Postgraduate Course: Dissertation support for Linguistics and English Language (LASC11175)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 0 |
ECTS Credits | 0 |
| Summary | This course will offer support and training to students undertaking a dissertation on the MScEL, MScL and MScAL. Over two semesters, students will learn about the different stages of the research process, and receive appropriate training at the stages of the journey, from developing a research question and a research proposal, to applying for ethics, collecting data, and writing up. They will receive practical sessions on how to access resources, and how to manage data. There will be a strong emphasis on group work and cohort building throughout. |
| Course description |
This course will offer support and training to students undertaking a dissertation on the MScEL, MScL and MScAL. These programmes are similar in that they tend to be broad rather than specialised, compared to for example the MSc in Phonetics. Although some students have an undergraduate degree in linguistics, backgrounds can be quite diverse, and some students will not have completed a dissertation. Over two semesters, students will learn about the different stages of the research process, and receive appropriate training at the stages of the journey, from developing a research question and a research proposal, to applying for ethics, collecting data, and writing up. They will receive practical sessions on how to access resources, and how to manage data. There will be a strong emphasis on group work and cohort building throughout.
Outline Content:
Approximately half of the contact hours will be dedicated to the dissertation process. This will include sessions such as the following:
Overview of the dissertation process and timeline
Examining past dissertations for structure and organisation
Developing a research question
Overview of available topics and supervisors
Putting together a proposal
The writing up process
Managing your supervision
Managing your time
The other half of the contact hours will be data-oriented. This will include sessions such as the following:
Data collection methods
Ethics and ethical approval
Data management
Spreadsheets in Linguistics
Managing your data through coding
Online resources and reference managers
Statistics in MSc dissertations ¿ deciding whether you need statistics and where to get it
Disseminating your research and public engagement
Student Learning Experience:
There will be a strong emphasis on building connections within the cohort, and therefore groupwork will be an important part of these training sessions. They will be held in person where possible, with supplementary resources online.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
N/A |
| Feedback |
Although the course is not assessed, students will receive feedback on activities that they participate in, for example, developing a research question, completing an ethics application. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the different stages of the dissertation process
- Identify and craft their own research question and develop the research question into a research proposal
- Identify appropriate methods of data collection for their dissertation
- Develop an ethics application
- Use appropriate tools for managing their data and understand the role that statistics should play in their dissertation
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Reading List
| Booth, W. C., Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., & Williams, J. M. (2003). The craft of research. University of Chicago press. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Generic cognitive skills are delivered through: analysis of previous dissertations, developing a research question
Communication, numeracy and IT skills are delivered through: writing a research proposal, assessing statistical needs, data collection, data management
Autonomy, accountability and working with others. This is delivered through: groupwork at all stages, ethics training, training in managing the relationship with the supervisor, training in public engagement
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| Special Arrangements |
Students should be on the MScEL, MScAL or MScL programme |
| Keywords | Dissertation,research methods,data collection,data management,ethics,supervision |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Claire Cowie
Tel: (0131 6)50 8392
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Elinor Lange
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: |
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