IDM072-Dissertation (International Development & Applied Economics)

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 60 [30 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Successful completion of taught component of the programme
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Sarah Cardey
Email: s.p.cardey@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Conduct independent research on a topic of your choice with the support of an academic supervisor. Apply appropriate research and analytical skills and produce a written dissertation on your project.

Aims:
The module aims to provide students with an opportunity to explore a topic of their own (guided) choice in depth, and to apply appropriate research and analytical skills. The module will enhance the student's ability to use the knowledge, understanding and skills developed previously across his or her programme, integrating these in the context of the chosen topic.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• demonstrate acquisition of detailed knowledge and understanding on a specialist subject


• present a succinct synthesis and review of theoretical and empirical literature relating to their chosen topic


• collect appropriate data


• present a systematic and carefully structured analysis of information collected


• apply cognitive skills, including analysis and argument, to draw relevant and defensible conclusions and show how these are related to the existing literature


• write a substantial and well structured report to defined standards of presentation including comprehensive and accurate referencing.

Additional outcomes:

• development of time management skills


• development of skills in using computer software for production, editing and presentation of documents.

Outline content:
The student will select, with appropriate guidance from academic staff, a topic of interest to them and of academic and/or professional relevance to their degree programme and submit a completed dissertation proposal form by the end of week 12 (i.e. the seventh week of the Autumn Term). The module convenor, in consultation with Heads of Division and the School Director of Teaching and Learning, will allocate each student to a member of academic staff as supervisor. The appointed supervisor willprovide academic guidance and support to the student during the Spring Term (in the context of Module IDM071) and Summer Term. The student will submit the completed dissertation by the date in early September specified in his or her Programme Handbook.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Individual research; individual and (where appropriate) group meetings between student(s) and supervisor; submission of and feedback on draft written material; email contact between supervisor and student. The number and conduct of meetings will be determined by supervisor and student so the contact hours below are indicative only.

Contact hours:

Ìý	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Project Supervision	3	3	3
Guided independent study:			591
Ìý	Ìý	Ìý	Ìý
Total hours by term	3	3	594
Ìý	Ìý	Ìý	Ìý
Total hours for module	600

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Dissertation	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Coursework
Dissertation of between 10,000 and 14,000 words, conforming to guidelines given in Programme Handbooks, to be submitted by the end of the first week of September. It is mandatory that the student takes note of and fully complies with the university's guidelines on Research Ethics, and the School procedures for ethical clearance for research: information on these is given in programme handbooks and is available from the SAPD Student Offices. Failure to do so may lead to deductions of marks and data collected without prior authorisation following the specified procedures may be considered ineligible for use as part of the research.

Relative percentage of coursework: 100%

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 'Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes', which can be found here: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50%

Reassessment arrangements:
Resubmission of dissertation within 12 months from September of initial submission.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1. Required text books:


2. Specialist equipment or materials:


3. Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:


4. Printing and binding:


5. Computers and devices with a particular specification:


6. Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 30 March 2023