Writing Successful Undergraduate Dissertations in Social Sciences : : A Student's Handbook.

• Author: Jegede, Francis.
• TeilnehmendeR: Hargreaves, Charlotte.; Smith, Karen.; Hodgson, Philip.; Todd, Malcolm.; Waldman, Julia.
• Place / Publishing House: Milton : : Taylor & Francis Group,, 2020.; Ã2020.
• Year of Publication: 2020
• Edition: 2nd ed.
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (241 pages)

A practical guide for students undertaking their dissertation, Writing Successful Undergraduates Dissertations in Social Sciences uses a mixture of exercises, strategies, case study material and further reading to give hints and tips on beginning and managing a research project and working with supervisors.

Table of Contents

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Figures, tables and case studies -- Contributors -- Acknowledgements -- Preface -- 1. What is a dissertation? -- Introduction -- Definitions of the dissertation -- Purpose of a dissertation -- What distinguishes the dissertation from other work? -- Dissertation organisation and structure -- Preparing for the dissertation -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 2. Getting support -- Introduction -- What is the role of your supervisor? -- How can your supervisor help you to identify and define your research question? -- What else can you expect from your supervisor? -- Reaching agreement with your supervisor -- Group supervision -- Email and virtual meetings -- Feedback on draft chapters -- Why is supervision so important? Can't you just get on with your dissertation on your own? -- Managing difficulties with supervisors -- Dissertation support and information technologies -- Who else may be able to help you? -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 3. Research questions and getting started on your dissertation -- Introduction -- Deciding on study objectives and preparing for a dissertation -- Finding a topic for the dissertation -- Clarifying ideas and narrowing focus -- What is a good research question? -- Taking notes -- Time-management and work planning -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Note -- Further reading -- 4. Searching and reviewing literature -- Introduction -- What is a literature review? -- Why search the literature? -- What makes a good literature review? -- How do I structure or organise my literature review? -- Where do I find information for my literature review? -- Using search engines to find information -- Essential steps in literature review -- Starting your literature review -- Published books.

Journal articles -- Using databases to find and gather informationfor your literature review -- Theses and conference papers -- Using communication technologies and social networking platforms to stay abreast of new literature -- The bliss of browsing -- Sourcing references -- Working with sources -- Reading the references -- Moving to the literature review -- Drawing on support from others -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Note -- Further reading -- 5. Choosing an appropriate research methodology for your dissertation -- Introduction -- Research paradigms and philosophical positions -- Research paradigms and taking a philosophical position -- Overview of methodological approaches -- Pragmatics: justifying your approach -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Note -- Further reading -- 6. Types and sources of data -- Introduction -- The importance of data in dissertation writing -- Research approaches and types of data -- What categories of data will you use? -- Where do I find existing research dataor material? -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 7. Data collection -- Introduction -- Data collection techniques for primary data collection -- Combining approaches to data collection -- Flexibility and consistency in designing your data collection strategy -- Design of research instruments -- Sampling -- Sample selection methods -- Doing your data collection -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 8. Ethics and legal issues regarding social research and personal data -- Introduction -- What do we mean by research ethics? -- Why is ethical research important? -- What are the basic principles for ethical research? -- The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA) (2018) -- Personal data and notion of protection -- Lawful basis for collecting and processing personal data.

What does this mean for the design of my research project? -- Anonymised and pseudonymised data -- Working with 'vulnerable' research participants -- Practicalities of addressing ethical issues -- Compliance with GDPR and other legal requirements -- Guidelines for relatively standard research proposals -- Being aresponsible researcher -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 9. Analysing quantitative data -- Introduction -- Variables -- Data exploration and descriptive statistics -- Averages and measures of central tendency -- How do I know which measure of central tendency to use? -- Measures of variability (spread or dispersion) -- Using software to analyse your data -- Preparing data for computer analysis -- Introducing IBM-SPSS, defining variables and inputting data -- Graphs and graphical display of data -- Beyond descriptive analysis to inferential statistics -- Analysing relationships - inferential statistics and hypothesis testing -- Data interpretation -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 10. Analysing qualitative data -- Introduction -- Preparing data for analysis -- Phases in qualitative data analysis -- Using software for qualitative data analysis -- Other approaches to qualitative data analysis -- Checks on quality -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 11. Writing the dissertation -- Introduction -- Drawing up a plan for writing your dissertation -- Structuring your dissertation -- Acknowledging the work of others -- Appendices -- Final draft -- Proofreading -- Submitting the completed dissertation -- Academic writing -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- 12. Making the most of your dissertation -- Introduction -- What have I got from doing my dissertation? -- Graduate attributes and employability -- CV and competence-based interviews.

Publishing your dissertation and disseminating your research -- Developing your academic writing -- Key messages -- Key questions -- Further reading -- Appendix 1 List of common statistical tests -- Appendix 2 Socio-economic deprivation in English towns and cities - 2015 -- References -- Index.