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Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

School of Health Science

Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work

Research Dissertation
Information Booklet
Welcome
This booklet is designed to help you prepare for the dissertation unit. We hope that
this information will help you and your dissertation supervisor, to start planning your
project. We encourage students to have a near final project proposal ready for when
the unit starts. Further information will be available on Blackboard once you are
registered onto the unit.

Please do not hesitate to contact the unit leaders’ if you have any queries.

Course Leader Contact Details

Name : Professor Dawn Dowding


School of Health Science, Division of Nursing,
School/Division :
Midwifery & Social Work
Role : Professor of Clinical Decision Making
Email : dawn.dowding@manchester.ac.uk
External number : 0161-306-7755
Internal number : 67755
Jean McFarlane Building
Location : 4.327a
http://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/dawn.d
Research Profile: dowding.html
Introduction to the course unit
This booklet provides information to help you prepare in advance for the dissertation
unit. Your dissertation is an important piece of work and one that we hope you will
find rewarding and challenging. In contrast to the rest of the course, you are
expected to work more independently on your dissertation but all of the course units
you have studied on the MRes will feed into this unit and provide you with the
necessary knowledge and skills to complete a robust, research based study. This
unit will also allow you to test and consolidate your growing expertise in research.

This booklet is not an authoritative guide on writing a dissertation (there will be


supplementary information and resources available to you via blackboard once you
are registered onto the unit) but it does introduce you to your options and the
requirements for this unit of learning. Where possible, we aim to be flexible and to
balance the needs of students with the requirements of the University of Manchester
and there is an element of choice in this unit where you can relate your study directly
to your practice area or research interests.

For some of you this will be the first experience you have had of research related
activity and we will do all that we can to ensure that it is a positive experience. All
students should now be paired up with a dissertation supervisor, someone with
expertise in your area of research or chosen method. Please contact Dawn if you are
not sure who your supervisor is.

To allay one of your potential worries, the University provides guidance on language
skills and the process of writing a dissertation:
https://www.languagecentre.manchester.ac.uk/resources/online-resources/online-
skills-development/academic-english/academic-writing/writing-dissertations/
You will find this really useful as time goes on.
Course unit aims and outcomes
Aims
The aims of this course unit are to enable students to:

 critically assess and analyse theories and evidence that underpin an area of
health or social care practice in order to develop research
 questions/hypotheses.
 demonstrate the knowledge and skills to design, manage and deliver a
research project, which complies with relevant ethical, governance and legal
 frameworks and appropriately involves users.
 identify and critically evaluate limitations, recommendations and implications
 for practice and further research arising from the research project.
 plan an effective strategy for dissemination of key findings from the research
project to stakeholders.

Outcomes
A. Knowledge and understanding:
o A1. Synthesise and critically analyse an evidence base in order to
formulate the aims and objectives needed to guide a research project.
o A2. Design an appropriate and achievable research project and plan
which will investigate or test a health or social care
problem/hypothesis.
o A3. Demonstrate a clear and coherent understanding of the chosen
research methodology and justify the application of this to the aims and
objectives of the study within an ethical/research governance
framework.
B. Intellectual skills:
o B1. Provide a rationale for their choice of the research methodology
used in an empirical investigation.
o B2. Defend their choice of methodology and approach through a
process of peer and tutor evaluation.
o B3. Justify their choice of methodology within an ethical/research
governance framework/Code of Conduct for Research.
C. Practical Skills:
o C1. Undertake, with an appropriate level of academic supervision, a
research project which investigates or tests a health or social care
problem/hypothesis.
o C2. Synthesise the evidence, collect, analyse and present data within a
specified timeframe, in a manner which is acceptable to a quality, peer
reviewed academic journal.
o C4. Describe and account for any actual or potential ethical
considerations encountered during the research process
D. Transferable skills and personal qualities: (These relate to the overall set of
transferable skills outcomes for the programme – may include all or some)
o D1. Plan, develop and evaluate methods and processes for gathering,
analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information
o D2.Develop the acquisition, organisation, provision and use of
knowledge and information
What is a dissertation?
A dissertation is a detailed piece of writing to develop further the students'
knowledge and expertise in their area of study. A dissertation often involves
examining a particular topic/question in depth, with evidence of an ability to
undertake sustained critical analysis. It provides an opportunity for students to
demonstrate their research/project skills and produce an important piece of written
work.

At a Masters level, the dissertation needs to demonstrate that the student can
understand how existing evidence/information relates to a particular question, and
how their own work adds to this. Independent thinking is required with an ability to
critique one's own work and that of others. Students need to be aware of the
implications of their work and defend the findings presented in the dissertation.

How do I choose a project?


Students are expected to develop their own project ideas. It can be helpful to discuss
these with work colleagues and other students. When choosing your project it might
be helpful to think about the following:

 Your dissertation is not an attempt at solving all the problems of the world. 

 A good dissertation is often one that examines a tightly structured
problem/research question, is clearly focused, and takes a critical approach
with a relevant methodology/structure.

 You might have lots of reasons for being passionate about a particular
topic/problem, but will need to convey the importance of this to the reader. 

 You will need to make appropriate use of previous work relating to the
problem been studied but taking a critical aspect.

 Health and social care research is a pragmatic enterprise - so dissertations
can include discussion on the relevance of your findings, the 'so what' factor,
and what changes/recommendations you think would increase further
knowledge.

 You will be expected to show how your work is relevant to health and social
care research.
What are my options for the dissertation?
i. A 15,000 word dissertation – write-up of an empirical clinical/health (MClin
Res) or health and social care (MRes HSC) research project utilising
qualitative methodologies.*

OR

ii. A 15,000 word dissertation – write-up of an empirical clinical/health (MClin


Res) or health and social care (MRes HSC) research project utilising
quantitative methodologies.*

OR

iii. A 15,000 word dissertation – write-up of a systematic review of existing


evidence related to an aspect of clinical/health (MClin Res) or health and
social care (MRes HSC) practice following standard Systematic Review
guidelines (including quantitative structured review and qualitative synthesis)
(this is option is often encouraged for fulltime students).

OR

iv. A 15,000 word dissertation – preparation of a PhD studentship application


related to an aspect of clinical/health (MClin Res) or health and social care
(MRes HSC). The format for this will depend on the type of studentship and
funding body. The dissertation should include PPI activities, collection of pilot
data and other relevant work to demonstrate a strong justification for
proposed project. Students wishing to explore this option must make contact
with the Dissertation Unit lead as soon as possible.

NB. The normal expectation for all students will be that they undertake an empirical
research project (Option i or ii) which involves the collection and analysis of primary
or secondary data. For fulltime students or where there are evidenced factors
outside of the control of the student which mean that such a project cannot be
undertaken, a systematic review (Option iii) may be undertaken as an alternative.
This must be agreed between the supervisor and student in liaison with the
Dissertation Unit Lead/Programme Director and must adhere to standard
frameworks and criteria for a Systematic Review of the qualitative and/or quantitative
literature. For students who have previous research experience and evidence of
publications Option iv may be appropriate if considering PhD studies.

*For empirical work the academic supervisor is the Chief Investigator. It is the
responsibility of the Chief Investigator to ensure that appropriate policies and
procedures are adhered to, including:

- HRA and ethical approval (either University REC or NHS REC)


- University sponsorship

- Local R&D approvals

- Risk assessments

- Lone worker policy

- Data protection

- Current Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certification for all relevant people,
including the student.

Please refer to the references provided at the end of this document for further
details.
Gaining ethical approval
You will be required to gain research ethical committee (REC) approval for ANY empirical study.
Depending on the nature of your project you will require either NHS REC or University REC
(UREC) approval.

Your research proposal will have to be assessed by an NHS Research Ethics Committee if you
are proposing to work with/involve:

  NHS patients, their data or tissues;


 Participants who are users of any of the services for which UK Health Departments are
 responsible (including adult social care in England).
 Prisoners in the custody of the National Offender Management Service, the
Scottish Prison Service or the Northern Ireland Prison Service, where the research
is health-related.

More comprehensive guidance regarding what research needs NHS ethical review can be
found here:

Is the study research?


Is NHS ethical review required? [accessed 20/07/18]

Steps
 to gaining REC approval:

Develop study protocol
Decide on the type of REC approval needed


Complete relevant documents

 
 

 
Consent forms, information sheets, Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
invitation letters, interview/focus group IRAS or UREC
Risk Assessments
guides, outcome assessments /
questionnaires / data collection tools etc Lone Working Policy
PanMan form (for NHS REC projects)


 For NHS REC – submit protocol, risk
 assessment, PanMan to dissertation unit lead
for sign-off


 For NHS REC submit all documents to Faculty Research Office for Sponsorship review
For UREC submit online, see:

http://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/services/rbess/governance/ethics/guidance-on-
applying-for-urec-review/

Submit to relevant REC


Supervision
All students will be offered guidance from a dissertation supervisor. Supervisors are
experienced academics, usually from the University of Manchester. Your supervisor
should have been allocated at the beginning of your course. Although, formal
supervision cannot start until you are registered for the Dissertation unit, we advise
you to make contact early for informal discussions about your proposed project. We
aim to pair students with a supervisor who has particular experience in the chosen
area to guide students through the dissertation process. However, students need to
be mindful that the role of the supervisor is limited, and the dissertation is to be the
student’s own work. Some students might also have a local project supervisor who is
often their line manager, to assist with day to day queries about their work and
project management. Supervisors are not responsible in any way for the final work
that you submit.

What is supervision?

At a postgraduate level, a dissertation supervisor aims to guide you or point you in


the right directions. Supervisors are not expected, nor should they be doing work
directly on your dissertation. A supervisor helps you plan your dissertation and to
guide you through a period of learning associated with the topic area. They aim to
help you complete a dissertation to the standard that you are capable of. Supervisors
are not always ‘experts’ in the topic of your dissertation, but have experience of
research and dissertation writing and support, usually in related areas. Supervisors
are not expected to do statistical analysis, proof reading, or reference checking!

