Social Work & Social Policy Dissertation Handbook

2015-16

PREAMBLE 1

COURSE COORDINATOR 1

THE RESEARCH PROJECT 2

Research Proposal 2

Field work or Research Activity 3Ethics Approval 3

Research Report 4

SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT 5

Supervision 5Responsibilities of Supervisors: 5Responsibilities of Students: 5

Peer Support 5

Library Support and Internet Access 6

THE MSW WITH DISSERTATION PROGRAMME 7

Entry to the MSW with Dissertation Programme 7

Dissertation Structure 7Year 1 Non-Standard Semester. September 7Year 1, Semester 2 7Year 2, Semester 1 7Year 2, Semester 2 7

Part-time Enrolment 8

The Research Project and Fieldwork 9

Learning Outcomes 9

SUBMITTING THE DISSERTATION 10

Due Date: 10

Format and Submission: 10

Presentation: 10

Referencing 10

Length: 10

Structure: 10

ASSESSMENT OF DISSERTATION 12

Assessment Criteria 12

Marking: 13

The Examiner’s Report: 13

Calculation of the Final MSW with Dissertation Grade 14

OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST 15

Postgraduate Research Seminars 15

Communicating Research Results 15

Dissertation Ownership and Rights of Veto 15

Confidentiality, Anonymity and Access to Dissertation 16

Achieving Research Satisfaction 16

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PreambleThis guide has been prepared in order to provide you with information about the MSW with Dissertation programme before you start. Additionally you may need to keep referring to it throughout your Dissertation study.

The MSW with Dissertation programme presents the opportunity to add a research-focussed aspect to the professional qualification. It enables a student to undertake a more detailed study on one specific feature of social work and/or social policy, with a view to learning research skills and demonstrating research competence. Its focus is to prepare students to contribute to the future development of social work and social policy through research that extends existing knowledge and through the critique and analysis of contemporary knowledge in ways likely to impact upon future thinking in this discipline area.

The MSW with Dissertation student is expected to be more independent than a MSW student and to some extent to set her/his learning agenda rather than having it set by a staff member. The student has to define the topic of research inquiry, design the method to be used, carry out the research and write up the dissertation. The student will have a staff supervisor, but the role of the supervisor is not to tell the student what to do; rather it is to help the student develop her/his own ideas and to provide some guidance to the student in designing, implementing and writing up the research. One function of the MSW with Dissertation programme is to prepare and assess students for upper postgraduate research work, so the student is expected to do more than simply respond to the requirements, requests or suggestions of the staff.

The Dissertation programme takes place during the two years of the MSW course of study.

Course CoordinatorThe course coordinator for the MSW with Dissertation programme in 2015-2016 is Susan Young who will be working with other staff to organise seminars and oversee the development of research projects. All staff as well as some external experts may be involved as supervisors of student research projects.

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The Research ProjectThe Research Project is an independent supervised study which is undertaken across one and a half years of the MSW Programme. It is research training which, on its successful conclusion, makes the student eligible for entry to Higher Degree by Research study. It also demonstrates to employers the student’s capacity for independent conceptual and practical research work. Finally it enables the student to pursue a topic of interest in more detail and depth than is afforded students undertaking the MSW.

The MSW with Dissertation research project does not need to be an ‘original contribution to knowledge’, as is the case with a Higher Degree by Research. Rather it may involve researching a specific practice issue, evaluating a programme or aspect of a programme, replicating research undertaken in another context, etc. MSW with Dissertation students are, however, expected to have basic understanding and competence across a range of research methods, as covered in the SWSP5602 Research Methods unit and research seminars.

The research project comprises three main activities: the proposal, fieldwork or research activity and the research report.

Research ProposalThe Research Proposal is the blue print for the research and states clearly what the research is about, why it is important to do and how it is going to be undertaken. This is the final assessment piece for the SWSP5602 unit and it is important that it adequately articulates the research to be carried out.

