University Northampton College

CSYMO23 Dissertation

The University of Northampton

School of Applied Sciences

MSc Internet Computing

Module CSYM023

2008-2009

SJT Page 1 06/04/2018 CSYMO23 Dissertation

SCHOOL Applied Sciences FIELD Computer Systems MODULE TITLE Computing Dissertation

Module Code Level Credit Value Leader CSYM023 M 60 CATS Dr Scott Turner

1. Scheme of Work (initial teaching period)

Week Morning Afternoon

Taught 1: Looking at the question and research styles 1 Taught: Introduction and asking the Class-based Activity: Mini Wb questions Project

3/6/2010 Class-based Activity: Mini project – External speaker slot Semantic Web

External: External:  Meet potential supervisors  Meet potential  Refine your research question supervisors

 literature Search for mini  Refine your research project question

 literature Search for mini project

Taught 1: External Speaker: Helena West

Taught: Literature Review and Taught 2 : Literature Review 2 referencing and referencing Class-based Activity: Refine your WB Class-based Activity: Refining proposal your proposal 10/6/2010 External: External: Meet potential supervisors   Meet potential supervisors  Refine your research question  Refine your research  literature Search for final question project  literature Search for final project

Hand in a signed subject/supervisor

3 Taught: Collecting Data

WB Class-based Activity: Refine Taught: Keeping Records your proposal 17/6/2010 Class-based Activity: Refine your External speaker slot proposal

External: External:  Meet potential supervisors  Meet potential  Refine your research question supervisors

 literature Search for final  Refine your research project question

 Refine proposal  literature Search for final project

 Refine proposal

4 Independent student centred work Taught 1: Ethics and Social Responsibility WB  Meet potential supervisors Class-based Activity: 24/6/2010  Refine your research question  Refine your proposal  literature Search for final project  Data Exercise

 Refine proposal including a Taught 2: Data Interpretation plan Class-based Activity: presenting data

External speaker slot

External:

 Meet potential supervisors

 Refine your research question

 literature Search for final project

 Refine proposal

 Consider the data needs of the dissertation

1 See Appendix I

 Consider the social, ethical issues

5 Taught 1: Presentation of data Independent student centred work and material. WB  Meet potential supervisors Taught 2: Your own voice. 1/7/2010  Refine your research question Class-based Activity: Refine  literature Search for final your proposal project External:  Refine proposal including a  Meet potential plan supervisors  Consider the data needs of  Refine your research the dissertation question  Consider the social, ethical  literature Search for issues final project  Consider all the resource  Refine proposal needs. including a plan

6 Hand in your proposal WB Presentations Prepare your presentation 8/7/2010

After the proposal has been submitted you are expected to work on the dissertation as if the proposal had been accepted.

DO NOT wait until you get the proposal back before starting work on the dissertation.

2. The assessment deliverables and weightings

 This is a 60 credit module which comes at the end of your Masters course.

 The assessment is broken down into two parts:

(a) the proposal and presentation = 15% (b) the written dissertation, any end-products and "viva voce" examination = 85%.

3. The process step by step

 The module begins with a series of lectures/tutorials which help you to understand the difference between a Masters level and undergraduate level dissertation.

 As early as possible you must select a topic. Each computing tutor will outline suitable topics; you may choose one of those. Alternatively, you may choose your own topic. In either case, you must also approach a tutor requesting them to be your dissertation supervisor.

 You should discuss your chosen topic with your supervisor in order to ascertain exactly the nature of your dissertation. You should both sign a "Dissertation subject/supervisor form" (see Appendix I) and hand it in to the Module Leader.

 After a few weeks you must hand in a written proposal for your dissertation. Details of how to write your proposal will be given in the early lectures/tutorials.

 Your proposal should include a week by week plan for your dissertation; for example, in the form of a Gantt chart (there's an example on Nile).

 You should approach the librarian for help regarding the literature review aspect of your proposal and later on the dissertation. You should request an Athens username/password for accessing bibliographies and Journal papers if working outside the university campus.

 You are also required to make an informal presentation of your proposal.

 Your proposal will be marked by the module leader and moderated by your supervisor.

 You will need to discuss with your dissertation supervisor how to contact them over the summer break. It is vital that you progress with the work week by week. It is your responsibility to manage your work including any meetings with your supervisor. You should keep a log of your progress and meetings.

 You may opt to present your work in September or in the following January. Should you wish to submit your work in January you must notify the Course Leader 2 in writing before the end of August.

 At the end of the Module you must submit for marking the following items:

(a) two paper copies of your dissertation, (b) one electronic copy of your dissertation, (c) one electronic copy of any software developed as part of your dissertation.

The paper copies should be bound as described in the early lectures/tutorials.

 Finally you must attend a "viva voce" examination. This will last around 45 minutes and usually consists of three parts: where you explain your work, demonstrate anything you have developed e.g. software, and answer a few questions on your work. The audience will consist of your supervisor, a second designated marker, and any other tutors interested in your work.

 The dissertation is independently marked by your supervisor and the second designated marker. They then meet to agree a grade.

4. M-related dissertations

 Your dissertation topic should be chosen very carefully. It should be relevant to the subjects you have studied or pertinent to the wider topic of Internet computing. It must have an element of research.

