ACM012: Dissertation

Module code: ACM012

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Summer (vacation) semester

Module convenor: Dr Renata Stenka, email: r.i.stenka@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE ACM013 (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 17 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

To give students an awareness of the appropriate use of methodology, theory, data, literature review, and original research in a Masters dissertation. To enable students to produce a piece of original research that would contribute to the relevant body of knowledge within accounting, financial management and/or business analytics. 
This module is particularly relevant for students who might wish to consider pursuing further academic career.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Assemble a problematised literature review on a given topic which provides a synthesis and critical analysis of the relevant scholarly work. 
2. Understand the main methodological questions concerning research in management and the social sciences which might include digitalisation and the increasing use of big data 
3. Appreciate main approaches towards the integration of theory into a research project. 
4. Assess the suitability and usefulness of linking theoretical approaches with the different analytical frameworks to address research questions. 
5. Compose building blocks of research proposal as suitable for a Masters level dissertation. 
6. Produce an original piece of theoretically informed research that addresses the relevant gaps in the existing body of scholarly work. 

Module content

• The nature and practice of research 
• The literature review process and the composition of a literature review 
• The nature and role of methodology in business research 
• The role and application of theory in business research 
• Quantitative and qualitative data sources 
• Data analysis and writing-up research findings 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered based on 1 hour session providing general guidance on research methods and paradigms as well as providing information on the specific aspects of the dissertation that students would need to pay attention to. Students are then provided with one to one supervision meetings for their dissertation over the spring and summer terms so they are provided with the support specifically tailored to their needs. Students are expected to read a number of references provided by their supervisors.

Study hours

At least 7 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.
To be awarded an MSc, students must pass this module, and to achieve a distinction on the MSc, students must get 60% in this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs