ADA600 Dissertation
Module Brief | 2024/25
Table of Contents
Overview 1
Aims 2
Learning Outcomes 2
Delivery 2
Working Process 4
Subject Matter 5
Initial Research 6
Submission Requirements 6
Relationship with Module Staff 7
Support for your writing 8
Further Support and University Services 9
Learning Development 9
International Students 9
Overview
This is 20-credit module provides the opportunity to choose and research a topic in depth, using both primary and secondary sources. You are encouraged to develop methodologies in researching, collating and synthesizing data and concepts in order to present your findings and arguments clearly and persuasively. There are three formats this may take:
1. ‘Standard Dissertation’: An essay of 6000 words (not including bibliography and footnotes), on a topic negotiated with your tutor.
2. ‘Situated Practice’: Portfolio Refinement of 3-5 of your own existing projects, together with before/after documentation and 4000 words that contextualise, analyse and critique the work and refinements.
3. ‘Critical Practice’: A new Research and Development Project involving 2-3 original test pieces (e.g. code, 3D models, sound design) and with 3000 words contextualizing, analysing and critiquing these. It’s best to try to align this research with your plans for Final Project.
Whichever of these outcomes you choose to take, your work should focus on a topic closely related to the discipline in which you work: for example, games, interaction, web, etc. All outcomes require desk research, identification of relevant methods, and clear analysis and critique. You are encouraged to use images, diagrams, statistics and appendices where appropriate – and even conduct interviews, focus groups or questionnaires. However, if your project includes participants in this way, you will need to complete an ethics form. (available on the ADA600 DLE).
Module Aims
• To conduct an extended enquiry into a chosen topic
• To consult and make use of a representative range of texts and other appropriate sources using proper and appropriate research techniques
• To analyse and interpret bodies of knowledge
• To present findings clearly and in accordance with established research techniques
• To articulate findings effectively
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the module students should be able to:
• Collect and record data, to explore and make connections between disparate materials, ideas and issues in order to interpret contemporary culture and technologies.
• Communicate these findings and ideas in a clearly articulated form. and in an appropriate linguistic style.
• Apply, refer and use, where appropriate, referencing and academic procedures.
• Select appropriate material and present in a sustained and coherent argument, interpreting materials imaginatively and speculatively.
Delivery
You will receive regular guidance in the form. individual tutorials including electronic communication and support. Tutorials are most useful when you provide examples of your research and writing, or come with specific questions in mind. Guidance may be sought on research methodologies, writing techniques and styles including referencing. The ideas, findings and conclusion of the research that you undertake will be of primary importance, but it must also be presented in a fully documented and scholarly fashion. A number of interim deadlines have been set, and if followed, you can expect feedback and support towards the completion of your work. Working on a dissertation is a recognised way in which you can develop essential skills for research and self-directed learning. In addition to the general aims (above), and rather than merely supporting technical and creative work, written work can be seen in itself as a technical and creative practice, as well as allowing for critical reflection on a student's practice and future aspirations.
In this way, the written style. and format is expected to reflect the chosen emphasis of your chosen degree award. For instance, a dissertation for a Bachelor of Arts will be expected to emphasise cultural over technical matters. A dissertation for the Bachelor of Science will be expected to emphasis technical over cultural issues. The distinction can be clarified in tutorials but dissertations for all programmes are expected to pay attention to the interaction of the cultural and technical aspects that underpin the programme as a whole. Most importantly the approach should be negotiated in close contact with the allocated tutor.
The whole process of producing the work should be planned out logically, with the aims and objectives of each section, statement or chapter clearly defined. In general terms, it should begin with an introduction that establishes the context of the research, and end with a conclusion that explains and assesses the nature of the findings. It should also contain an explanation of the research methodology employed, such as looking at particular texts or materials, and the reasons for its selection.
Written work is intended to reveal your abilities in developing ideas and in articulating clearly and effectively a coherent and progressive argument. In other words, it enables you to become more critical of your work and articulate yourself more clearly and effectively. These skills are both essential for the workplace as well as future research activity.
Please bear in mind that we are looking for an indication of your understanding of, and response to, the issues you are dealing with - not a collage of the arguments of others. Good practice in written work as part of the course will undoubtedly inform. all your other work and help your express yourself both verbally, in writing and through your practice.