 Your dissertation may involve you: (a) attempting to prove some hypothesis or (b) attempting to solve a problem. It may not be merely a study of what others have done. It needs to have an element of your new work.

2 Peter Leadbetter

 Because of the nature of your Masters degree, you will invariably develop some end products (e.g. software) as integral parts of your dissertation. Anything developed must have elements of specification, design, implementation, testing and evaluation.

 Please see Appendix II which shows information given to tutors when they select appropriate topics.

5. The role of your supervisor

Your supervisor's responsibility is to:

 advise you on the topic of your dissertation and on available resources,  advise you on risk assessment if appropriate,  discuss with you the progress of your work,  offer guidance on the structure and presentation of your dissertation,  offer you feedback on various sections of your dissertation,  advise you on research methodology,  advise you on the design, implementation, testing and evaluation of any "end product",  advise you on referencing and plagiarism,  ensure that any external communication you wish to make concerning your dissertation is appropriate and carried out professionally,  assist you in identifying problems,  maintain regular supervisory contact with you,  advise you on ethical practice within your work where appropriate,

Your supervisor will not:

 micro-manage your work;  feedback on a full draft of your dissertation before you submit it;  contact you if you fail to attend supervisory sessions;  provide advice on information sources

Your responsibility as a dissertation student is to:

 agree a schedule of meetings, ensuring that the agreed schedule is adhered to and that deadlines are met;  use this supervisory time allocated effectively;  keep any appointments made;  maintain a record of the supervisory meetings;  manage the interaction with your supervisor;  agree to act responsibly and professionally.

You should recognise that feedback will be specific to your work and relevant to the stage at which you are. Supportive comments do not necessarily indicate high performance nor is constructive criticism necessarily indicative of low performance.

6. The proposal structure

Please see Appendix III for an example structure of a typical MSc Internet Computing dissertation proposal. You will need to discuss exactly what your proposal will contain with your supervisor and module leader.

Please note that material included in your proposal may be re-used within your dissertation. However, it is important to note that your proposal has details of "what you propose to do", and of course, "why you propose to do it in a particular way". While your written dissertation has details of what you did.

7. Style of writing

This will be discussed during the Introductory lectures

8. Citing sources

You must use the Harvard standard when referencing others' work. Please see the document Harvard.doc on Nile.

You might also find it useful to try the on-line Referencing tutorial: http://library.northampton.ac.uk/liberation/ref/

9. Further information

You should also consult the general Master courses student guide: http://www2.northampton.ac.uk/portal/page/portal/TAP/TaughtProgrammes/P GMSHomePage

10.Research Methods Resource

http://www.computing.northampton.ac.uk/~scott/csym023/Research Methods.pdf

11.Appendix I

MSc Internet Computing

CSYM023 Dissertation

Dissertation Subject/Supervisor Form

Student Name: ______

Student Id: ______

Dissertation title or brief description

______

Student's statement

I have chosen a dissertation topic and discussed this with my dissertation supervisor. I understand how to contact my dissertation over the summer period.

Signature: ______Date: ______

Supervisor's statement

I agree to supervise this student.

Name: ______

Signature: ______Date: ______

Appendix II

MSc Internet Computing CSYMO23 Dissertation - choosing a topic and the “M-level” element A few thoughts.

1) The MSc dissertation consists of: a) an interesting, knowledge-oriented, domain-related goal (perhaps in the form of something to prove, or to solve); b) a consideration of possible paths to reach the goal leading to a chosen path and rationale for the choice (i.e. a chosen research method with reasons for the choice); c) a designed set of steps along the path (i.e. a designed and appropriately applied research method) d) invariably some things created along the path (each being specified, appropriately specified, designed, implemented, tested and evaluated) e) various written discussions: i) How does your work relate to that of others? (Literature Review) ii) What’s the theory which underpins your work? (Possibly new ideas) iii) What technology, standards, methods etc are you relying on? iv) What have you proved? i.e. how far does your work satisfy the goal (research result) v) Was it the right way to work? Evaluate your method etc. vi) Could someone carry on now from your work? What should be done? (Future work).

2) However, because of the nature of the particular MSc (Internet Computing) there are other considerations when selecting a topic. For example: a) What are the technical (e.g. programming skills) which the student has already acquired? b) What additional technical skills and experience does the student wish to acquire? c) What are the interests of the supervisor?

3) What has often proved successful is to either: a) underpin a development project oriented idea with research questions or b) evolve an interest or vague question towards research questions which may optionally have a technical development aspect.

Appendix III

Example dissertation proposal structure

1. Introduction

What is the problem that you are trying to solve?

Can you justify that it is worthwhile?

2. Background

Do others consider it to be an important problem?

Have they solved it?

What is the underpinning technology?

3. Professional, social, economic and legal issues

What are the social, legal or economic implications of your work?

What are the professional guidelines you intend to follow?

4. Aims and objectives

What are you going to do?

Are there perhaps different ways of solving it?

Which way are you choosing?

5. Method

How will you identify the exact problem to be solved?

How will you design your end-product?

How will you build your end-product?

Using what?

How will you test the end-product?

6. Progress

What have you completed so far?

Have you come across difficult problems which must be solved?

7. Plan and Resources

What resources do you need?

Plan of how the project is to be completed.

8. References

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