SS6P04 - Psychology and Sociology Dissertation (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Psychology and Sociology Dissertation | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
This module provides the opportunity to design and complete an independent piece of psychological and sociological research. You will consolidate and extend the theoretical, methodological, and analytical skills developed throughout your degree by applying them to a topic of your own choosing. The module supports you in managing a substantial research project, from formulating a question to producing a well-structured and critically informed dissertation.
By the end of this module, you will:
1. Identify and refine a research area or theme suitable for independent psychological and sociological enquiry.
2. Apply theoretical understanding and empirical knowledge gained in your course of study to design and conduct an original investigation.
3. Develop and demonstrate competence in undertaking a focused literature search and producing a critical review of relevant academic sources.
4. Engage in critical analysis of your chosen topic, paying particular attention to its theoretical foundations and methodological implications.
5. Produce a well-presented dissertation that meets academic conventions, demonstrates coherent argumentation, and integrates documented sources appropriately.
Prior learning requirements
None. Available for Study Abroad? No
Syllabus
This module will focus on the following key subjects:
• Identifying research topic and question
• Doing a literature search
• Writing a literature review
• Sociological and Psychological theory and dissertation
• Research design– introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Analysing the Data
• Writing-up Dissertation
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
In the first term of this module workshops and tutorials will provide the students with guidance on doing their dissertation and give them opportunities to discuss progress. In week 5 students will be allocated supervisors based on their research and scholarship expertise in a particular topic. The students will be required to present their project proposal at the end of the term. Early in their project, students will also have a session with their subject librarian who will advise then on best methods for searching for relevant literature and sources. In the second term they will mostly work independently, supported by their supervisors.
This module will be supported with relevant WebLearn pages where all lecture and workshop notes, relevant literature, and other sources will be available. All sessions will be recorded with Panopto and will be available to students.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Identify an area or theme worthy of psychological/sociological enquiry
2. Use theoretical and empirical knowledge, research and analytical skills gained in their course of study to investigate an area and formulate a dissertation
3. Undertake a literature search and review.
4. Make a critical analysis of an area or theme under investigation with particular attention being paid to the theoretical and methodological components of the analysis
5. Write a well-presented piece of work in the conventional academic format using documented sources