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Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences
A Student's Handbook
Francis Jegede, Charlotte Hargreaves, Karen Smith, Philip Hodgson, Malcolm Todd, Julia Waldman
- 220 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences
A Student's Handbook
Francis Jegede, Charlotte Hargreaves, Karen Smith, Philip Hodgson, Malcolm Todd, Julia Waldman
About This Book
A practical guide for students undertaking their dissertation, Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences uses a mixture of exercises, strategies, case study material and further reading to give hints and tips on beginning and managing a research project and working with supervisors.
Providing an accessible overview of the essential steps in conducting research and writing dissertations, this fully updated edition contains new sections on:
⢠The varied sources of support for students and how to make use of them
⢠The use of modern technologies, and digital platforms in data collection, storage and processing
⢠The important issues relating to ethnographic and feminist research
⢠How to publish through peer review publications or using self-publishing platforms
⢠The General Data Protection Regulation and legal issues relating to collection, storage and use of personal data
⢠The skills that students have acquired through writing dissertations and how those skills could become useful for future career and employability
⢠How students can relate their dissertations to existing theories and concepts in social sciences that relate to their dissertation.
Packed with proven practical advice from 'real-life' data, case studies and examples, Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences is an essential and dependable starting point and guide for any student beginning their dissertation journey in the social sciences.
Frequently asked questions
Information
Chapter 1
What is a dissertation?
Introduction
- What a dissertation is
- Why the dissertation is essential to your undergraduate degree programme
- What makes a dissertation special
- What a dissertation may look like
- How to prepare for and approach a dissertation.
Definitions of the dissertation
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- The learner determines the focus and direction of their work.
- This work is carried out on an individual basis â although usually with some tutor support and direction provided.
- There is typically a substantial research component to the project, requiring the collection of primary data, the analysis of existing/secondary data or both.
- Learners will have a more prolonged engagement with the chosen subject than is the case with âstandardâ coursework assignments such as essays or reports, with the work consequently expected to be more in-depth.
Purpose of a dissertation
- Undertake a scientific enquiry or investigation into something with a view of discovering new facts or ideas
- Evaluate the impact or effect of something or a particular phenomenon
- Establish the truths in or validity of a claim or theories or laws
- Find out if and how something works by collecting relevant information about a particular subject
- Improve personal or professional skills and development in social research and investigation
- Develop your subject expertise and intellectual and organisational skill
- Provide a scoping exercise for post graduate study.
- What is the situation with a particular social, economic, political or cultural issue?
- How are things related in terms of structures, connections and relationships?
- What happens why, when, where and how?
What distinguishes the dissertation from other work?
Dissertation organisation and structure
- If required, have I sought and obtained ethical approval for my research?
- How many credits does the dissertation carry?
- How many words do I have to write?
- How often can I meet my supervisor?
- What can I expect from my supervisor and what should my supervisor expect from me?
- Are there any interim progress reports or oral presentations that I need to provide for my institution/supervisor as part of my assessment?
- What are the submission points and in what format?
- What system of referencing and citations am I required to use?
- What deadline am I working to and how can I manage my time to ensure completion by the deadline?
- Introductory section that sets out the context, aim and objective of your study;
- Methodology section that provides information on how and why you conducted your research;
- Findings section that details the essential outcomes of your investigation; and
- Discussion section that explains and evaluates your findings in the context of existing knowledge.
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Preparing for the dissertation
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half Title
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Table of Contents
- Figures, tables and case studies
- Contributors
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- 1. What is a dissertation?
- 2. Getting support
- 3. Research questions and getting started on your dissertation
- 4. Searching and reviewing literature
- 5. Choosing an appropriate research methodology for your dissertation
- 6. Types and sources of data
- 7. Data collection
- 8. Ethics and legal issues regarding social research and personal data
- 9. Analysing quantitative data
- 10. Analysing qualitative data
- 11. Writing the dissertation
- 12. Making the most of your dissertation
- Appendix 1 List of common statistical tests
- Appendix 2 Socio-economic deprivation in English towns and cities â 2015
- References
- Index