An overview of the general requirements
As part of master’s degree courses students have the opportunity to conduct independent research and write it up as a dissertation. The aims of the dissertation are to:
Provide an opportunity to pursue an independent project in a public health/mental health/health-related area depending on the programme you are undertaking.
Allow you to apply the research methodologies, skills and knowledge acquired from taught modules to a substantive piece of work.
For the Masters of Public Health and Health Research the learning outcomes are:
Systematically plan and structure a public health project.
Select and apply appropriate research methodologies to design and conduct an independent piece of research including a systematic literature review or critical review of the literature.
Be able to formulate and refine research questions.
Demonstrate an ability to source relevant information related to their dissertation topic.
Critically appraise and interpret existing literature.
Organise and structure research findings.
Demonstrate the ability to communicate and present research.
Demonstrate the ability to present complex arguments and synthesise complex ideas.
Critically evaluate their own work.
Organise and manage workload effectively.
And for the MSc in Mental Health Research:
Critically examine the evidence base for mental health research and practice, using this analysis to formulate research questions.
Understand how to plan and structure an independent research project in the field of mental health.
Work independently with the support of supervisors to manage a challenging, complex and extended piece of work.
Critically appraise current evidence and literature, applying this knowledge to the chosen area of mental health research.
Demonstrate the ability to think through different methodological approaches, employing approaches relevant to the topic being researched.
Demonstrate synthesis in the interpretation of findings, drawing conclusions that add to the existing knowledge base.
Demonstrate the ability to organise time and workload effectively to complete the project.