation, you will submit a proposal for the dissertation of up to 1000 words. This proposal will outline your topic, question and methods for investigating. Your supervisor will provide formative feedback on your proposal which you can use to plan your study.
You will also receive formative feedback from your supervisor on a draft of each chapter in the dissertation. This will enable you to make improvements in your writing before you submit the final piece of work.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Dissertation (12000 words maximum, 100%)
This assessment will cover all of the intended learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, and the regulatory requirements of Social Work England, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. If you are eligible to resubmit and where appropriate, you will normally submit a revised version of your previous assignment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0036).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
