1

MarksAllocationforDissertationSubmissions

DissertationAReport Semester1 30%

DissertationAViva Semester1 10%
DissertationB Semester2 60%

DISSERTATIONA:PURPOSE&GUIDELINES

DissertationAisaResearchMethodsReport.Itwilldemonstrateyourabilitytofindappropriate
sourcesofsecondaryinformationandusedtheminanappropriateway.Itwilldemonstrateto
your supervisor that you have understood and isolated the data collection methods for your
researchwithaclearrationale.Itwillfurtheractasthe'backbone'uponwhichDissertationBis
builtup.Itwillallowyoutogetsummativefeedbackonprogress.

SECTIONS:

ContentsoftheReport:
Approximatelength3,000+10%words.

Youneedtooutlinethefollowing:
introduction
ahypothesis
theaimsandobjectivesofyourdissertation
theresearchmethodologyappropriateforyourstudy
outlineofthedatacollectionyouintendtodofordissertationB
abasicliteraturereview
references

IntroductiontoTopic
Whatisthedissertationabout?
Whyhaveyouselectedit?
Whatarethemainissues?

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Hypothesis,AimsandObjectives
Thesemustbeclearlystatedwithoutcomeswelldefined
Objectivesmustbelinkedtoaims.

Methodology
Whatmethodologyistobeemployed?
Whatdatatypewillbecollected?(primary/secondary/facts&figures/opinionsorfeelings)
Whyhasthemethodologybeenchosen?
Whataretheshortcomingsofthemethodologyemployed?
Whatliteraturehaveyouconsultedaboutconductingresearch?
Whatcontingencieshaveyouthoughtof?

LiteratureSearch
Reviewthemainbodyoftheliteratureappertainingtoyourresearchtopic
Identifythemainargumentsforandagainstaparticularissuee.g.themainbodyofknowledge
arguesthatQASystemsarenotapplicabletoEducationalEstablishmentsbecause...........
OtherauthorsstatethatQASystemscanbeimplementedbecause............
Notegroupingoftheliteraturecouldprovetobeausefulexercise.
Justificationandrationaleofaresearchquestionandaimsandobjectives.Helpstofindout:
Whatisknownaboutthesubject
Ifthereareanygapsintheknowledgeofthesubject
Ifareasoffurtherstudyhavebeenidentifiedbyotherresearchersthatyoumaywantto
consider
Whoarethesignificantresearchpersonalitiesinthisarea
Whataspectshavegeneratedsignificantdebateonthetopic
Whatisthemostproductivemethodologyforyourresearchbasedontheliteratureyou
havereviewed

Conclusions
Draw conclusions from your literature review. These will be dependent upon your research
focus.

Intotalyouhave3,000words(+or10%)thereforeyourreportmustbeanexerciseinconciseness

Appendices
Thesearenotincludedinthewordcountandmayincludeanysupportingevidence.
ETHICSPROFORMAandETHICSSTATEMENTmustbehere.

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DISSERTATIONA:ASSESSMENTCRITERIAANDWEIGHTING

Theweightingforthereportis30%

MarkingArea Description Marks

Aims, objectives and
hypothesis
Aimsclearlystated.
Objectivesclearlystated
Appropriatelinkagesshown
10
Researchmethodology Clearlystated
Reasonsforselectiongiven
Aimsandobjectivesmatchmethodology
Methodologyappropriate
Evidence of deeper consideration of research
question
35
Depthofknowledgeofsubject
areaandcontent
Goodrangeofreferences
References from a variety of sources (internet
/journal/book)
Referencesappropriatetosubject
Considerationofvalidityofeachofsources/critical
analysis
Contentreflectsunderstandingofresearchquestion
40
Conclusions

A well rounded conclusion drawn from issues

presented
Suggestion for further study / identify areas of
uncertainty
5
Presentation Clarityofexpression
Spelling
UseofEnglish
Standardofpresentation
Appropriatereferencingsystem
10

VIVAVOCETHESECONDTASK

A 15 minute Viva Voce to your supervisor and one other tutor, to be carried out at the end of
semester1.

VIVA:PURPOSE
Thevivaisthefirsttimeyouwillneedtodefendyourworkandtalkaboutthedecisionsyouhave
made in front of 2 members of staff (normally your supervisor and second marker). This will
demonstrateyourabilitytogenerateanappropriateresearchmethodologyandtoasktheright
questionsofyourselfandofyourparticipants.Inadditionyouwillneedtobeabletorespondto
questions in a timely manner demonstrating that you have been able to compile, analyse and
synthesiserelevantmaterialandreportthefindingsinanobjective,coherentmanner.Feedback
willbegivenfrombothstaffwhichwillbebothsummative(givenamark)andformative(tosteer
yourresearch).

Thevivashoulddemonstrate
arationaleforstudyingtheirselectedtopicwithparametersclearlyoutlined;
anappropriatesetofaimsandobjectives;
anunderstandingofthemainandcriticalissueswhichaffecttheselectedtopicarea;
analyticalworkthatincludesaresearchmethodology,references;
accurateinformationandcomprehensionofthetopicarea

ThePresentationsGuideline

01. Presentation duration should be limited to 1315 minutes and should be prepared by using MS
PowerPoint.
02. QuestionandAnswer(Q/A)sessiontimewillbe510minutesaftereachpresentation.
03. Donotexceed1012slides.
04. Keyareasthatneedtobeincludedinthepresentation.

i. ResearchBackground/Introduction
ii. Aim&Objectives
iii. ResearchApproach&Methodology
iv. LiteratureReviewFindings
v. ProgressionPlanoftheresearch
vi. References
PleasebepunctualandmakesureyousavethePPTsoftcopyinthePCbeforetheallocatedtimeslot.

DressCode:Formal

TheweightingfortheVivais10%.

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DissertationViva:MarkingScheme

TheweightingfortheVivais10%fromoveralldissertationmarks

MarkingArea Description Marks

Depth and breadth of
knowledgeupontopicarea.
Presentationinteresting&stimulating
Subjectpresentedinclear&logicalmanner
Subjectpresentedeffectively
25
Understanding of research
methodology
Methodsclearlyarticulated
Methodsofresearchappropriate
Strengthsandweaknesseshighlightedasappropriate
25
Practical implications of
conductingresearch.
Selectionofmethodclearlyarticulated
Logisticalissuesaddressed
Ethicalissuesaddressed
Reflectiononprogress
25
Ability to respond to probing
questions.
Answerspromptandtothepoint
Answersaddressedquestionasked
Responsesdefendeddissertationchoices
25