ICE7036 - Major Study

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Implement research plans to effectively conduct and manage a major evaluation of existing research into a children, young people and families' workforce issue/theme/concept/debate;
Identify, precis and synthesise national and international research sources, scholarship, policy and practitioner evidence on the chosen educational issue/theme/concept/debate;
Define and employ appropriate approaches to conducting a major study into an children, young people and families' workforce issue/theme/concept/debate;
Interpret and critically analyse research sources, to draw justified conclusions to inform children, young people and families' workforce policy and/or practice;
Critically evaluate and judge the outcomes of own research in order to compose a systematic review that demonstrates the impact of the research on professional practice.

Content:

Students will conduct an appropriate, feasible major evaluation of research into a family support or educational issue/theme/concept/debate on a subject agreed with the Specialist Supervisor. These may focus on one of the following areas:

- National policy and practice with children, young people and families
- Practitioner development and continuing professional development for the children, young people and families' workforce;
- The provision of integrated support and education for children, young people and/or their families
- Issues relevant to child development, parenting and care
- International comparisons of children, young people and families practice and policy issues
- History of policy development for children, young people and families

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 a major study. Students are entitled to specialist input from their Specialist Supervisor throughout the major study 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 ICE and University seminars 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

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

Group and Individual Research Supervision:
Hours: 15
Intended Group size: 1-4

Guided independent study
Hours: 564

Further details relating to assessment
Students on this module will be engaging in literature-based 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 will be provided with a set of writing guidelines to support the structuring of the assessed dissertation.

Assessment:

001 Major Study 11000 words 12000 words 90%
002 Presentation 1000 words equivalent 10%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Sue Elmer
Level - 7
Credit Value - 60
Pre-Requisites -
Semester(s) Offered - 7T3

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