Department of
Science and Technology Studies
HPSCGA99
Research Project
Syllabus
Session
2013-14
Web site
<www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/study_msc/dissertations>
Moodle site
<moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=17145> or search=HPSCGA99
Timetable
Term 3: www.ucl.ac.uk/timetable
Summer: fortnightly meetings with supervisor are expected as a minimum
Credits
90 credits
Description
The Master’s degree culminates in a research project of the student’s own design, and this
project is documented by a research report or a dissertation. The student's work is guided by
an academic supervisor. It also is supported by a variety of key skill programmes. Students are
expected to construct a research project that includes original research, clear methodological
choices, and relevance to significant conversations within the discipline. The dissertation is the
capstone of the Master’s programme. It should represent the very best research and analysis a
student can produce. This is a 90 credit module.
Key Information
Assessment
85%
15,000 word (max) dissertation
Assessment
15%
3,000 word (max) project proposal
Prerequisites
complete HPSCGA01
Required texts
none
HPSCGA99 Research Project
2013-14 syllabus
Module tutors
Module tutor
Dr Andrew Gregory
Contact
andrew.gregory@ucl.ac.uk | t: 020 7679
Web
www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/gregory
Office location
22 Gordon Square, Room 1.3
Office hours:
by appointment
Aims and objectives
aims
To produce a 15,000 word dissertation, to introduce the students to research methods and give
them some experience in a substantial research project.
objectives
By the end of this module students should be able to:


produce substantial written scholarship, with an original contribution to knowledge or a
substantial synthesis of existing research
demonstrate an ability to plan and execute a substantial research project
Module plan
Step 0: Advice session
The dissertation coordinator will organize an advice session during Term 2. Students are
strongly encouraged to discuss possible topics with potential supervisors throughout Terms 1
and 2.
Step 1: register topic and supervisor
The first formal step in the project is to complete “Register topic and supervisor”. This form is
available on the Moodle site. This is due on the second day of Term 3.
The purpose of this form is to confirm supervisory arrangement for the dissertation. A signature
commits the supervisor to their role. We use this form to remove ambiguity over who has agreed
to serve in this role. The title is meant to be provisional, and it is understood it may vary over the
course of the project. Students who do not submit a completed registration form within two
weeks of the deadline will be assigned a supervisor and may be assigned a project.
Supervisors
A supervisor is required. They must be a member of STS academic staff. This is required to
ensure comparability and clarity about the scale of the project. The main responsibilities of the
supervisor is to assist the student with project management and to advise the student on criteria
2
HPSCGA99 Research Project
2013-14 syllabus
for assessment. We do not make formal assignments of co- or joint-supervisors. Students are
encouraged to consult others in the course of their project, within STS and elsewhere; however,
that assistance is voluntary.
Step 2: project proposal
In Term 3, students write a 3,000-word project proposal. This is due on the last Monday of Term
3, at midnight 24:00 and uploaded through Moodle. This is assessed.
The purpose of this proposal is to refine key research questions, review existing scholarship,
identify substantial resources, and identify methodologies. Relevant ethics documentation
should be appended.
STS will aim to return assessments for the proposal within 2 weeks of submission, with
substantial comments to discuss with your supervisor.
The proposal should reflect a student’s best effort. At the same time, we recognize research
often raises new questions. Some slippage of topics and titles is natural. Students should keep
their supervisors up to date on these developments, and they can expect a reasonable degree
of adaptation.
research preparation workshops
In Term 3, STS will offer a series of workshops to assist with research preparation and project
proposals. Students are expected to attend at least half the sessions offered.
These are timetabled for Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-5 throughout Term 3. The subject schedule
will be posted after submission of “register” forms because we will adapt the programme to
maximize the impact for projects. Students are welcome to propose sessions to suit their needs;
discuss this with the dissertation coordinator. We cannot guarantee to satisfy all requests, but
we want to be responsive.
Step 3: dissertation or final report
The dissertation, or final report, is due on the first Friday in September, at midnight 24:00. It is
uploaded through the module’s Moodle page. To assist with project development, STS will
schedule a “work-in progress” conference.
work-in-progress presentations
In early July, students will be invited to deliver a work-in-progress (WIP) presentation. This is not
assessed. In our experience, this presentation is an important milestone in project development.
It’s a moment to collate results, seek ties to existing literature, and synthesize many pieces into
a working whole. It is also important, in relation to the job market and further education, to gain
experience at giving presentations of your research work
research process
Styles of research vary. Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to manage their time, their
research, and their use of the primary supervisor. STS has no standard expectation for how the
project should be undertaken. However, students are strongly advised to consult their supervisor
on a regular basis, ideally via fortnightly supervisions. Students should be frank about their
progress and needs. They should anticipate difficulties. They should pay close attention to time
management.
Supervisors may read drafts of dissertation material and draft sections; however, students need
to provide adequate time for this process. Do not assume your supervisor will be free to read
your thesis in the last days before it is due. Even if they can, they can offer little in the way of
constructive advice at so late a stage. Use your supervisor early in the process so they can use
their experience to help guide your research. Plan ahead. Of course, your supervisor is not the
3
HPSCGA99 Research Project
2013-14 syllabus
only person who may advise you on your writing: peers, friends, family, and other experts. In
general, other STS academic staff will not read your drafts, as they have other primary
commitments.
