SED7176 - Philosophical Dissertation

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Implement research plans to effectively conduct and manage a piece of philosophical/theoretical research relevant to an educational context;
Identify, precis and synthesise relevant key literature to inform the philosophical/theoretical research on an educational issue;
Define and employ appropriate approaches to conducting a philosophical/theoretical investigation;
Interpret and critically analyse research sources, to draw justified conclusions to inform educational policy and/or practice;
Critically evaluate and judge the outcomes of own research in order to report on the philosophical investigation in ways that demonstrate the impact of the research on professional practice.

Content:

Students will conduct an appropriate, feasible philosophical piece of research at this level on a subject agreed with the Specialist Supervisor. These may focus on one of the following areas:
- Questions of conceptual clarification;
- Questions of justification and value;
- Questions concerning the nature of knowledge;
- Questions concerning social justice;
- Analyses of policy/practice which examine the significance of particular thinkers/philosophers.

Three structured seminars will be delivered to facilitate students' progress through the dissertation. These will focus on: (i) getting started on, and managing the project, and working independently with the guidance of the Specialist Supervisor; (ii) using a range of appropriate sources to develop logical and clear arguments; (iii) writing and presenting philosophical research. Students are entitled to specialist input from their Specialist Supervisor throughout the dissertation in addition to the group seminar sessions.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Students will work more autonomously in this module, but will be supported through the 3 structured seminars detailed above, as well as through the supervision process with their allocated supervisor. Students will draw on the skills and knowledge they have gained through the programme, and, through individual study, supervisory meetings and structured seminars. They will be encouraged to engage with, and make use of: professional networks; critical reflections; discussions; online forums; supervision meetings. Students will be encouraged to attend the monthly seminars of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain (PESGB) as enrichment. Students will be able to access activities, resources, support and supervision through Moodle, and will be expected to draw on their own professional experience, relevant scholarship, research and their own emerging arguments in order to contribute to supervisory and group seminar activities.

Scheduled teaching and learning: Individual supervision
Hours: 6
Intended Group size: 1

Scheduled teaching and learning: Group seminars
Hours: 15
Intended group size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 579

Further details relating to assessment

Is this module exempt from condonement of marginal failure? Yes

Students on this module will be engaging in philosophical research. As no empirical data will be collected, and no human participants involved, students will not be required to submit an application for ethical approval. They will, however, complete the Leeds Trinity Research Ethics Self-Assessment Form to as a way of checking that an application for ethical clearance is not required.
Students are provided with a set of writing guidelines to support the structure of the assessed dissertation.

Assessment:

001 Philosophical Dissertation; 12,000 words; end of semester 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Charlotte Wright
Level - 7
Credit Value - 60
Pre-Requisites - 120 CREDITS FROM PHASE 1 AND 2
Semester(s) Offered - 7PGS1S7PGS2

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