The Research Proposal must be submitted for review by the Dissertation Coordinator by the end of January. This is one of the assessment points at which students may be permitted to continue with their programme. The proposal should be discussed with and submitted to the student's supervisor prior to submission to the Dissertation Coordinator.

The proposal should be no more than five pages in length, and should normally contain the following:

1. Title2. Statement of the problem, issue or concern of the research. This would normally

include some brief background about how this question came about and a brief literature review.

3. Formulation of the research question (s) or hypothesis (es)4. Research design, perspectives and their justification5. Methods: what you propose to do and how, including possible

disadvantages/weaknesses6. Discussion of ethical issues posed by the research7. Resources required (e.g. funds, transport, printing/photocopying, computer,

meeting room, etc) and where they will be obtained. Please note that the Discipline of Social Work and Social Policy is unable to meet any expenses for MSW with Dissertation research.

8. Estimate of time required (e.g. a time line or schedule)

A university template for dissertation proposals, used by postgraduate research students may be found at http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/supervisors/forms#researchprop While this form is for Higher Degree by Research students it is useful as an indication of what is expected at postgraduate research level.

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Field Work or Research ActivityThis part of the research seeks to produce the answers to the research question(s) or meet the research objectives, which focus on a topic of interest or a problem or issue to be solved through rigorous systematic enquiry using well defined methods. This component is carrying out the research that has been described in the Research Proposal. It may include what is known as ‘Field Work’, which is usually undertaken in social settings and usually includes people as research participants. If researching directly with people then Ethics approvals are required.

Other research activities than field work may focus on other data sources such as previous research reports, literature or documents. “Research” does not necessarily equate to “statistics”. Sometimes an empirical study is appropriate, and sometimes this will require some statistical analysis. At other times a more exploratory approach is more appropriate, which requires very different techniques of data collection and analysis. As well as empirical research techniques (surveys, experimental designs, etc), other approaches which have been used by previous MSW with Dissertation students include analysis of data obtained from in-depth interviewing, focus groups, observational techniques, content analysis, historical research, case studies, ethnographic studies, collaborative research, etc. Very often mixed methods are used and these can be informed by different theoretical paradigms. The choice of method(s) is determined by the nature of the research question(s). All these processes are presented and discussed during the SWSP5602 Research Methods unit and research seminars before students commence writing their research proposal.

Ethics Approval

Before research involving Human Subjects can be undertaken the University Human Research Ethics Committee must approve all research. This includes any research involving interviews, questionnaires, observation, participant observation, etc.

A pro-forma for application for Human Ethics approval can be found at http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/forms_and_guidelines/human_ethics_forms

It is useful to access the UWA research website address for a general overview of research as well as for an overview of ethics. The NH&MRC guidelines are at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/e35syn.htm

Your allocated supervisor may well advise you to seek UWA Human Ethics approval from the outset and if this is the case, you need to get started on this as soon as possible as delays can be lengthy if the research is sensitive. It should also be noted that the agency in which the student wishes to do the research may also have processes which need to be followed to obtain approval to undertake the research. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain whether this is the case, and to follow the necessary procedures. Remember that this can be time-consuming, as you may have to wait for a committee to meet, and there may then be further delays if the committee requests further clarification. Some agencies have quite elaborate protocols to be followed.

It can take up to six weeks for approval to be gained from the University committee (longer if the committee has concerns or asks for further clarification). Prior to the application being forwarded to the Committee it must also be viewed by the Discipline Research Committee. This can add another 2 weeks to the process.

The request for University ethics approval, accompanying the research project proposal, should be submitted on the form found at the website above. This form contains a number of questions. If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, you must provide details of how you propose to deal with the ethical issues involved. Your ethics request must also include:

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An indication of how you will store any interview data (e.g. audio tapes, completed questionnaires) — normally in a secure location such as a locked drawer or cupboard — and what you propose to do with the data when the study is concluded;

An indication of how you will deal with issues of free and informed consent. This must include a copy of your proposed information sheet (to be given to each participant) and the proposed consent form (to be signed by each participant). These documents must conform with Human Research Ethics Committee policy, to be found at

http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/welcome/research_services/Ethics/human_ethics/forms_guidelines_policies2.