Working Process
You will need to keep a record of your progress on this module. We would recommend the use of a research diary, in which ideas, progress and milestones can be recorded, it is a great aid to planning and collecting important ideas. Be careful to keep notes on all references from the beginning of the research process as otherwise this can be a painstaking activity at a later date. A process of ‘interactive reading’ is highly recommended, there is little point reading a text if you are not going to take notes on it. If you are using your own books or printouts, or digital texts, underline or annotate the text with your comments or ideas as you go. Then when finished you can copy out key quotes with page numbers, key ideas etc. to a notes file that will allow you to organise and write without looking back through the text. Make sure that your notes are clear, and that you differentiate clearly between the thoughts and words of the author that you are reading and your own, to avoid problems with plagiarism. It is also good practice not to make notes until you have read the whole of a chapter or paper, as doing so during the process often results in laboriously overlong notes, and broken up and distracted reading time, when a much quicker overview can be arrived at if you have considered the text with your full attention, and just marked up the text simply to show where you should return to as you put your notes on paper.
Importantly, you cannot write if you have nothing to write about, and so the early stages of the process should be used to survey materials and make high quality notes that will then support you in writing. As such, we have put in place several milestones to assist in the research process. All milestones should be uploaded to the DLE via a series of eSubmission points. The milestones are:
• 3pm on Friday 04/10/2024 - Initial Proposal. Submit to DLE 'Feedback' tool.
• 3pm on Friday 18/10/2024 - Notes & Quotes
• 3pm on Friday 01/11/2024 - Chapter Outline / Project Structure
• 3pm on Friday 15/11/2024 - Draft Chapter
• 3pm on Friday 06/12/2024 - Full Draft
• 3pm on Friday 10/01/2025 - Final Submission
Subject Matter
In selecting a topic, begin with some general ideas, interests and ambitions – don’t worry too much about whether you’ve identified the “perfect” question. As you find out more about the area, and start analysing it, viable questions or areas of research will become more clearly focused.
A submission shouldn’t be a collection of everything you have found out about a topic but should develop a point of view and argument (and not merely the assertion of prejudice or dogma) leading to a conclusion and evaluation in a broader context. Ideas may reflect something previously encountered on the course, the work of a particular practitioner or group, cultural theorist or theory, a contemporary cultural or media debate, and so on. It is also possible to investigate technical issues but only if this is supported by appropriate theoretical debate. Once an initial investigation of a topic has been conducted, important issues and debates should be identified towards more precise aims, focus and point of view. Your aims should outline what it is that your dissertation seeks to establish and argue.
It’s essential that the dissertation carries an argument that is based on thorough research and analysis, such that all opinions are substantiated (established as valid with evidence). In this way, an argument needs to be based on previous research, with other people's ideas becoming the basis for the development of subsequent ideas. You can only begin to develop a sense of what you think and an argument by informing yourself about the field you think you are interested in. Make sure you are knowledgeable about your area of research before you develop your own opinions.
Check out key web sites and mail lists, go and see exhibitions/events and of course, use the library resources (Wikipedia may be useful but has its limitations)!
Initial Research
Students are required to register the provisional title of their dissertation, together with a brief synopsis (overview) of content, aims and method in the first month of the module (see schedule). This synopsis should contain a clear account of the aims of the research project, what you wish to investigate, how you will go about this, and what you think you wish to argue. It should not be less than 300 words and should indicate a preliminary set of reference materials.
Once a topic has been chosen, you will need to undertake a literature search in the library and by using online resources. This will include references to journals as well as books – and not merely rely on the internet. The Library Research Skills session will help you with this and introduce resources such as databases and journal. Your reading should also help to demonstrate methods of analysis that you can then apply to make sense of that information, and equip you with contextual information (e.g., social, cultural, economic, political, historical, geographical, scientific, technological, etc.) that will help you to understand and evaluate the significance of that information. If you need to conduct an interview, make sure you are fully prepared with good questions and background reading to get the most from any opportunity.
