| Unit name | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MGRCM0041 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Jamie Wheaton |
| 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 of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The aim of this unit is to build upon the Research Methods and Marketing Metrics unit and engage students in an extended piece of research based upon their assessed proposal. This unit allows students to engage in an independent investigation of the selected topic and acquire in-depth knowledge, learn how to synthesise academic literature and industry-related resources to identify research gaps and warrant further empirical research. Students will explore how the theories learned in different units can be applied in research and used as a touchstone to explain complex business processes or consumer behaviour.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit will help students to broaden and deepen their understanding of a selected topic in marketing. The unit makes it possible to develop skills on how to investigate and find research-worthy gaps in the academic literature and industry-related resources. Students will learn how marketing theories and concepts can be applied to solve real-life / business problems. The unit will equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills required to practice ethical investigation and draw conclusions from it. Also, the unit will help students learn how to manage mainly independent projects, develop self-discipline by meeting important deadlines, and produce research work that can have a meaningful impact on current debates in marketing literature and have practical implications in the field of marketing.
An overview of content
Students will have the opportunity to communicate with their supervisors, who will be experts in the chosen topic and methods. They will develop literature review sections reflecting their synthesis and critical analysis of the relevant literature, resulting in the formulation of research gaps that they will build upon to propose research questions for further investigation. Furthermore, students will learn and practice data collection in accordance with ethical guidelines. They will analyse the collected data to draw meaningful conclusions and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and practice.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Upon completion of the unit, students will have gained an in-depth understanding of the selected topic and will have developed the skills to critically analyse secondary data to identify research-worthy gaps and formulate research questions. They will have gained knowledge of the relevant methodological approaches to address the posed questions through the collection of empirical data, its analysis, and interpretation, which will help address theoretical gaps and propose practical recommendations. Finally, students will acquire skills in managing predominantly independent projects.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
1) Frame a clear, central research question within the project topic chosen.
2) Identify and critically review literature relevant to the topic and central research question.
3) Understand and apply an appropriate research methodology, including research ethics process and considerations, to investigate the chosen topic.
4) Analyse data and/or evidence, where appropriate, and draw apposite conclusions that answer the central research question.
5) Integrate conclusions into wider academic debates.
6) Produce a dissertation in a clear, well-written and grammatically correct style, that conforms to the conventions of academic presentation.
The unit is designed to achieve learning outcomes through independent learning, formal learning via participation in workshops and interactive learning during student-supervisor engagement.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
To successfully complete this unit, students are required to submit a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words, which constitutes 100% of the total mark. This dissertation entails independent work predominantly focused on the chosen topic. Students must formulate clear research questions relevant to the selected topic (ILO1). It is imperative that these research questions are formulated in alignment with the identified research gap, which will be justified through a comprehensive literature review synthesising both academic and industry-related sources (ILO1,2).
Moreover, students are expected to actively engage in the data collection process, selecting appropriate methods and adhering to ethical guidelines (ILO4). They must then interpret the results of data analysis, which will be evaluated in the discussion section within the context of prior literature (ILO5). Additionally, students should draw conclusions regarding the theoretical and practical contributions of their findings and propose future research avenues (ILO5).
The final dissertation should exhibit a clear and structured format, encompassing sections such as introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. The resultant dissertation needs to be well-written, demonstrating clarity, coherence, and academic rigor (ILO6).
When assessment does not go to plan:
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis. Students will be required to rework their dissertation (10,000-12,000 words) (100%) [ILOs 1-6].
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. MGRCM0041).
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.