These processes are necessary to satisfy the University’s requirements for ethics approval of research projects. Your ethics approval forms are kept by the Discipline and can be audited by the university.

Research ReportThe final report is an account of the research undertaken. It covers the reason for undertaking the research, why it is an important area to research, what question(s) you wanted to find the answers to through the research process, how you went about finding out and what you think the answers mean. It is intended to demonstrate that you are competent in carrying out an independent, although supervised, research activity. More details are available later in this document as to the format and presentation requirements.

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Supervision and SupportSupervisionEach student will be allocated a supervisor for the research project, during the second semester of Year 1. Supervisors will be allocated on the basis of staff expertise, staff workloads and student preferences. Once the supervisor has been allocated, students will be advised to seek an early appointment with their supervisor to discuss the research project.

For projects requiring specific expertise supervisors may be sought from outside the Discipline of Social Work and Social Policy. In this case, students should first consult the Course Coordinator.

Additionally, research seminars are provided for research tuition. As noted later, these take place during S2 Yr 1 and S1 Yr 2.

Responsibilities of Supervisors:Supervisors have the responsibility for providing academic guidance to students and fostering an environment in which they see research as a creative and exciting activity.

Responsibilities of Students:

The Dissertation is an independent supervised research project which means that the student has responsibility for his/her own learning. It is important that students are familiar with the General Regulations and/or Faculty Regulations governing the degree course in which they are enrolled; and being aware of, and reading where appropriate, the other University policies/ procedures/documents which relate to postgraduate research activities.

Peer SupportIn addition to individual supervision, students will also have access to group supervision and peer support through the regular research seminars held throughout Year 2. Students are encouraged to work co-operatively and to support each other, both formally and informally. In this regard it must be emphasised that there is no ‘quota’ of HD, D or CR MSW with Dissertation grade to be awarded, and by students supporting each other it is possible for the quality of work, and hence the MSW with Dissertation grades of the whole group to be raised.

The University also provides a significant student support service in the form of regular workshops for research students in all disciplines. You will be informed through your email address during the semester and you are encouraged to access this. The web address is: http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning.

Students are urged to think about the requirements of dissertation writing long before they sit down to write. Student Support Services run education groups on writing a dissertation early in the year and you will be advised of these or you can locate them yourself by accessing the above web address.

Library Support and Internet AccessA major form of support to MSW with Dissertation students is via the student email system. It is vital that students use and regularly access their student email accounts as this is the prime form of communication.

It is expected that by the time students are enrolled for the MSW with Dissertation programme they are very familiar with the library access systems including electronic access. If this is not so, students are expected to make time to become familiar with this now

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essential tool. The MSW with Dissertation coordinator will introduce you all to the librarian who will work with you and s/he will expedite group workshops on library access if this is required.

There are many support services available and resources for research students. These may be found at: http://matrix-prod.its.uwa.edu.au/old-library/students/postgraduates and http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/resources While you are not a student undertaking a Higher Degree by Research, you still may access and benefit from these resources.

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The MSW with Dissertation Programme

Entry to the MSW with Dissertation ProgrammeStudents are invited to apply to enter the MSW with Dissertation programme at the end of Semester 1 on the basis of their first semester marks which must be over 70% average. Towards the end of first semester in Year 1, a meeting is held with all interested students at which the requirements and processes for enrolment in MSW with Dissertation programme are explained.

Dissertation Structure

Year 1 Non-Standard Semester. September SWSP5602 Research Methods This unit forms part of the Graduate Diploma in Advanced Social Work and is required for those enrolled students. MSW with Dissertation students will also enrol in this unit. It is also available as an online unit and may be completed through that mode prior to commencing SWSP5635 (see next). This unit introduces students to the processes of undertaking research with the aim of preparing for research readiness. Students are expected to pass this unit by passing all assignments.

