Introductory description

The Dissertation modules enable participants to develop knowledge and understanding of a specialist area within the broad fields of career development, career coaching, coaching and work-related learning. The modules are taught principally via individual supervision and an online dissertation guide. You may also need some access to the materials from module CE956, 'Research in Professional Practice' (formerly the Research Project module).

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Articulation of participants’ prior experience of research.
Literature review.
Research questions.
Methodology.
Ethics, theoretical perspectives and values.
Use of the above to develop a research proposal and complete a dissertation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Describe a relevant area of career development, career coaching, coaching or work-related learning studies.
• Identify research methods.
• State research questions.
• Identify literature for review.
• Critically analyse and evaluate the knowledge and understanding in relation to the agreed area of study.
• Integrate theory and practice.
• Develop responses on the basis of the evaluation and analysis undertake.
• Apply knowledge and understanding in relation to the agreed area of study.
• Communicate in written form by integrating, analysing and applying key texts and practices.
• Demonstrate advanced critical research skills in relation to career development or work-related learning studies.

Indicative reading list

Belsey, C. (2005). Textual analysis as a research method. In G. Griffin (ed.), Research Methods for English Studies. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University press.
Blaikie, N. (2009). Designing Social Research: The Logic of Anticipation (2nd edn.). Cambridge: Polity.
Collin, A. and Young, Y.A. (eds.) (2000). The Future of Career. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Costley, C., Elliott, G. and Gibbs, P. (2010). Doing Work-based Research: Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-Researchers. London: Sage.
Crotty, M. (1998). The Foundations of Social Research: Meaning and Perspective in the Research Process. London: Sage.
Denscombe, M. (2003). The Good Research Guide: for Small-scale Social Research Projects (2nd edn.). Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Hart, C. (1998). Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination. London: Sage.
Pickering, M. (ed.) (2008). Research Methods for Cultural Studies. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press.
Young, R.A. and Collin, A. (eds.) (1992). Interpreting Career: Hermeneutical Studies of Lives in Context. Westport, CT: Praeger.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

The dissertation requires students to plan, carry out and write up a small scale research project relating to a chosen aspect of the broad fields of career development, career coaching, coaching and work-related learning.

Subject specific skills

Ability to identify and justify a focus for research, specify research questions, find and review selected relevant literature, plan and implement a research strategy, analyse selected sources and disseminate findings.

Transferable skills

Ability to find and retrieve information from a range of sources, analyse and present data and communicate in written form.