DISSERTATION WORKSHOP Getting down to work October 10 th 2013 Physics Lecture Theatre (PLT) Alan Bradley

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION Where can I get information? What is a dissertation? Developing a ‘do-able’ project What will my dissertation look like? Writing a Literature Review Working with your supervisor Managing your time Research Ethics Next workshops Questions

Where can I get information? From the module website From Books (see module website for reading list) From your supervisor From me

What is a dissertation? An independent piece of research It reflects your research interests and capabilities Written up into a thesis (maximum of 10,000 words excluding Bibliography) It counts as one module at Honours level

What you need to do Choose a topic Read around that topic to develop research questions Work out how to study it (methods to be employed) Carry out research Analyse data Write it up

What skills do you need? Ability to plan, timetable and set goals Ability to produce a project that is both feasible and intellectually coherent Ability to find out relevant information Ability to communicate your ideas See it as a map of an intellectual journey, that tells us where you have been, where you got to and how you got there

What makes a project ‘do-able’? The topic (not too narrow, not too wide) Relevant research questions Sources (what is available? do you have access?) Valid methods Feasibility Manageability (including time-management) Plan B?

What will my dissertation look like? Usually divided into 5 or 6 chapters But may have other formats depending on topic, methods etc Chance to look at previous dissertations in Term 2 Guidance from your supervisor

Typical format Contents page Introduction, explain your choice of topic and methods Literature Review Methods Data and analysis of findings Conclusions Bibliography

Literature Review Provides an intellectual context to your project Provides analytic resources which you can apply to your project Identify the fields (maybe several) which are relevant Identify the key themes, issues and points of dispute How does this lead to research questions?

Time management – suggested milestones Key literature and methods identified by mid- term Draft Literature review by week 7 this term – to be submitted to your supervisor as class work and returned with feedback by week 10. Begin empirical research in Christmas vacation or early in term 2 Theoretical project – earlier than this Allow I month for writing up and 2 weeks for revisions

Sample milestones (1) Phase 1 - identify relevant fields - Literature search - Reading and note taking - Organise into themes - Draft (ready for supervisor to read)

Sample milestones (2) Phase 2 - Ethics process - Collect data - analyse data (multiple readings, coding data, organise into themes, identify examples, quotes etc) Draft into chapters Revise drafts

You and your supervisor Important to keep in touch Up to five hours teaching time spread across the year Usually term time only, perhaps negotiable. Prepare for your supervisions Supervisors may read drafts of chapters (up to 30% of the dissertation)

Research ethics Central to all research Discuss with supervisor If you change – revisit ethics Ethics forms available online Do not start research until ethics form signed by your supervisor? (Your responsibility) Read ethical guidelines, discuss with supervisor, complete form by Friday week 6 and submit to Jane Cooper

Next workshops Workshops will be held this term as follows: Week 4 Different types of dissertation Week 6 Careers and postgraduate study Week 8 Research ethics Week 10 Problem solving session All on Thursday from 2-3pm in PLT (Here!)

And finally... Any questions?