Year 1, Semester 2 SWSP5635 Organisational Practice, Law and ResearchMSW with Dissertation students enrol in SWSP5635 which has a dual focus: Organisational Practice and Law and Research. The tuition for Organisational Practice and Law is the same as for the main cohort of MSW students and Dissertation students undertake the same assessments and attend the same classes. The Research component of this unit comprises seminars which also take place in the non-standard second semester. These seminars are designed to assist in the development of their research project and enable students to complement their learning in SWSP5602 in a focussed discussion setting.

Year 2, Semester 1 MSW with Dissertation students enrol in the fieldwork unit SWSP5429. Included in this unit are three half-day classes in the weeks where there is no Integration seminar during placement (weeks 8, 9 and 16). They also have two weeks during the placement which they may devote to their research. Times to be used for this purpose should be negotiated at the beginning of the placement with the Supervisor. During this semester MSW with Dissertation students carry out the bulk of their research in conjunction with their fieldwork placement.

Year 2, Semester 2 MSW with Dissertation students do not enrol for the SWSP5406 Policy and Community or SWSP5407 Research Methods.

MSW with Dissertation students also enrol in SWSP4536 Dissertation.

During this semester students will complete their research projects. Seminars take place in the first half of the semester during which students are expected to present their work to their colleagues for feedback.

All these units are taken alongside the core units for the MSW. These are repeated here from the Student Handbook. Units restricted to MSW with Dissertation students are in

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Upper Case. Units MSW with Dissertation students will not do have been omitted from the general list.

Year One Summer Unit

SWSP5630

Developmental Practice 6 points

Semester OneSWSP5301

Social Work Knowledge, Theory, and Values 6 points

SWSP5631

Introduction to Social Work Methods 12 points

SWSP5306

Indigenous People and Social Work 6 points

NS* SemesterSWSP5602

RESEARCH METHODS 6 points

SWSP5309

Field Education One (13 weeks) 12 points

Semester TwoSWSP5635

ORGANISATIONAL PRACTICE, LAW AND RESEARCH

6 points

SWSP5633

Counselling and Ethics 6 points

Year Two NS SemesterSWSP5429

Field Education Two (16 weeks) 12 points

Semester TwoSWSP5405

Social Work in Health and Welfare Contexts Part 1 6 points

SWSP5405

Social Work in Health and Welfare Contexts Part 2 6 points

SWSP5634

Social Work and Mental Health Practice 6 points

SWSP4536

DISSERTATION 12 points

**PLEASE NOTE: the total points for the MSW with Dissertation is 102**

If, for any reason, a student who was initially enrolled in the MSW with Dissertation programme withdraws from this course of study, he/she is required to complete the full sixteen weeks of the placement in semester 1 for Field Education 2. Additionally students must change their enrolment to include SWSP5406 Policy and Community and SWSP5407 Research Methods and withdraw from SWSP7436 Research Dissertation. It is imperative that in these circumstances students withdraw from the Dissertation programme and enrol in the standard MSW before second semester.

Part-time EnrolmentPart time enrolment in MSW with Dissertation programme is possible. Students undertake their research training and project work starting from the acceptance of the invitation to join the programme after completing Year 1 Semester 1 course work and concluding in the final Semester of their course. The Course Coordinator and allocated supervisors should be consulted about undertaking the specific activities for completion of the assignments set, attendance at seminars and implementation of their projects.

Part time MSW with Dissertation students may enrol in SWSP4536 in Semester 1, depending on when they plan on completing. That is, if students wish to complete the MSW with

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Dissertation mid-year and the dissertation is their final piece of work, then a first semester enrolment is appropriate. No student should enrol in SWSP4536 in both semesters as that will incur double fees.

The Research Project and Field PlacementThe research project is undertaken largely in Semester 1 of Year 2, when students are on their second field education placement. The dissertation reporting the research is written up in Semester 2 of Year 2 – or as soon as possible after the placement is completed. However, the planning for the project needs to commence in Semester 2 of Year 1 and needs to be integrated with planning for the placement. Careful attention needs to be paid to the need to balance placement and MSW with Dissertation programme research requirements.

