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if you are a maintainer of this web content, please refer to the site documentation regarding web services for further assistance. This option may be re enabled by the project by placing a file with the name .htaccess with this line: an error has been encountered in accessing this page. time: 2016 02 22 1:43 utc 1456137043 reporting this problem: the problem you have encountered is with a project web site hosted by sourceforge.net. This option may be re enabled by the project by placing a file with the name .htaccess with this line: your dissertation is likely to be the biggest project you do at university, taking up anything from 80 to 150 words. You don't have timetabled slots in the week to work on the dissertation, but it is not a light option. You must organise your own time effectively in order to make it a success. These pages give some thinking points and advice on planning, researching and writing your dissertation.

On the right hand side you can quickly navigate to the relevant piece or follow the dissertation story from beginning to end, starting with the question: should i do one? although many people perceive economics as a purely technical subject with lots of equations and diagrams, you do have to write essays and dissertations from time to time. This could come as a shock if you did not expect to write one and have forgotten all your essay writing skills from a levels or even worse gcses. The following summary of deirdre mccloskey's book called economical writing by stephen kinsella should help you write elegant but highly analytical essays, for which a high mark is guaranteed. These notes should be read in conjunction with any other specific msc programme guidance you have been given. Your dissertation provides you with an opportunity to write a substantial piece of academic work on a topic of interest to you. It is an opportunity to produce a work of scholarship, using the academic skills you have developed.

Forms of dissertation there are two major forms of dissertation: a piece of empirical research, conducted on a topic or issue of relevance to social policy. A literature based long essay providing an analysis of a specific research question of relevance to social policy. Research topic and research question your first task is to choose a topic that interests you. You need to find a manageable topic ndash one that has not been researched excessively nor so under researched that there is no literature available for you to build on.

Having read relevant literature, you need to focus more specifically on a 'research question'. This is of fundamental importance as it will ensure that your dissertation has a clear focus. It is not the same as your research topic, but is a specific question that you want to try and answer. Your research question needs to be defined with care and your supervisor will help you to do this. As you are choosing your topic and defining your research question you will also have to decide upon the conceptual approach, or 'methodology', that you will adopt.

Methodology concerns the relationship between your theoretical stance and the manner in which you conduct your investigation. Most social policy dissertations do not fit neatly into any one methodological category or 'paradigm', but broadly speaking they are likely to tend towards one of three broad schools of thought: all dissertations involve the use of empirical evidence even if it is existing evidence reported in the relevant literature , but what is called empiricism is an approach to evidence that is aligned to the conventions associated with the natural sciences.

3.2 interpretive

these are no less rigorous in their use of evidence than empiricist approaches, but interpretivism is a stance that characterises a major strand within the social sciences.

It is concerned to understand the nature or meaning of the social world from the subjective standpoint of the people involved.

3.3 critical or criticalist

any theoretical approach can result in criticism of social policy, but a critical ist approach to the use of evidence is one that is grounded in the analysis of social conflict or relationships of power for example, marxism, feminism, or post structuralism. A critical ist approach may draw on elements of either or both of the other approaches insofar as they help to explain or understand social policy, but it is sceptical of empiricism and interpretivism because they do not necessarily question the underlying basis of the status quo.

Many social policy dissertations are 'applied' rather than 'theoretical', and you may find it difficult to be explicit about your chosen methodology. It is important nonetheless to acknowledge that no dissertation can be free from the conceptual assumptions and the values that you yourself bring to it. You are encouraged to take any of these approaches, but you are required explicitly to reflect within the dissertation upon the basis of your approach. Dissertation structure please note that these structures are not meant to be prescriptive, but can form a starting point for thinking about your structure. Remember to seek the advice or your supervisor about the exact structure you choose to adopt.

4.1 empirical study

if you are doing a piece of empirical research, a common structure is as follows: abstract/summary introduction, including research question and structure of essay literature review and policy context methodology and research methods findings and analysis discussion and implications for policy conclusion references appendix ndash e.g. Interview schedule if used it is also a good idea to look at the structure used in published peer reviewed empirical studies. 4.1.1 abstract the abstract summary outlines what you did and what you found. 4.1.2 introduction the introduction will give details of the research topic you have decided to focus on, why the topic is of interest, what the gaps are in knowledge, how your dissertation 'adds value' to previous research i.e.

Online Homework Chat Room

The introduction should provide a brief overview of the structure of your dissertation i.e. 4.1.3 literature review and policy context the literature review should include literature that is pertinent to your research topic and the policy context. It should critically evaluate earlier work in the field, paying due attention to its contributions, and to any methodological problems and limitations involved. Your literature review might draw on: policy documents legislation statistics ndash from government sources, from surveys research studies relevant theory having identified gaps in the literature and ways in which you can add value to the research, you need to give your research question and explain how answering this adds to knowledge.

This is one of the most important parts of your dissertation as it links with your methods and can help with structuring your dissertation. 4.1.4 methodology and research methods give details of the methods you have used sample, procedure etc. If you are carrying out secondary data analysis you need to describe the data set you are using and relevant variables. If you have carried out empirical work, remember the need for informed consent and confidentiality do not use actual names of individuals or organisations, institutions etc.

See research ethics your own personal safety is important when you are carrying out primary research see personal safety and risk assessment 4.1.5 results/findings these can be presented in different ways and will vary depending on whether your research uses quantitative or qualitative methods. Discussion and conclusions these can be separate sections the discussion links your findings with the research question and literature review. It is important in this section that you reflect critically on the limitations of the empirical research you have undertaken. 4.2.1 abstract the abstract outlines what you did and what you concluded. 4.2.2 introduction this will give details of the research topic you have decided to focus on, why the topic is of interest, what the gaps are in knowledge, how your dissertation 'adds value' to previous research i.e. You may be putting forward a particular argument and you can give this in your introduction with the issues that you are going to address.

College Essentials Homework

4.2.3 methodology and research methods this is likely to be a short section giving details of the types of material you have used, books, peer reviewed articles, grey literature, press reports, internet based materials. You need to be aware that some internet sites may be putting forward particular perspectives, so you will need to take this into account in your dissertation. 4.2.4 analysis of literature you are likely to have several chapters/sections that focus on different aspects of your research question/argument. Your analysis might draw on: policy documents legislation statistics ndash from government sources, from surveys research studies relevant theory your analysis should critically evaluate earlier work in the field, paying due attention to its contributions, and to any methodological problems and limitations involved. It should also pay due attention to theoretical problems and controversies, and to key findings. Since there is no major empirical component to the dissertation, the examiners will pay particular attention to matters of scholarship.