At a postgraduate level, a key to learning is to be able to identify one’s own learning


and support needs. Therefore students are encouraged to discuss these with their
supervisor. The supervisor can then work to meet those needs directly or suggest
someone else for you to contact, or other ways of meeting your needs. This can
include self-directed learning, reference to particular text books, or a suggestion to
contact a topic expert. Further support materials can be found in the Dissertation
Skills unit in Blackboard.

Good ideas

1. Send your supervisor an email to introduce yourself, with a copy of your


ideas/draft proposal, a time plan, and any immediate concerns / support
needs;
2. Confirm how often to contact your supervisor and how;
3. Be clear about how your supervisor prefers to work and to make most efficient
use of their time;
4. When sending supervisors work to comment on, identify any specific queries
or questions you might have;
5. Do let your supervisor know of any personal circumstances that are or are
likely to interfere with your progress;
6. Do mention any concerns you have about the supervision process with your
supervisor.
What do you do if you have concerns about your supervision?

Most students have a positive experience of working with their supervisor. It is


uncommon for significant problems to arise. If students and supervisors are clear
about their roles and responsibilities from the beginning then this can usually be
avoided. Similarly, it is important that you raise any concerns with your supervisor
before they develop into a bigger problem.

If you do have any concerns about your supervision which have not been addressed
adequately by your supervisor then you need to contact the Dissertation Lead –
Professor Dawn Dowding (dawn.dowding@manchester.ac.uk)
Teaching/Learning hours and methods for
the course unit

Hours
Activity
allocated

Engagement with on-line Learning materials 30

Workshops 40

Dissertation Supervision (including individual and


30
group, face-face/online)

Project work/ Practice based activities 360

Independent study 320

Assignment preparation/Project write up 120

Total Hours 900

Independent study

As you will see from the hours above, there is a considerable amount of time
allocated to Independent study. It is important that you organise yourself to
undertake these additional hours as they are as important to your learning as direct
teaching.
Student Support during the course unit

Course Unit Leader(s)

Course unit leaders are available for academic support and advice during the Unit of
study and the best way to arrange an appointment is by contacting them, via
blackboard, telephone, e-mail or in person when you are in the University.

Please remember that academic staff are also engaged in many other activities
and therefore may not be available to see you immediately. It is preferable to
contact us in advance to arrange a mutually agreeable time.

Personal Tutor

Your personal tutor is also available for support. Please refer to the
programme handbook which outlines their specific role.

Peer Support

There will be a forum in blackboard where you can both offer and receive support
from your peers. This forum will not be frequented by academic staff.
Core learning materials

Bland M. (2015). An Introduction to Medical Statistics. (4th ed). Oxford. OUP.

Bell J & Waters S (2018) Doing your research project: a guide for first time
researchers. (7th ed). Maidenhead, McGraw Hill Education

Bowling, A. (2014). Research Methods in Health: investigating health and health


services. (4th ed). Maidenhead. Open University Press.

Breton E & De Leeuw E (2011) Theories of the policy process in health promotion
research: a review. Health Promotion International. 26(1):82-90.

th
Bryman, A. (2015). Social Research Methods (5 ed.). Oxford. Oxford
University Press.

Corby B (2006) Applying research in social work practice Maidenhead, Open


University Press

Engel RJ and Schutt Rk (2005) The practice of research in social work


Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications

Hek G (2006) Making sense of research: an introduction for health and social
care practitioners London Sage

Holloway, I (2005) Qualitative Research in Health Care Maidenhead, Open


University Press

Koch T, Kralik D, Loon A van and Mann S (2006) Participatory action research
in healthcare Oxford , Blackwell.

Petticrew M (2006) Systematic Reviews in the social sciences: a practical guide.


Oxford Blackwell

Pope C and Mays N (2006) Qualitative research in health care.(3rd ed)


Maiden, Mass, Blackwell Publication
th
Silverman, D. (2014). Interpreting Qualitative Data (5 ed.). London. Sage.

Web Resources

Cochrane Collaboration website http://www.cochranelibrary.com/ [accessed


20/07/18]

Campbell Collaboration website http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/ [accessed


20/07/18]
CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) systematic review quality appraisal
tools https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/[accessed 20/07/18]

HRA student information: https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving-


research/research-planning/student-research/ [accessed 20/07/18]

NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (2001). Undertaking Systematic


Reviews of Research on Effectiveness: CRD Report 4. York , York University
www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/report4.htm [accessed 20/07/18]

NHS REC IRAS: https://www.myresearchproject.org.uk [accessed 20/07/18]

University of Manchester, FBMH Research Support:


http://www.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/research/support/ [accessed 20/07/18]

Relevant University of Manchester Lone Worker Policy documents [all accessed


20/07/18]

University Health http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13891


and Safety
Arrangements:
Chapter 10 Lone
Working

Safety Services: http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13644


Guidance on Lone
Working

Community-based http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13648
lone worker checklist

On Campus lone http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=13647


worker checklist
(possibly not that
relevant)

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