The AASW recognises the essential role of research in both its Graduate Attributes (Attribute 6) and as a designated area of practice. MSW with Dissertation students specialise in research practice and this is acknowledged as a formal part of the placement opportunity for learning. In recognition of this essential skill, the MSW with Dissertation project has been recognised by the Discipline of Social Work and Social Policy as part of the final placement. MSW with Dissertation students are required to attend their practice agencies for fourteen instead of sixteen weeks, with the two weeks devoted to research activities as an expected part of their placement learning. Please note that students are required to attend full time in the same way as other students.

During the placement there are three weeks in which Integration is not offered. MSW with Dissertation students attend research seminars on these weeks.

MSW with Dissertation students are encouraged to start on their research project before they start their placement in first semester of second year. It is expected that by the end of that placement, students will have completed a significant amount of the research and that in the period before second semester starts, the writing of the dissertation has commenced.

Learning OutcomesMSW with Dissertation students are expected to demonstrate competence in undertaking a supervised independent research project. This incorporates the following tasks which will be demonstrated throughout the Dissertation programme:

Undertake and manage a research project which includes: Plan a research project; Develop research questions, appropriate designs and literature reviews; Implement the research project; Write up the project inclusive of project aims, methods, results and analysis; Demonstrate an understanding of and adherence to ethical principles and guidelines

in the performance of the research project; Work independently under supervision; Engage appropriately in a supervised project, responding effectively to feedback.

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Submitting the Dissertation The correct university terminology for the MSW with Dissertation research report is “dissertation” rather than “thesis”. A thesis is a longer piece of work, undertaken as the sole (or at least predominant) requirement for the award of a postgraduate research degree (such as Masters by Research or Ph.D.), whereas a dissertation is a shorter piece of work undertaken as partial requirement for an MSW with Dissertation programme or coursework Master’s degree.

Due Date: The dissertation is due on Monday 19 th October 2015 at 9 am. Extensions beyond this date will only be approved in very exceptional circumstances.

Format and Submission: Two bound copies and an electronic copy are to be submitted. Binding equipment is available in the School of Population Health. One of the bound copies will be returned to the student after examination. The other will be kept in the Discipline.

Presentation:The dissertation must be free of spelling, grammatical and typographical errors. It should use either one and a half spacing or double spacing. You are encouraged to use a twelve point serif font (e.g. Times, Times Roman, Palatino, Bookman) rather than a sans serif font (e.g. Helvetica, Geneva or Arial), as it is easier to read (if you don’t know the difference, this is a serif font — Times Roman, and this is a sans serif font — Helvetica).

The dissertation should conform to accepted norms of scholarly writing. Writing in the first person is acceptable. Language should be inclusive (i.e. non-sexist, non-racist, etc).

ReferencingThere is no single required format for referencing, bibliography, etc. However the dissertation is expected to conform to one of the generally accepted formats, and to use it consistently (use a journal or book as a guide). The Harvard or APA systems are recommended. If in doubt about style, referencing, etc, consult a standard style guide. Recommended are:

Peters; The Cambridge Australian English Style Guide AGPS; Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers

The former is better for grammar, syntax, punctuation, style, correct usage etc, while the latter is better for the more technical things like bibliographies, spacing of quotes, table layout, etc. There is a comprehensive set of style references in Student Services and in the Reid Library.

Structure:The conventional outline for a research report is:

1. Title page2. Abstract3. Acknowledgements4. Introduction (briefly stating problem and research aim)5. Literature review6. Methodology (including Hypothesis/research question)7. Results8. Analysis9. Conclusion/recommendations10. Bibliography/references11. Appendices

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Length:The expected length of the dissertation is 10,000 to 15,000 words excluding abstract, references and appendices.

All these elements should be included in your dissertation. However it is not necessary to follow this order, nor is it necessary to have all these as separate sections. Depending on the nature of the research, it is sometimes appropriate to vary it, e.g. merging the results and analysis sections; presenting some of the results at the very beginning; starting with a quote from one of your subjects; starting with the research question and then elaborating it; interweaving your literature throughout the dissertation, etc. The structure of your dissertation must be discussed with your supervisor. As well as this, your supervisor must see the draft of the dissertation before it is submitted in its final form.

