Final Year Project: School of Performance and Cultural Industries
Programme Titles: Theatre & Performance, Managing Performance, Performance Design
Contact: Module Manager - Dr Joslin McKinney, j.e.mckinney@leeds.ac.uk
Module title: Independent Research Project (module replaces Dissertation module from 2014-15)
Number of credits: 40
Module Objectives: On completion of this module students should be able to:
Carry out independent research with tutorial support and guidance
Define the area of study and identify research questions
Select and deploy research method (s) appropriate to the study
Select from, critically analyse, and interrogate a comprehensive range of sources
Interpret and contextualise the main findings of the study in relation to that of established researchers and/or practitioners
Demonstrate the ability to synthesise subject knowledge and understanding and research with a personal position which shows depth and some originality
Present ideas coherently and cogently in writing observing academic conventions
Demonstrate the ability to manage their own learning over a sustained period of study
The module learning outcomes relate to the following level 3 outcomes for the above programmes:
understand and demonstrate coherent and detailed subject knowledge and professional competencies some of which will be informed by recent research/scholarship/practice in the field
demonstrate a conceptual understanding which enables the development and sustaining of an argument
work autonomously and engage in independent research within a structured environment
Research Methods Training: Students have some research methods included as part of two compulsory modules at L1 including searching for information and referencing. A compulsory 20 credit module at L2 - ‘Strategies for Research’ – addresses the ways in which knowledge is developed in the fields of performance and the cultural industries and asks students to develop a literature review and project proposal for a research project of their own. In the Independent
Research Project module itself, there are 3 lectures and 2 seminars that cover identifying a research project and developing proposal, working with your supervisor, rigour in research, academic conventions and writing style. The first lecture takes place in the second semester of L2.
Allocation of supervisors: Students submit a research proposal at the end of their second year; a small team of academic staff use the proposals to make recommendations about the best fit between students and supervisors based on staff research and expertise and on availability of staff
(agreed as part of School workload arrangements). We aim to have supervisors in place by the time final year teaching begins.
Supervision model: Students are supported through an inter-connected programme of lectures, seminars and tutorials alongside extensive resources and support via the VLE. This programme begins in the final term of L2:
L2 – summer term:

Resources for the module ( i.e. proposal proformas, guidance, example of previous proposals) the module are be available on-line. The introductory lecture (Lecture 1) addresses developing proposals for dissertation. In this period there will also be seminars or ‘surgeries’ for students to discuss their ideas with peers and receive preliminary advice from staff.
Students will be asked to make an initial proposal for their IRP by the end of term in Level 2. This proposal will be used to inform decisions about allocation of supervisors to students.
Student identifies topic and area of research into an aspect of performance and the cultural industries. The focus of individual study is determined through agreement between student and supervisor via a research proposal.
L3 - Semester 1:
Sept - Lecture 2 – Reviewing the research proposal process, focus on literature review, research methods and managing your supervisor.
Sept - Tutorial 1 - Verbal feedback on individual research proposals. Agree individual plan for interim submissions and remaining tutorials.
Oct - Seminar 1 – Discuss managing the research process in the initial stages and issues around refining research proposals.
Oct - Submit final proposal, tutor feedback and guidance provided via email.
End October - Tutorial 2 discussion of written feedback on proposal.
Nov - Lecture 3 - How will the IRP be assessed? What makes a good undergraduate research project?
Nov/Dec – Tutorial 3 – review of progress (annotated bibliography)
Dec/Jan - student submits 3,000 words to supervisor (focus to be agreed at tutorial 2)
L3 - Semester 2
Jan/Feb - Tutorial 4 – feedback on individual progress (includes written feedback on 3,000 words)
Jan - Seminar 2 - academic writing workshop (discussing extracts of past dissertations)
Feb/March - student submits draft of final submission
March - Tutorial 5 - feedback on draft submission
Final submission directly following Easter break.
Outcome: The final submission for the Independent Research Project will normally consist of a written thesis of 10,000-12,000 words, but it can also include an element of practice-led enquiry
(within allocated resources). In these cases an element of non-written documentation (e.g. edited video) may be included as part of the submission and the word count of the written element may be reduced (but must be no less than 7,000 words). N.B. The inclusion of practice-led methods must be agreed with the supervisor at the proposal stage. List of references, bibliographies and appendices are not included in the word count.

Assessment process: Regular formative feedback is provided, normally in October, December,
January and March. Summative assessment is on the final submission only. Each Dissertation is marked independently by the supervisor and another Dissertation supervisor using School feedback templates and School assessment criteria. Markers exchange grades and feedback comments and agree a final mark. A third marker is used where necessary, usually the Module Manager.