Schedule
Date
Topic
Activity
13 Jan 14
advice session
coordinator will discuss the module
29 Apr 14
“register” due
submit “Register topic and supervisor” by hand
or email attachment to dissertation coordinator
08 Jun 14
project
proposal due
upload through HPSCGA99 moodle
04 Jul14 (pm)
work-inprogress
presentations
optional opportunity to discuss your work-inprogress and to receive assistance from peers
05 Sep 14
Dissertation
due
upload through HPSCGA99 moodle
Assessment
summary
Description
Word limit
CW
dissertation or research report (85%)
15,000
CW
research proposal (15%)
3,000
supplemental notes
Maintain a research notebook: It is best practice to maintain a notebook to document ongoing
work within a research project. Students are advised to maintain such a notebook, whether
digital or paper, and to keep it up to date.
Protect yourself against loss of research material and writing: We cannot stress enough the
importance of maintaining a system for secure, redundant, up-to-date back-up of research
material and writing. Loss cannot be accepted as a reason for failing to meet a deadline. Storage
of materials on UCL’s ISD network is expected as a minimum, and other mechanisms – such as
cloud storage – are recommended. A copy of written notebooks can be stored by supervisors for
the duration of the project. Loss of project materials through accidents and theft have occurred in
the past; these have had devastating effects on the unprepared. All students are warned to
create redundancies to protect their project from similar calamities.
Extensions: Short-term extensions normally are not considered. This is a long-term research
project, and time management is a learning objective. Applications for extension are made to the
supervisor or dissertation coordinator in the first instance; to the PGT programme tutor in the
second instance. Extensions for the dissertation must be agreed with the Chair of the STS Board
of Exams.
Ethics: Students must follow UCL policy on research ethics, meaning all research involving
4
HPSCGA99 Research Project
2013-14 syllabus
humans must be subjected to review for ethical standards, data protection, and safety. STS
procedures are described here: <www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/ethics>. Documentation must be appended
to the dissertation, and may be included in the project proposal. A dissertation or project report
will receive a mark of zero if it is submitted without evidence of ethics review when humans are
involved as research subjects. Inversely, proper ethics review is accommodated in the criteria for
assessment and rewarded appropriately.
Word counts: Words counted towards the total word count include the main body of the work
and supporting footnotes or endnotes. The word count does not include: bibliography, front
matter (title page, keywords, abstract, table of contents, acknowledgments), appendix material,
supplemental data packages, tables, table and figure legends, or documentation of ethics
protocols or approvals. UCL standard policy on word counts will apply..
Re-using coursework from other modules: Text and ideas in the research proposal may
reappear in the dissertation if significantly developed or elaborated; however, UCL’s policy on
self-plagiarism prevents the same work from receiving credit twice. This means rote duplication
is not allowed. Students should work closely with their academic supervisors to ensure
compliance: better to ask than to guess.
Criteria for assessment
research proposal
Clear description and outline of the research proposal – clear description of the research
methodology – clear outline of the bibliography to be consulted – good sense of the
development of chapters – good idea of the research conclusion being aimed at.
dissertation
Clear and incisive descriptions. Coherent and original line of argument strongly supported by
detailed references to appropriate secondary and primary sources. Clear grasp of the broader
historiographical significance of the issues under discussion. Understanding of why the details
being discussed are significant. Appreciation of the degree of certainty/uncertainty with which
propositions may be advanced. Accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Full referencing,
including of sources of data.
A = 70+%
Essays and examination answers judged to be of distinction quality normally receive marks in
the range 70-85%. Only in very exceptional circumstances will work be awarded a mark greater
than 85% (judged to be of publishable quality).
The dissertation should represent either original work or a novel analysis of existing literature.
Use of primary sources is expected. A thorough and up-to-date knowledge of relevant
secondary literature also is expected.
B = 60-69%
Most, but not all of the above. Less mark of individuality and originality. Clear evidence that the
writer would be capable of sustained independent investigation if time and opportunity were
present.
5
HPSCGA99 Research Project
2013-14 syllabus
C = 50 59%
Clear evidence that an adequate amount of time has been spent in preparing the essay. Good
grasp of the basic issues. Marks may have been deducted for: limited range and depth of
reading; tendency to summarise the work of others rather than to synthesise the fruits of
research into a discernible thesis; failure to maintain a consistent narrative and/or argument
throughout essay; generalisations beyond the evidence offered; inadequate or inaccurate
referencing; poor grammar, punctuation and/or spelling.
F = Below 50%
Inadequate in understanding and argumentation. Marks are deducted for: incoherent arguments;
inaccurate facts or erroneous understanding of texts; unsupported personal opinions; poor
grammar, punctuation, or spelling; tortured writing style; inadequate or inaccurate referencing of
sources.
Important policy information
Details of college and departmental policies relating to modules and assessments can be found in the STS
Student Handbook www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/handbook
All students taking modules in the STS department are expected to read these policies.
6