ED3BRE: Dissertation in Educational Studies

Module code: ED3BRE

Module provider: Institute of Education

Credits: 40

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Maria Kambouri , email: m.kambouri@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module represents the student's major piece of independent work, the culmination of their critical writing on the course. As such it provides an opportunity for students to design and conduct research through an extended research project. This is a largely independent study supported by a number of taught sessions and one to one or group supervision and some further group seminars. Students are expected to engage in primary research and collect data (e.g. (conducting their own experiments, surveys, interviews etc.) to gain new knowledge. Students will give a presentation on their research-in-progress at a mid-point during the module.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate published research studies to critique the merits of these leading to a review of the literature in an area relevant to the research project
2. Design, communicate and conduct a feasible research project which will allow for independent work
3. Present and critically evaluate both the results of the research and the impact of dissemination
4. Write an effectively organised report with a cogent argument, demonstrating critical analysis of evidence to support judgements and using proper referencing conventions  
5. Apply the conventions of academic writing to devise and sustain a relevant, systematic argument and conclusions

Module content

There will be initial inputs on methods of enquiry. Students will draw upon their experiences and interests to select an area for further investigation. It must be an area which is focused, clearly related to education and deemed suitable by the supervisory team. Students will formulate a research question or hypothesis and conduct a piece of primary research on a topic related to education studies.

Students will be introduced to the module during the Summer Term of Part 2.  Following submission of a dissertation proposal, supervisors will be allocated. Students may be supervised individually or within group tutorials.

The study should be informed by an extensive literature review and engage the student in in-depth research and problem – solving. There will be an emphasis on ensuring that the study is ethical and realistic in scale.

Students will be expected to present their research study and to provide a written report/ dissertation on the research, identifying the limitations of the study and any implications for practice.

At the end of the first semester students will submit a presentation on their research which is intended to focus ideas about the research project before students embark upon the major data collection period of their dissertation.

Students will submit draft chapters for formative feedback.  The final submissions of written dissertations will be in the second semester.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Following introductory lectures, supervision tutors will give guidance on initial ways of undertaking the research and refining the focus of the study, research design, methodologies and ethical considerations. A series of lectures at different points throughout the year will support student learning. ‘Surgery’ workshops are offered, to provide further support and to answer questions.

Students’ research skills will be developed through independent reading, with support from individual or group supervision. Their study will include primary research