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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Dissertation 2 & Research Tutorials
Module Code EC407 (ITS) / ECE1010 (Banner)
Faculty DCU Institute of Education School Language, Literacy & ECE
Module Co-ordinatorSinead Mcnally
Module TeachersGeraldine French, Grainne McKenna, Marlene Mccormack, Sandra O'Neill
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 15
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Repeat examination
Resubmit Thesis and oral exam if necessary
Description

This module will support students in carrying out the research project planned in Dissertation 1. Students will meet with their supervisor in a small-group session (up to 10 students) once a week. The aim of this module is to ensure that students start, advance and complete their dissertation work. The final report will be due before Easter of their final year. Students will draw up a timetable to guide their work. The various stages of the research will be pre-empted by discussions at the seminars and key issues related to each stage will be addressed. Students will raise issues and report on their progress periodically. Ethical dilemmas will be discussed along with issues related to access, data collection and analysis and the presentation of findings. Students will be given individual guidance and feedback during their research seminars.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the rationale for the research study
2. Draw up a timetable in order to ensure completion of a research study within a finite period
3. Carry out a literature review and locate the study within the available literature
4. Justify the selection of a particular research methodology and specific methods with reference to the research question and collect data related to that question
5. Manage ethical dilemmas that arise in the course of the study.
6. Distil findings, present them clearly and convincingly and draw appropriate conclusions from the findings



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Tutorial222 hours per week during semester 2
Fieldwork353Students must plan and implement data collection, analyse data collected and write up a dissertation of 8,000 words. Based on ECTS calculations this is 375 hours minus tutotial time of 22 hours i.e. 353 hours.
Total Workload: 375

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

1
• The format of a research report

2
• The research timetable

3
• The importance of your question

4
• Reading and writing for the literature review

5
• Carrying out fieldwork

6
• Ethical awareness

7
• Analysing the data

8
• Presenting the findings and discussion of these

9
• Hazards: e.g. Plagiarism, Referencing, Record keeping

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Exhibition Evaluation8, 000 Words - Beginning April Final Semester90%Sem 2 End
ParticipationThis is self-assessed. Students must submit a research journal documenting and reflecting on participation (attendance at tutorials, reading, writing, data collection issues).10%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Guy Roberts-Holmes: 2011, Doing Your Early Years Research Project, 2nd, 10, Sage Publications Ltd, London, 1849205205
  • Guerin, S., Hayes, N. & McNally, S.: 2018, Research and Evaluation in Community, Health and Social Care Settings: Experiences from Practice, Routledge, London, 978-113830827
  • Palaiologou, I.: 2016, Child Observation: A guide for Students of Early Childhood (3rd Edition), London: Learning Matters, an Imprint of SAGE Publications Ltd., 3rd, Learning Matters, an Imprint of SAGE Publications Ltd., London, 978-147395240
  • Mukherji, P. & Albon, D.: 2018, Research Methods in Early Childhood: An Introductory Guide, 3rd, Sage, 9781526423719
Other Resources

None

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