ULMS Electronic Module Catalogue

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Dissertation in Organisational Psychology
Code ULMS883
Coordinator Professor LM Anderson
Work, Organisation and Management
L.Anderson@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2024-25 Level 7 FHEQ Summer (June-September) 60

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:

 

Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours           2

6

8
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 592
TOTAL HOURS 600

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Dissertation Standard UoL penalties apply Anonymously assessed: No There is a resit opportunity    100       

Aims

The aim of this module is to enable students to synthesise and apply the knowledge, skills and understanding that they have acquired throughout their MSc programme. Building on the knowledge and skills acquired in ULMS880 Advanced Research Methods in Organisational Psychology, students will execute an independent, applied and significant piece of research in the field of organisational psychology, under the supervision of an allocated member of academic staff. This is a student-led module which aims to enable students to demonstrate their ability to conceptualise, design and execute a rigorous piece of research that is grounded in theory and focuses on a unique organisational problem. The applied nature of the research project aims to enable students to further develop and embed their conceptual skills, data analytical skills, ethical awareness, critical evaluation skills, as well as their ability to effectively communicate their research findings to both an academic and practitione r audience. These module aims are designed to meet the needs of Stage 1 of the BPS Qualification in Occupational Psychology.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Students will be able to conceptualise, design and execute an independent research project investigating an organisational problem from the perspective of organisational psychology.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically evaluate an organisational problem and develop a set of practical recommendations for managers and organisations.

(LO3) Students will be able to make informed decisions regarding appropriate research design, strategy and methodology.

(LO4) Students will be able to appropriately conduct data collection and data analysis, using appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative techniques.

(LO5) Students will have developed a critical understanding of the strengths and limitations of the dissertation and will have identified theoretical and/or practical contributions and future research opportunities.

(S1) Problem solving. Research projects must address a specific organisational problem and apply an appropriate research strategy, design and methodology to address this problem in order to derive clear evidence-based solutions.

(S2) Communication skills. Students will be required to present a coherent and rigorous piece of research which stipulates clear aims, objectives and findings. They will also be expected to clearly communicate the results of their research to an academic audience, as well as derive a set of focused practical recommendations for managers and organisations.

(S3) Ethical awareness. Students will be required to understand and apply both the University of Liverpool Code of Research Ethics, as well as the BPS Code of Research Ethics to their research project, to ensure that all aspects of the research process adhere to such principles.

(S4) Organisation skills. Students will be working under strict deadlines to execute their research project, and will inevitability face challenges with data collection and data analysis that they will need to overcome.

(S5) Digital literacy. The final project will be presented as a significant electronic document comprising a maximum of 15,000 words. Students will, therefore, develop advanced IT and digital literacy skills to ensure that the dissertation is presented in a coherent, organised and professional manner. Students will also develop IT skills and digital literacy in relation to specific data analysis packages, such as SPSS and/or NVivo.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

1 hour drop-in x 2 weeks
Supervision x 6 hours
Self-directed learning x 592 hours

Students will be allocated with a dedicated supervisor for their dissertation during the ULMS880 Advanced Research Methods in Organisational Psychology module, who will provide on-going support throughout the entire dissertation process continuing into the ULMS883 dissertation in Organisational Psychology module. The module handbook will be designed to incorporate specific guidelines on supervisor and supervisee expectations regarding project supervision. For example, the handbook will include guidance on suggested meeting topics and typical number of meetings required over the duration of the dissertation. This will ensure a sufficient degree of consistency in the experience of the supervisory process across students.

Student supervision will be supported by a 2-hour structured session at the beginning of summer term to provide guidance on the structure and write-up of the disserta tion. Moreover, two 1-hour drop-in sessions will be held in the summer period, whereby the module leader will be available to provide support and guidance to students with any aspect of their project.

Students will use self-directed learning hours to plan, develop and undertake their independent research, under the guidance and direction of a supervisor. Students are expected to be proactive in organising supervisory meetings and will develop a dissertation plan at the beginning of the process, which will be shared with and agreed by the supervisor. The research plan will set out key milestones for each stage of the dissertation, such as developing the literature review, confirming the methodology, collecting and analysing data, and writing up drafts. Depending on individual need, students will typically hold between three to six supervisory meetings with their supervisor over the course of semester three, as well as keeping in regular contact via email and/or other forms of virt ual communication, such as MS Teams or Zoom.


Syllabus

 

This is a student-centred module in which students are expected to proactively manage their dissertation under the supervision of their allocated project supervisor. Through regular communication and meetings (initiated by the student), supervisors will provide guidance, advice and support in the development and management of the research process, including topic refinement, guidance on relevant literature, research design, support with data access (where necessary) and analysis and on-going formative feedback on the write-up of the dissertation. However, the onus is ultimately on the student to define their own research topic and objectives, collect primary or secondary data (as required), conduct analysis and write up their dissertation. In the early stages of the module, supervisors are encouraged to hold small group meetings with their students to encourage the exchange of knowledge and sharing of learning and ideas.


Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.