ECM110NU-Dissertation

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 60 [30 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: ECM103 Research Methodology and ECM104 Quantitative Research Methods or ECM103NU Research Methodology and ECM104NU Quantitative Research Methods
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof Giovanni Razzu
Email: g.razzu@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

NUIST module lead: Associate Prof. Qijun Qiu, Email: qiu-qijun@163.com

This module provides students the opportunity to produce a significant, in-depth analysis of a relevant topic in modern economics and data science. Students will be required to demonstrate that they have mastered the various abilities needed to do original research and to communicate their ideas in a standard format required of the economics community.

Aims:

The primary focus of this module is to learn how to apply the concepts taught in the other master’s modules in this programme in a coherent and informative fashion as it relates to investigating an economic problem. Students must demonstrate the ability to clearly define a research issue, develop an appropriate research design, properly structure a coherent research proposal, provide thorough and succinct analysis of the relevant theoretical and empirical literature, collect appropriate data if needed, provide a systematic, objective and carefully structured analysis of the information collected, draw relevant conclusions from the analysis and relating these to the existing literature, and demonstrate the originality of their research. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of this module, students should be able to:

1. identify and motivate a research question(s);


2. critically evaluate the relevant literature;


3. apply relevant theoretical frameworks for analysing their research question(s);


4. motivate and apply appropriate research methods to address their chosen research question(s);


5. analyse and synthesise their research findings.

Additional outcomes:

This module will also enable students to develop the following skills: time management and working independently; research skills; academic writing and referencing; presentation skills.

Outline content:

Students will be required, in consultation with and the approval of their supervisor, to produce an original dissertation that conforms to current economic standards. This will require students to produce an acceptable proposal of their ideas and subsequently to produce written work of sufficient quality to demonstrate their ability to apply their economic knowledge and data skills in a new and original manner to an appropriate economic topic or question. 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Each student will be required to work under the guidance of their dissertation supervisors over the course of the academic year and to learn those skills which are necessary and constitute best practices in the students' chosen field of economics and data science.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Project Supervision	10	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	100	90
Completion of formative assessment tasks	25
Dissertation writing	80	165	40
Essay preparation	50
Reflection	15	15
Total hours by term	280	280	40
Total hours for module	600

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	30
Dissertation	70

Summative assessment- Examinations:

There is no examination.

In exceptional cases students might be asked to attend an oral examination following the submission of their dissertation. 

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Assessment is comprised of a dissertation proposal (30%) and the final dissertation (70%). The completed dissertation is expected to be approximately 10,000 – 12,000 words in length, excluding references and appendices.

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: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/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: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/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:

A minimum mark of 50%. 

Reassessment arrangements:

Candidates whose results from the taught component of the programme (including second attempts where they have been permitted) are such that they are unable to fulfil the criteria for the award of the degree of Master will not be permitted reassessment in the dissertation.

Candidates who fail the dissertation at the first attempt and whose other results are such that a second attempt at the dissertation might lead to the award of the degree of Master will be permitted to resubmit the dissertation within twelve months from the original submission date, as determined by the Faculty Examiners’ Meeting.

Reassessment is by submission of a revised version of the written dissertation only.

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: 5 October 2021