Research Dissertation

Module description

In this module, you will write an Academic Dissertation. The Academic Dissertation allows you to demonstrate your ability at identifying and analysing an economic problem using the techniques of economic and/or econometric analysis. You will come up with your own choice of topic, which can be theoretical or empirical in nature and manage self-driven enquiry and write up a piece of research. You are encouraged to seek your own supervisor.

The supervision arrangement for the academic dissertation will consist of one member of faculty.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

The analytical skills developed and employed in this module will be applicable across institutions and countries and are multinational in nature.

Employability

By solving statistical mathematical problems and exercises, students are equipped with practical problem-solving skills, theoretical skills, and an understanding of mathematical relationships. All of these are highly valuable to progression in the academic profession and to employers.

Sustainability

All of the resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).

Full module specification

Module aims

The aim of the dissertation is to allow you to develop skills to identify and analyse an economic problem. You will acquire knowledge of the existing literature, identify the key economic trade-offs, acquire necessary tools to analyse these trade-offs, and analyse the economic problem using economic and/or econometric techniques.

ILO: Module-specific skills

• 1. Identify an economic problem and apply economic and/or econometric techniques in order to analyse it

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

• 2. Relate real-life problems to subject specific knowledge examined through previous and current modules.
• 3. Assemble and synthesise a complex body of existing relevant research.
• 4. Utilise appropriate analytical or statistical techniques to reach an answer to a previously defined research question.
• 5. For empirical dissertations, utilise existing data sets or generate new ones through experiments/questionnaires.

ILO: Personal and key skills

• 6. Pursue, under supervision, a sustained program of individual work outside of a classroom setting.
• 7. Evaluate critically existing ideas and perceive areas of weakness or areas which may be usefully analysed.
• 8. Complete, as an individual, a multistage task within a defined period, as assisted by the supervision process.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

None.

Syllabus plan

Stage 1: Dissertation proposals as agreed with module convenor

Stage 2: Proposal submission and assessment

Stage 3: Writing and submission of dissertation to a deadline in September (exact date to be announced).

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Students will develop a bibliography/reference list relevant to their particular topic, under the guidance of their supervisor. The literature varies from topic to topic and will include textbooks and recent research articles.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE.

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener.

Origin date

01/01/2016

Last revision date

08/12/2021