Module Information
Module Identifier
FWM0260
Module Title
Dissertation in Food and Water Security
Academic Year
2014/2015
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 3 (Dissertation)
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminars / Tutorials | Students will meet with dissertation tutors throughout the duration of their project work. The number and duration of the meetings may vary, but it is expected that students will meet their tutor apporximately six times during the project to discuss aims and objectives, data collection and data analysis. |
| Workload Breakdown | 6 hours of meeting with dissertation tutor 34 hours preparing presentation 560 hours of independent study (including reading, data collection/analysis and interpretation and writing) Total = 600 hours |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Dissertation (13,000-15,000 words) | 90% |
| Semester Assessment | 15 minute oral presentation (September) | 10% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Independently formulate a research design and hypotheses
Demonstrate their knowledge of the theoretical principles of social science / scientific research
Place research in appropriate wider contexts
Search for relevant literature and/or databases
Demonstrate proficiency in appropriate data collection and analysis techniques
Present the results and conclusions of their research in a coherent manner in the form of a professionally produced dissertation
Prsent the results and conclusions of their research in a coherent manner in the form of an oral presentation
Content
Students will be encouraged to meet with staff to discuss their dissertation plans in semester 1 and 2. In semester 2 students will be assigned a supervisor to provide guidance and advice during the course of the research and the writing of the dissertation. The process is divided into several key stages:
- Devise research project
- Complete necessary background reading
- Complete necessary data collection
- Complete written dissertation
- Prepare and deliver research presentation.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | The dissertation may involve the collection and analysis of primary data. in which case students will organise data with appropriate statistical techniques and present sometimes complex quantitative datasets using graphs and tables. |
| Communication | There is an oral presentation to staff and peers. Written communication is assessed through the submission of the dissertation. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will undertake a significant amount of self-directed study, including extensive reading, field and laboratory work. In order to complete the research on time, students need to demonstrate good time management. |
| Information Technology | Students will be expected to use a range of information technology in the generation of their dissertations and in the oral presentation of their work. Students will become familiar with the critical use of online source materials such as journals and policy documents. Some students may choose to use GIS software or freely available remote sensing data as part of their research. Others may wish to use numerical modelling software, Excel or statistical packages to interrogate databases, generate analyses and produce graphical outputs. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The dissertation will develop high level skills in synthesising, evaluating and presenting complex information. The presentation of information, orally and in the dissertation are key components of the module. This is useful preparatory experience for PhD research, and positions in environmental consultancies, conservation groups and government environmental management agencies. |
| Problem solving | Students are expected to define a research problem and to devise an appropriate strategy to solve the problem. |
| Research skills | Research skills are integral to the dissertation as it is based on research enquiry. All students will develop a range of research skills, dependent on the nature of their topic. |
| Subject Specific Skills | This will depend on the topic of the dissertation. |
| Team work | This is an independent project and teamwork is only anticipated if safety considerations in the field demand it. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7