Welcome to your dissertation Course Unit. This unit builds on knowledge and clinical experience you have acquired so far, to enable you to complete an in-depth exploration of a topic of your choice.

Comprising predominantly of independent study time supported by individual supervision, the dissertation unit facilitates you to manage your own learning. The resulting dissertation implies that if given the opportunity, you could competently deploy the chosen recommendations, research or change management techniques to complete a research or change project, with little supervision.

This course unit guide will provide you with an overview of what is expected for the completion of an undergraduate dissertation.  It can also be used as a guide during the preparatory stages.

The research dissertation constitutes the equivalent of 40 credit points at level 6.  

The dissertation may take one of three forms:

1.    An in-depth appraisal of literature

2.    A research-based proposal for changing clinical practice

3.    A research proposal for conducting empirical work

               3a: a qualitative-based research proposal

               3b: a quantitative-based research proposal

Guidelines for each format are included in this course unit guide.

At the beginning of your dissertation studies you will be allocated a supervisor. The roles and responsibilities of the supervisor, and yourself as a dissertation student are described in this course unit guide.   

• To provide course unit participants with an opportunity to pursue a topic of professional interest in some depth, from a research-based perspective.
• For course unit participants to demonstrate breadth and depth of reading, critical evaluation and synthesis of assumptions, research methods, and theoretical propositions in the literature related to their chosen topic.
• To assist course unit participants to develop their research literacy skills and enhance their application of research findings to provide evidence-based clinical practice.

• Critically analyse a specific area of nursing/midwifery/professional practice which presents a need or challenge for maintaining or developing clinical standards.
• Evaluate and critically appraise the scientific value of research evidence and judge its validity and relevance to their specific area of practice.
• Evaluate and discern between research methods and their application in the literature.
• Critically evaluate the scientific rigour associated with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Evaluate the outcomes of research and propose recommendations for policy, further research and/or changes in practice (format 1 only).
• Evaluate the outcomes of research and prepare a proposal for changing an aspect of clinical practice (format 2 only).
• Evaluate the outcomes of research and prepare a proposal for research (formats 3a and 3b only).

Students will normally have the opportunity to receive feedback on formative work submitted prior to the summative assessment. Other feedback opportunities will also be available in class and online discussion boards. Online feedback is provided in Grademark. Provisional feedback based on internal marking will be made available prior to the Exam Board on the basis that these marks are yet to be ratified at the Exam Board and therefore may be subject to change. A standard feedback mechanism in Grademark is utilised across all postgraduate programmes within the School which provides detailed and constructive feedback on each component and aspect of assessment and identifies areas of strength and those aspects which could be enhanced.

Student feedback is obtained through open discussion forums on blackboard, in class discussions, via formal University unit evaluation forms and also qualitative, in house evaluations at the end of the unit. 

http://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/modules/nurs9328c.html