The Research in Education (MERS 501) module is assessed via the dissertation proposal, a draft of which you should discuss with your dissertation supervisor before submission.  The formal requirements are set out below:

Assessment

Students will be assessed by means of a Formal Proposal for Masters Project/Dissertation, maximum 2,000 words. This will include the following:

In completing this task you should make use of the form set out below in html format or by clicking here to get the form as a Word document.  Although there is a word limit of 2,000, there is nothing to stop you from writing more when getting your ideas together or in compiling early drafts.  However, the stipulated word limit applies to the formal proposal itself, which may well need to be a 'abstract' or summary of longer versions.   Please note that there is no need to provide a 'bibliography' in the sense of a list of relevant items.  Instead, provide a list of 'references' (using the Harvard system), ie those items you have actually referred to in your proposal.

Your proposal will be judged as follows:

Criteria for assessment

A proposal must demonstrate that the student, through the research described therein, has the potential to:

    1. fix upon a substantial issue or project which it will be useful to investigate;
    2. relate his/her chosen issue or project to his/her previous pattern of study;
    3. carry out the investigation or development systematically;
    4. offer non-trivial insights from which more general lessons can be learnt;
    5. express his/her results in a well structured study of between 15,000 – 20,000 words or their equivalent.

Specifically, a proposal will be considered with reference to the following issues:-

  1. Are the object(s) of enquiry and the chosen methods of investigation appropriate?
  2. Will the study result in personal, professional or academic enhancement?
  3. Does it take full account of personal and ethical implications, as embodied in the University’s ‘Ethics Guidelines’?
  4. Is it practicable, demonstrable and assessable?
  5. Has the proposal been through all the formal stages required by the regulations?

Normally, the Dissertation supervisor will be the first marker of the Proposal, which will be second marked by one of the tutors offering a relevant component of the Research in Education module.

It's also a good idea to see what's expected of you when you eventually write up your dissertation.  See the component on Writing Up Research for details.

NB  A hard copy or word document version of this form may be obtained from James Wadham jwadham@plymouth.ac.uk

Please treat the items below as a list of headings coinciding with the bullet points given above.

Please select the form itself for completion - there is no need to include all the information above which can be deleted.

 

Version 28 May 2004

University of Plymouth

Faculty of Education

FORMAL PROPOSAL FOR MA (EDUCATION) DISSERTATION

MA(Ed)2

YOU SHOULD DISCUSS DRAFTS OF YOUR PROPOSAL WITH YOUR DISSERTATION SUPERVISOR BEFORE SUBMITTING THIS FORM TO HIM/HER FOR ASSESSMENT. 

PLEASE PRINT AND SIGN THE FORM BEFORE DOING SO.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADJUST THE LENGTH OF EACH SECTION, ADDING NEW PAGES IF NECESSARY, WITHIN THE OVERALL LIMIT OF 2,000 WORDS (APPROX).
Name:
Proposed Title (ensure that this defines the focus of your study)

 

 

 

 
I hereby certify that the proposed project has not constituted a major part of work I have previously submitted for an award in Higher Education.

I also confirm that I have included an ethics protocol.

Signature .................................................................................... Date ..................................................
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

Please describe your project in terms of the following section headings:

  1. Aims of research - the questions/problems/topic to be investigated.
  2. Relationships of the project to previous studies, and to relevant explanatory models or theoretical frameworks.
  3. Methods to be employed.

NB Within these sections it is important to address as clearly and explicitly as possible the following points:

  • What is your rationale for undertaking this project, your reasons for choosing this topic?
  • What do you aim to achieve in the project?
  • Describe the issues, topic, area of study and research questions you will be investigating.
  • How does your project relate to previously published research? It is important that you demonstrate that you are familiar with what has been done in this field, that you can suggest how this relates to what you propose to do and that you cite references.
  • Describe the methods you will employ in undertaking your project and explain why you have chosen these methods. How will you collect data, explore ideas and test hypotheses?
a.        Aims of research - the questions/problems/topic to be investigated

    PLEASE EXPAND THIS SPACE AS NECESSARY

     
b.        Relationship of the project to previous studies and to relevant explanatory models or theoretical frameworks

    PLEASE EXPAND THIS SPACE AS NECESSARY

     
c.        Methods to be employed

    PLEASE EXPAND THIS SPACE AS NECESSARY

     
References - give details of sources of references included in this proposal, eg books, book chapters, articles, on-line materials, etc

PLEASE EXPAND THIS SPACE AS NECESSARY

 
Ethics protocol (for guidance go to

 http://www.edu.plymouth.ac.uk/resined/beginning/begresed.htm#Ethics)

PLEASE EXPAND THIS SPACE AS NECESSARY

 

 

Back to Beginning Research home page at http://www.edu.plymouth.ac.uk/resined/beginning/begresed.htm