Dissertation Handbook May 2015

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Coventry Business School

Masters Dissertation Guidelines

M11BSS

2015-16

Dr. Gerry Urwin

Updated by Danielle Talbot 2015

Contents

1. Introduction        

2. Our Expectations        

2.1 Dissertations are Professional Documents        

2.2 The Individual Nature of a Masters Project        

3. You and Your Project Supervisor        

4. Dissertation Format        

Front Pages        

Abstract/ Executive Summary        

Background and Objectives        

Critical Review of the Academic Literature        

Methodology/ Research Plan        

Data Collection and Analysis        

Conclusions        

Recommendations        

List of References        

5. Research Ethics        

Plagiarism        

6. Confidentiality        

7. Submitting Your Dissertation        

8. Assessment        

9. Who Will Mark Your Dissertation?        

10. Recommended Text        

Appendix A.        Example Log of Contact with Project Supervisor        

Appendix B.        Inside Front Page        

Appendix C. _                

1. Introduction

The MSc International Business Dissertation is the culmination of your course and is intended to be a research based practical application of your studies to date, particularly the research skills developed in the M11BSS Research Methods workshops. If you have any queries such as “how can I choose a focused research topic?”, “how do I critically review and evaluate the relevant academic literature?”, “which are the most appropriate research methods to use?”, or “how should I apply for ethical approval?” you should refer to the relevant section of the M11BSS Research Methods module for guidance.

These guidelines are intended to inform you of:

• What is expected of you

• Support from your supervisor

• The dissertation format

• Research ethics

• Confidentiality

• Dissertation length

• Submitting your dissertation

• Assessment

• Marking

These guidelines tend to use the terms “project” and “dissertation” interchangeably. This reflects common usage although strictly the dissertation is the written document that is based on the research whilst the project is the task of carrying out the research.

2. Expectations

2.1 Dissertations are Professional Documents

It is important to you, and us, that your final project report looks the part and is presented in a professional manner. The following requirements must be adhered to in the format of the final dissertation.  

1. The dissertation should be around 12,000 words in length. References and appendices are not included in the word count. Dissertations exceeding the maximum word count of 13,200 words will be penalised by 10%.

1. The dissertation should be submitted for assessment electronically via Turnitin.

Students who wish to have a hard bound copy produced as a memento for themselves or for their family may still do so, but this must not be submitted.

1. The font should be Arial and the minimum font size for the body of the text 12 point. One-and-a-half spacing must be used.

1. Pages should be numbered consecutively through the main text, including photographs and/or diagrams which are included as whole pages.

1. The title page should give the following information

(i)        The full title of the dissertation

(ii)        The full name of the author

(iii)        The legend “A project submitted in partial fulfilment of the