module specification

The Project/Dissertation is a major part of the MPA course and for this reason it carries three times the weight of a normal module.  It allows students to conduct an extended investigation into a topic of their choice within the field of public administration / policy. 

The Dissertation provides the opportunity for students to integrate the theory, practice and experiential learning gained whilst in Britain in a piece of extended research in international public administration. This may be done either by working in their indigenous setting or by continuing to work in Britain.

Completion of 120 points at M level

This module, therefore, has the following objectives:

• to test the student's ability to undertake a sustained investigation into a particular topic or issue within the field of international public administration;
• to enable the student to formulate a project proposal justifying selection of methodologies;
• to test the student’s ability to plan, organise and write a lengthy prose work;
• to test the student’s ability to undertake a sustained investigation into a particular topic or issue within their chosen field of study.
• To test the student’s ability to use empirical research in testing a theory in the field of public administration

The module provides students with a 3 hours Dissertation workshop prior to them commencing their individual research and prior to supervision allocation. The workshop is designed to familiarise students with the nature of master degree dissertation work, with the requirements of a dissertation at this level of study, and with the relationship between supervisor and supervisee.

The workshop also clarifies the remit of the MPA dissertation, especially the international focus of the project. The project should fit with the following remit:
• A comparative study of practice - examining practice in Britain and another country selected by the student;
• A study of the role of supra-national institutions and their relationship with the practice of public administration in a selected country; 
• A study of public administration reform in a transitional country taking account of reform in Britain.

It is up to the students, in consultation with their supervisor, to formulate the programme of study.  This needs to take account of student’s personal circumstances and the nature of the project that they intend to undertake
There will be a 3 hour dissertation workshop conducted by the Dissertation module convenor prior to the start of the module. The workshop will introduce the students to the dissertation process, and make formal arrangement regarding supervision and submission of project proposals.

In fulfilling these objectives, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to conduct a substantive piece of research within your chosen field of study;
• select and justify chosen methodologies;
• conduct a literature search and write up a literature review;
• demonstrate appropriate skills in research analysis and effective communication of research evaluation;
• make an original contribution to their chosen field
• demonstrate the ability to integrate theoretical and empirical approaches in answering a research question

Formal requirements
1. Students are required to submit a Formal Proposal Form.
2. Students are expected to have at least four meetings with their supervisor.  At these meetings they will be expected to review progress and to plan future work and set an agenda for future meeting(s).  The supervisor will keep a record of these meetings.
3. Students are required to submit two copies of the Dissertation by the relevant deadline.
4. The submitted Dissertation should comply with the following conventions:
• it should be between 12,000 and 15,000 words (excluding the bibliography and appendices).  Work exceeding the limit may be penalised.
• it should be typed on A4 paper using double spacing, page numbers and adequate margins such as those defined by the defaults of major word-processing programmes.  Hand-written work is not acceptable
• it must include a title page including the title of the Project, your student identity number but not your name, the date of submission, and the course name;
• it must include a statement of the originality of the work.  It should read as follows:
•
“This Project is the work of {your student identity number} and has been completed solely in fulfilment of a Project for the MA in Public Administration at London Metropolitan University.”

• Hart, J (2004), Doing Your Masters Dissertation, SAGE
• Bryman, A (2004), Social Research Methods, SAGE.
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• Smith, P (1996), Measuring outcome in the Public Sector, London: UCL Press.
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Smith, P (1996) Measuring Outcome in the Public Sector. London: UCL Press.
Yin, R K (1994) Case Study Research. London: Sage Publications.