PA981-7-FY-CO:
Research Methods and Dissertation
2023/24
Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
60
07 November 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA C89312 Jungian and Post-Jungian Studies,
MA C89324 Jungian and Post-Jungian Studies,
MA C893MO Jungian and Post-Jungian Studies,
MA C8N212 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C8N224 Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C8N2MO Management and Organisational Dynamics,
MA C89012 Psychoanalytic Studies,
MA C89024 Psychoanalytic Studies,
MA C890MO Psychoanalytic Studies,
MA L32112 Gender and Sexuality Studies,
MA L32124 Gender and Sexuality Studies
This module runs over two terms. The first part of the module will teach you how to use psychosocial and psychoanalytic methods to conduct your research for your dissertation. It will introduce a range of empirical and conceptual approaches to doing research in the field of psychosocial and psychoanalytic studies and will examine how specific methods such as interviewing, ethnograpy, case studies or feminist methodologies can be used to examine complex, relational or unconscious phenomena of psychic and social life.
The second part of the module wil focus more strongly on your independent research project which will be the basis for your dissertation. The module will offer two intensive workshop days with sessions on how to organise the research and writing of your dissertation as well as sessions on how to develop your career after graduation.
The aims of this module are:
- To provide main foundations in psychosocial and psychoanalytic research methods.
- To foster academic research skills such as referencing, writing abstracts, conducting literature reviews, and the organisation of critical arguments.
- To develop oral presentation skills.
- To foster critical thinking applicable in the Dissertation and other MA modules.
- To give guidance on further academic and professional career paths.
- To demonstrate intellectual independence and originality by choosing your own subject of study and defining its nature and scope.
- To experience the process of producing knowledge and conducting independent enquiry in a specific area of interest to you.
- To consolidate your written communication and intellectual skills by presenting the results of your research in a clearly written, cogently argued, logically structured and properly referenced way.
- To pull together the learning and experiences from the course and apply them to a topic of your choice.
- To develop greater confidence in the flexible application of psychosocial and psychoanalytic understanding.
By the end of the module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Undertake a substantial research enquiry in the respective fields of their specific MA programme.
- Confidently choose, design and implement appropriate empirical and/or theoretical research methods to support their own research enquiry.
- Give a clear exposition of their Dissertation topic in a 15-minute oral presentation.
- Engage in a substantial critical and independent analysis of literature relevant to their enquiry and analysed data emerging from their research.
- Show evidence of critical thinking in their work.
- Present research work in a clear, readable, and accurate manner.
- Show a broad awareness of some of the challenges associated with interdisciplinary research in the context of psychoanalytic and psychosocial studies and analytical psychology.
Skills for your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)
By the end of this module, students will be expected to develop the following key and employability skills:
- Research and methods.
- Academic writing.
- Oral presentation.
- Critical thinking.
- Qualitative research methods.
- Creativity and innovative thinking.
- Project management skills.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 2-hour seminar per week (autumn term).
- Two workshop days each of which consists of three 1.5-hour seminars.
- One library workshop.
- Individual supervision.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Dissertation Proposal |
|
15% |
| Coursework |
MA Dissertation |
|
85% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Reassessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Magda-Agata Schmukalla, email: m.schmukalla@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Magda-Agata Schmukalla
Student Administrator 5A.202; Tel: 01206 873745; Email: ppspgt@essex.ac.uk
No
No
Yes
Dr Annette Clancy
UCD College of Business
Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Management
Dr Noreen Giffney
Ulster University, Jordanstown Campus, Northern Ireland
Lecturer in Counselling
Dr Philip Goss
University of Warwick
Director Counselling and Psychotherapy
Dr Parisa Dashtipour
Open University
Lecturer in Psychology
Available via Moodle
Of 34 hours, 32 (94.1%) hours available to students:
2 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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