Submission Requirements
The correct word count (6000 for Standard, 4000 for Situated Practice, and 3000 for Critical Practice) excluding bibliography and appendices. The font should be 12pt, sanserif and legible. It should be word-processed, one-and-a-half line-spaced (1.5).
The deadline for the ADA600 Dissertation module is 3pm on Thursday 10/01/2025.
If you're submitting either a Situated- or Critical- Practice project (i.e. a submission that includes a practical element), please make sure:
1. That the written submission contains a clearly signposted hyperlink to a Onedrive folder that contains the practical work
2. That the Onedrive folder sharing permissions are set to: "This link works for People in the University of Plymouth" (this will allow external examiners to access the work later)
3. That the folder itself is clearly organised, using sensible filenames and folder names if necessary (for example "CaseStudy1") that are referenced in the Dissertation so that the reader/marking tutor can easily navigate the practical submission
4. That you do not update (either add or change) any items in the folder after the submission deadline, as this will invalidate the submission.
The ideas, findings and conclusion of the dissertation are of primary importance, but it must also be presented in a fully documented and scholarly fashion. A significantly poor standard of spelling, grammar and punctuation will be penalised.
Quotations and citations should be correctly formatted using the Harvard style.
Dissertations are to be submitted via Turnitin to scan for plagiarism. Any evidence of contract cheating, or plagiarism could result in failure of the module, failure of the year or the whole degree. Therefore, it is vital that you clearly indicate the source any ideas, text and quotations that are not your own.
Relationship with Module Staff
You are to arrange your tutorials directly with your assigned supervisor via their university email address. It is advised you arrange these following your submission of each milestone. You can also email your advisor to ask for further advice, and they may be able to find a time to meet you. It is imperative that you respond to meeting requests and remember to attend: your advisors have other teaching, research and administrative responsibilities which may limit their ability to reschedule appointments once opportunities are missed. It is your responsibility to agree tutorial times with your supervisor, for which you should be well prepared, although other inputs and deadlines will be set and must be met. Students are also expected to organise peer group meetings to support progress. It is vitally important that you meet all deadlines.
The role and responsibility of staff is to read draft sections of the work in progress, and comment on methods of argument and of interpretation of sources and texts, and on the style. of presentation and format. Overall responsibility for the supervision of written work will be taken by your advisor, but you are also expected to seek advice from other supervisors (especially those working with you on the Project). This will help ensure the productive relationship to the Project module, and to their mutually supportive development.
If you have any concerns or issues regarding supervision, they should be directed in the first instance to Andrew Prior as module leader, or your program leader [as appropriate].
Support for your writing
Writing is best developed slowly and carefully and clearly not left until the last minute. One of the main reasons for poor performance in written work is that the student fails to seek advice and don’t give themselves sufficient and regular enough time to develop their work. It is the student's responsibility to seek help and organise tutorials with the supervisor. Students must turn up for tutorials promptly and well-prepared. Writing takes time, and the more you do it the better you become.
To make the best use of our resources, the module interim deadlines have been set—and must be kept—to ensure progression towards successful completion of the work. PLEASE KEEP TO THESE DATES – even if you are having problems maintaining contact with your tutors.
It is really very helpful to submit something at each of the milestones, even if you feel it is not sufficiently well-developed or you feel confused or lacking in confidence. It is only through this process and mutual support that we can realistically help.
If you are having problems of any kind, contact your supervisor first and then module leader if necessary, in the early stages of the problem - DO NOT LEAVE IT AND DO KEEP IN CONTACT - ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Further Support and University Services
Art and Media Library Subject Guides and Subject Librarian.
Our subject library guide can be found here, lots of information on referencing, endnote and using databases and other library systems.
https://plymouth.libguides.com/ada
Learning Development
Learning Development offer tutorials, drop-ins and workshops to help you develop your writing, critical thinking and research skills. These resources are available for all students.
For more information see their website: https://liveplymouthac.sharepoint.com/sites/x77
You can also get sections of writing reviewed in the Writing Cafe: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/services/the-writing-cafe
International Students
The English Language Centre provides tutorial support for international students to help with their assignments. Details can be found on the intranet here under “English Language Help”. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/business-partners/partnerships/academic-partnerships/international-students-study-guide