Title – A qualitative study which explores the effects on English Medium Instruction (EMI) teachers since the Lead Teacher role has been made redundant in state schools in the UAE’.
Research questions – What support networks are there following the identified changes. Please add 1 0r 2 more research questions based on the title.
Dissertation Instructions
Your report should demonstrate the following:
• knowledge and understanding of the theoretical position that underpins your study
• an ability to select, review and critically analyse relevant literature at an intra (within) and inter (between) text level that identifies the tensions, contradictions and synergies between key themes and issues
• a clear statement of, and rationale for, your research questions; this will include explaining how your research questions have emerged from your exploration of the literature and the aim and purpose of your investigation, as well as in the setting or context in which you are conducting (SSI) or positioning (EP) your investigation
• evidence of a developing ability to address research questions using a methodology and methods of investigation and analysis that are appropriate to your position and the scope, scale and context of the research
• a clear statement of findings from the research and a critical reflection on these findings, from either data collected (if following Option SSI) or from an extended review of the literature (if following Option EP). Your statement and critical reflection should be persuasively argued and supported with relevant citations and evidence from the data (SSI) or literature (EP)
• a discussion of the possible implications of your findings, either in the context of your own professional practice or a context you have identified as the focus of your research. This could include an outline of ideas for future investigatory work (Option SSI) or possibilities for enacting your research proposal (Option EP)
• a critical reflection on your own experience as a researcher, which should refer to what you have gained during your study
• Chapter 1 – Introduction – 600-100 words
• Chapter 2 – Review of the Literature – 2500-3000 words
• Chapter 3 – Research Design – 2500 – 3000 words
• Chapter 4 – Data Presentation & Analysis – 3000-4000 words
• Chapter 5 – Conclusions & Implications 1000 words
• Postscriipt Narrative Critical Reflection – 500 words
• References – not included in the word count
• Appendices – not included in the word count
Chapter 1 – Introduction 600-1000 words
You should include:
• a rationale for the investigation and why it is important
• how it relates not only to the module themes and literature, but also to your practice or a practice with which you are familiar
• the contextual details necessary for the reader to understand your work
Identify the paradigmatic position that informs your investigation.
Anonymise the context – should not identify the organization
Only include essential information
Chapter 2 – Review of the Literature – 2500-3000 words
Key aspects
• Avoid the temptation to include everything that you have read.
• Select from a larger corpus of the literature which is appropriate for your investigation.
• Try to refer to the ‘parent’ text – the text where the idea originated – rather than citing secondary sources.
• Show how each text relates to your research question(s).
• Structure of your review of the literature will depend on the nature of your investigation. You could decide for example to pursue three or four distinct themes
Your review must be critical. Show that you are reading a text in the light of your knowledge of a wider range of texts.
• You should show awareness of contesting accounts – not simply present texts which are complimentary to your investigation.
• At the end of the review give a clear statement about what you have learned relative to your research intentions and questions.
Chapter 3 – Research Design – Questionairres and interviews – 2500-3000 words
Key aspects
• Present the overall design frame (e.g. case study) research) and how this was informed by your paradigm position.
• Describe and justify the research methods used and discuss the research instruments (append them). • Explain the characteristics of your research participants (i.e. those you interviewed, observed, surveyed) and why these individuals were involved.
• Indicate contextual factors relevant to the planning or the data collection.
• Reflect on your methods and evaluate the research actions that you undertook when gathering data.
Chapter 4 – Data Presentation & Analysis Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke etc…– 3000-4000 words
Do not worry if the claims that you can make seem ‘small’.
• Discuss credibility, trustworthiness and confirmability (or validity, reliability and generalisability)
• All data necessary for a claim should be presented in the main text. Any figures and tables must be clearly labelled, and the source of all data given (e.g. Mahir, interview 1 (date); survey response no. 5 (date)).
• Your data presentation and analysis may be integrated into this chapter or you may decide to create a separate chapter (Chapter 5) for your data analysis
Ensure your interpretation and analysis addresses the research questions
• Discuss validity and reliability as appropriate to your study – they apply differently according to your paradigm position.
• Address explicitly all ethical questions regarding data collection
• Generalisability – not usually. But the methods you use might be useful to other researchers
Chapter 5 – Conclusions & Implications – 1000 words
If you decided to create a separate chapter for your data analysis, this chapter should be renumbered Chapter 6.
• This chapter: should ‘wrap up’ your investigation. Avoid merely repeating what you have written before or summarising the earlier chapters.
• Tell us what you have learned and relate this to your research questions and then to your practice.
• If possible, identify other data you think you will need to develop your practice or investigation further
Postscriipt Narrative Critical Reflection – 500 words
Reflect on the process of undertaking your dissertation
• Draw on your research journal, your learning journals from earlier in your masters study, tutor group feedback, TMA feedback from tutors and reflections in your PDP.
• Show insight into your own development.
• Select areas of your skills and knowledge that have developed during the module. Explain how these have changed.
• Choose one or two significant areas to focus on analysis of experience, rather than descriiption. Could be challenging things for you.
To support the 500 words of critical reflection in your dissertation -include in the appendices a brief summary of evidence of key targets/feedback and how you responded to them to shape your development as a researcher.
• You should refer to the appendices in the main body of your dissertation (e.g. Appendix 2, example 1). An example of an EMA reflection evidence grid is provided in Appendix 1 of the Assessment Guide
References – Not included in the word count
Harvard referencing
Appendices – not included in the word count
Keep to a minimum – only include documents that have been directly referenced in the text of your dissertation.
• Include copies of research information sheets (i.e. those you provided to participants), blank consent forms and research instruments (e.g. questionnaires, interview guides).
• Non public documents: ensure that you have the permission of the authors where possible and remember to anonymise all documents.
• Ask yourself, ‘Why am I including this material? Why do I want my reader to have it?’ Do not include anything that is not absolutely necessary.
• In terms of the appendices to support your reflections, you can present these in any format you choose.
