MA Social Work Research Proposal & Dissertation Guidance
Word count: 16000-17000 words excluding references
Submission: Your dissertation should be submitted on Turnitin by 5pm on the submission date above.
1. Dissertation guidance
Organisation and content of the dissertation
Your dissertation will be either an empirically based and dissertation or a secondary research project in the form of a library-based (literature-based) dissertation. The structure of the dissertation will vary according to which type of dissertation you choose. This next section indicates the likely structure for each of the two types but these are for general guidance so please discuss with your supervisor.
For dissertations based on primary (empirical) research
As with literature-based dissertations, the organisation of empirically based dissertations will depend upon the nature of the research topic. But in general, it is expected that a dissertation based on empirical work will include the following:
Front matter
· Front sheet with title of , student name and number, supervisor, word count and declaration that the dissertation is submitted to Liverpool Hope University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the MA in Social Work
· Declaration that the dissertation is the students own work and has not been submitted for any academic assessment other than part fulfilment of the MA Social Work award at Hope (Signed and dated)
· Acknowledgements if you wish
· Contents
Abstract
· Brief review of questions, methods, findings and conclusions
Introduction
· Provides a clear description of the issue or problem to be researched, why the topic was chosen and how it will contribute to social work knowledge, justifies the research question and provides an overview of the dissertation
Literature review
· A critical analysis and evaluation of the literature relevant to the research question(s) leading to a clear definition of research topic.
Methodology
· A clear description and justification of the methodology and methods for generating data
· Discussion of researcher stance within the research (where applicable)
· Discussion of ethical issues and how these were managed
· Discussion of ‘trustworthiness’ of the research (traditionally – reliability, validity, generalizability)
Findings and discussion (can be in one chapter or two)
· Presentation of findings – an analytical account of what you found supported by quotations from the data, ‘thick description’ supported with further references to relevant literature either from your review or ‘new’ sources. Usually presented using your ‘themes’ or analytical categories emerging from your data analysis
Conclusions
· Draw together what you have learnt, discuss significance and limitations – show how the research might influence policy and/or practice
· Where applicable a set of reasoned recommendations indicating possible directions for policy and practice, based upon and linked to the conclusions
· Suggestions for future research
For Literature-based dissertations
The structure of your dissertation outlined below is indicative, but literature-based dissertations are likely to include the following structure or something similar:
Front matter
· Front sheet with title of dissertation, student name and number, supervisor, word count and declaration that the dissertation is submitted to Liverpool Hope University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the MA in Social Work
· Declaration that the dissertation is the students own work and has not been submitted for any academic assessment other than part fulfilment of the MA Social Work award at Hope (Signed and dated)
· Acknowledgements if you wish
· Contents
Abstract
· Brief review of research question, method of a literature review, findings and conclusions drawn. The abstract is usually 200-300 words and should give the reader an overall sense of your research, its findings and important conclusions you draw from your research.
Introduction
· Provides a clear description of the issue or problem to be researched, why the topic was chosen and how it will contribute to social work knowledge. It should outline the research questions (aims and objectives) which will help you in selecting relevant and important literature for the literature review chapter that follows.
Methodology
· You are conducting a library-based dissertation. You will need to demonstrate being systematic and transparent in the way you have retrieved, appraised and included/excluded literature that forms the basis of your findings chapter.
· A clear description and justification of the methodology/method (e.g. narrative review; literature review as a method, systematic analysis, etc.)
· Demonstrate transparency in the process you have followed in searching, retrieving and selecting literature (i.e. to include search terms, number of searches, databases/sources searched, inclusion/exclusion criteria)
· Discussion of researcher stance within the research (where applicable). For example, what lens influences your analysis of the literature (e.g. feminist perspective, intersectional approach, critical race theory, Marxist)
· Use a critical appraisal tool such as CASP to evidence the process you have followed in appraising the literature
· Discussion of ethical issues (e.g. ‘confirmation bias’ for library based studies) and how these were managed
Literature review -previous research and trends
· This section sets the scene with regards to what is currently known about your chosen topic – this will include policy contexts, and relevant legislation, and locates your study in a body of knowledge that already exists.
Findings and discussion (can be in one chapter or two)
· Presentation of findings – an analytical account of what you found from your review of the literature. This will usually be presented in the form of ‘themes’ or analytical categories emerging from your review and analysis of the literature that link to and explore the original research question/s. These may be presented in one or more chapters.
Conclusions
· Draw together what you have learnt, discuss significance and limitations – show how policy and/or practice might be influenced in light of your review and analysis.
· Where applicable a set of reasoned recommendations indicating possible directions for policy and practice, based upon and linked to the conclusions.
· Suggestions for future research.
Take particular care not to present findings anywhere else but in the findings chapter/s. Discuss any departure from the outline presented here with your supervisor. Take care with the verb tense you use throughout e.g. your research proposal was written using the present or future tense as it was what you planned to do – your dissertation will be mostly in the present and past tense as you have now done the research.
Responsibility of the author for presentation
The style, format, and accuracy of the text and its presentation are entirely the student’s responsibility as the author, and will be assessed as such by the examiners. The text and its arrangement should be checked before and after completion of typing and time needs to be allowed for this. Students are advised to take the utmost care in the presentation of their work.
Presentation
Times New Roman, Ariel or similar
Font 12 pt
Double or 1.5 line spacing
Justify the left edge of the document
Page numbers to be included
Paragraphing and subheading are encouraged
Provide front matter: front cover page with your name, title of dissertation, year, number of words and the words ‘Submitted in part fulfilment of the Masters in Social Work’ all centred; declaration that the dissertation is all your own work; contents page and acknowledgments if you wish.
Citation
In academic writing, there are three main reasons for the convention that texts are expected to cite the work of authors:
1. To help the reader to locate the data or analysis being presented in the context of other relevant work, to show for instance how the former differ from or cohere with the latter;
2. To guide the interested reader to other sources which s/he may wish to follow up; and
3. To demonstrate especially in the context of assessed and dissertations, that no part of the work has been plagiarised (see your programme handbook).
Harvard
· On each occasion in which a reference is made in a text, and whenever you are drawing on another’s published work, the author(s), date of publication and (where appropriate) page number is placed in brackets at the relevant point. If the text has the author’s name as part of the relevant sentence, only the date and page number are needed. For instance, Smith (1996:2) argues that … whereas an alternative point of view might be (Jones, 1998:42). If cited work has three or more authors, use the formulation ‘et al.’ Do not use a URL (web address) in a citation.
· The list of references at the end of the work is arranged in alphabetical order of (first) authors’ surnames and initials, followed by co-authors (if any) and the year of publication.
· Students should not rely on the use of secondary references (i.e. cited in) and should locate the original source of work unless there are exceptional reasons as to why this cannot be sourced.
1
