Indicative module content

• Research processes and design including collaborative arrangements and ethical and legal issues; Research planning and resource constraints
• Literature and resource searches
• Data collection and processing
• Interpretation of findings, drawing conclusions, potential extensions to research
• Presentation skills including writing abstracts, synthesis of research, development of the skills of critique.

To provide students with the opportunity to design and conduct a substantial piece of independent, supervised comparative research and to reflect critically on their findings with respect to two or more cultural contexts for outdoor studies.

On successful completion, the students will be able to:

• write a logically structured and appropriately presented dissertation, conforming to current professional standards and requirements in research communication
• document relevant background literature
• use, interpret, evaluate and present research findings in a clear and concise manner
• reflect critically on your methodology and findings, and relate your work to current practice.

Once the students have decided the topic of their thesis and with which university their dissertation proposal is directed, the students will be allocated a supervisor. The students will then present a draft proposal for their dissertation idea to the chosen supervisor for approval. Each student will then work with his or her supervisor to progress his or her research within a negotiated framework which will include feedback and support.  Whilst this carefully managed tutorial support will be available throughout the dissertation, it is likely to be concentrated at the design and writing up stages. As a guide, students are allocated thirty five hours each of tutorial time. The dissertation necessarily will comprise much independent learning but there will be opportunities for group sessions and individual tutorials. Students will also have access to the School?s lecture programme, research seminars and the Graduate School?s workshops designed to support research students.

The dissertation must be a comparative study of two or more cultural contexts for outdoor studies such as two or more nations, landscapes, activities, historical periods, social contexts such as gender, ethnicity or class, etc. It can be based on empirical research or on a philosophical enquiry (sometimes referred to as a ?desk study?).  Alternative acceptable formats need to be discussed and agreed with the Dissertation Supervisor but may include a journal article suitable for submission to a refereed academic journal with an associated paper detailing the methodological and theoretical groundwork on which the article is based, an exposition or media production with an associated paper justifying the production, addressing theoretical issues and placing the production in a wider framework or a business plan with a supporting paper detailing the associated methodology and its justification and application.

A successful dissertation will:

• identify and define the comparative contexts for the study;
• justify its theoretical significance, professional relevance and practical feasibility relative to an area of enquiry in outdoor and experiential learning or development training;
• reflect critically on relevant literature and other scholarly evidence with specific reference to the research design, question and process;
• capture and analyse evidence, justifying the methods used with ethical considerations, and appraise the validity, reliability and rigour of this evidence;
• provide a comprehensive discussion of the results, including interpretation relative to the literature and professional practice;
• draw conclusions that develop from the results and discussion in a clear and logical manner and ensure that these articulate with the introduction;
• examine critically the contribution and limitations of the research relevant to the theoretical framework and professional practice;
• be clearly presented and logically organised with appropriate academic conventions and be referenced appropriately and accurately using a standard, recognised system.

Criteria for a successful alternative presentation will be issued once the format has been approved, linked to the learning outcomes and parallel to those listed above for a traditional format dissertation.

The 30 ECTS credits master thesis should not exceed 60 pages. Page limit should be kept to within + or - 10%; 1 ½ line, Times New Roman as font, and 12 as point size; A4 as the page format; numbered pages; left and right margins should be 2 ½ inches (about 4 cm); top and bottom margins 1 ½ inches (about 3 cm); the front page should include the complete title of the thesis, name and surname of the student, name and surname of the supervisor and the host institution, and the academic year; a second page should include a 300-words abstract; a third page (plus any additional pages, as needed) should include a preface, and a detailed table of content. Requirements for Referencing: The students are required to use the APA System of referencing and citation. The students should refer to Cite them Right: The Essential Guide to Referencing and Plagiarism.

The thesis will be assessed based on NSSS regulations for the master thesis, and graded from A-F where E is the minimum passing grade. An oral defence will take place after the written thesis has been graded as passed. The final mark of the dissertation is based on the thesis itself and the oral defence. The oral examination includes a student presentation of the thesis (10-15 minutes) followed by a discussion of the thesis, altogether up to 1 hour.

8 BOOKS:
Adáer, H. J. & Mellenbergh, G. J. (1999). Research methodology in the life, behavioural and sciences. London: Sage.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA
** The book is also available online: Click here to download.
*** NB! To open this electronic book off campus, you must use the following VPN connection: Click here to download

Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. & Tight, M. (2006). How to research (4th ed.). Maidenhead: Mc Graw Hill.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA
** The book is also available online/electronic here: Click here to download.
*** NB! To open this electronic book off campus, you must use the following VPN connection: Click here to download

Higgins, R. (1996). Approaches to research: A handbook for those writing a dissertation. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA

Kvale, S. (1996). Interviews: An introduction to qualitative research interviewing. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA

Oliver, P. (2008). Writing your thesis (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, Calif.: Sage.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA
** The book is also available online/electronic here: Click here to download.
*** NB! To open this electronic book off campus, you must use the following VPN connection: Click here to download

Preece, R. (1994). Starting research: An introduction to academic research and dissertation writing. London: Pinter.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA

Van Manen, M. (1997). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy (2nd ed.). London: Althaus Press.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA

Walliman, N. S. R. (2011). Your research project: Designing and planning your work (3rd ed.) London: Sage.
* You will find the book in the Library, here: ORIA