Dissertation in Health Care Communication
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ENGL4065 | English | 4 | 60 | Autumn UK, Spring UK, Summer UK |
- Code
- ENGL4065
- School
- English
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 60
- Semesters
- Autumn UK, Spring UK, Summer UK
Summary
This module is intended to enable students to display and develop research skills in the area of health care communication. It involves the students in:
- selecting a topic of inquiry in consultation with relevant members of staff
- searching and critically reviewing appropriate literature
- developing research questions
- considering ethical aspects of their investigation
- planning a methodological strategy for the investigation
- collecting data ad analysing it (this may use the University’s language corpora or the student may collect their own data subject to organisational and ethical feasibility)
- interpreting findings against what is already known inn the field of study
- critically evaluating the study itself
- making suggestions for further research.
The dissertation will be assessed through a completed report of 14,000 words. The task will be broken up into stages such that the student has opportunities for incorporating formative feedback. It is anticipated that an electronic diary be used to record contact between student and supervisor, and that a suitable timetable of events will be agreed in advance.
Target Students
Compulsory for students on MA Health Communication. Not available to any other students.
Classes
Supervision is via email. Students are allowed six hours of supervision and supervisors will read a detailed plan and a 3000 word chapter or section
Assessment
- 100% Dissertation: 12,000 to 15,000 word dissertation
Assessed by end of summer vacation
Educational Aims
To enable students to plan, implement and write up a substantial piece of original research which will make a contribution to the intellectual life of the disciplineTo enable students to build upon what they have learned in other modules so as to identify suitable literature and theoretical perspectives, select appropriate methods, undertake a substantial piece of analysis and relate this to the existing knowledge in the fieldTo develop a critically aware, practical expertise in analysing health care communication using appropriate theoretical and practical techniques and develop the ability to critically reflect upon their own practical skillUnderstand the significance of what they have done for existing knowledge in the field.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Students should gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the extent and variety of literature that already exists on their chosen topic
- the different theoretical and methodological perspectives which can be brought to bear on the study of their chosen topic
- the issues involved in selecting an appropriate analytic method for making sense of heath care communication in their chosen field.
Intellectual Skills
Students should be able to demonstrate that they:
- can identify a suitable research topic
- can seek out, assimilate and critically evaluate published research relating to their chosen field of health care documentation and critically analyse its major arguments and findings
- can develop approaches to data collection and frameworks for practical analysis
- can appreciate ethical issues in relation to their research.
- can make sense of their data and analysis in relation to previous research and theory and understand how the intellectual or practical landscape has changed as a result of their investigation
- can understand the strengths and weaknesses of their own work and draw appropriate conclusions.
Professional practical skills
In formal assessments, students should be able to demonstrate that they can:
- undertake and present research in a manner appropriate to the scholarly standards of the discipline
- communicate effectively using the concepts, methodology, data presentation techniques and language of the discipline
- make effective use of opportunities for formative feedback via interaction with the module convenor and other students on the module
- consider how their work might be prepared for publication in a professional or technical journal.
Professional practical skills
In formal assessments, students should be able to demonstrate that they can:
- undertake and present research in a manner appropriate to the scholarly standards of the discipline
- communicate effectively using the concepts, methodology, data presentation techniques and language of the discipline
- make effective use of opportunities for formative feedback via interaction with the module convenor and other students on the module
- consider how their work might be prepared for publication in a professional or technical journal.