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Assessment of DissertationThe assessment of the Dissertation takes place throughout the life of the MSW with Dissertation enrolment period and includes submitted pieces of work, attendance at seminars and through the Dissertation report itself.

The MSW with Dissertation degree is given for performance across the entire course, not just the research dissertation. Therefore above-average performance is required in all units in order to gain a high grade of MSW with Dissertation.

The assessment of MSW with Dissertation is undertaken in a manner consistent with University policy.

Two examiners, one of whom may be a staff member of the Discipline will assess the dissertation, and another is likely to be from another university.

Assessment CriteriaThe following is the information given to assessors of MSW with Dissertation dissertations, regarding assessment criteria:

Conceptualisation: The subject should be adequately conceptualised, including appropriate reference to the literature, previous research, context, and theoretical, ideological or practice frameworks as appropriate. This may be achieved through a conventional literature review, or through reference to relevant literature, research etc, at appropriate places through the dissertation.

Research: The research design and methodology should be adequately described and should be appropriate to the problem/issue. The discussion of methodology should demonstrate research competence, and familiarity with relevant research literature, on the part of the student. It should include a justification for the method(s) used, an acknowledgement of any weaknesses in the design/methodology, and a discussion of relevant ethical issues.

Analysis: The research does not have to be an original contribution to knowledge, but the dissertation should contain an analysis of the implications of the findings, and show evidence of analytical thought and the capacity to develop a conceptual argument based on a research inquiry. The discussion may lead to conclusions, recommendations, or suggestions for further research, as appropriate.

Organisation: The dissertation should be presented in a logical sequence, consistent with the research approach chosen, with appropriate balance between the various sections in terms of length and depth of coverage. There is no standard structure for the dissertation, as the structure will depend on the nature of the subject, the ontological/epistemological assumptions, and the chosen design/methodology.

Presentation: The dissertation should conform to acceptable norms of academic writing, referencing, etc, and should be clear, well-presented and free of spelling and grammatical errors. There is no required format for referencing (e.g. Harvard, footnotes, etc), but the student is expected to follow one of the accepted formats for academic writing, and to use it consistently. Inclusive language is to be used.

The examiner is requested to determine an overall mark for the dissertation, taking all the above criteria into account. It must be emphasised that the criteria will not necessarily carry equal weight. The examiner is asked not to allocate a mark for each criterion, but to take all criteria into account, according to the guidelines below.

It should be remembered that one of the primary purposes of MSW with Dissertation research is to assess the student’s ability to undertake higher postgraduate research work.

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Please note that the MSW with Dissertation is considered to be equivalent to the Honours Degree for entry to Higher Degree by Research.

Marking:Examiners are asked to submit a percentage mark, according to the following.

80-100 HD Outstanding work, essentially publishable in its present form. To achieve a mark in this range the dissertation should fully meet all the above criteria as described, and should have achieved a superior standard on the criteria of conceptualisation, research and analysis. It is possible that superior performance on some criteria may balance a slight weakness in other criteria, especially the criterion of expression, in order to achieve a mark at this level, e.g. a dissertation which shows excellent conceptual and analytical ability and a sound analysis, but which contains some minor spelling and grammatical errors may still be assessed in this range. A student awarded a MSW with Dissertation degree at HD level (Hons First equivalent) may be permitted to enrol directly into a Ph.D. programme, and so the research, conceptualisation and analysis criteria must satisfy PhD expectations of capability.

70-79 DWork of a high standard, which essentially meets the above criteria, though not necessarily at a superior level. Again, it is possible for excellence on some criteria to make up for weakness in other criteria. An award of a D (2A Hons equivalent) for the degree recognises that the student has been able to undertake the research activities in a competent manner and so should be permitted to enrol for a postgraduate research degree at PhD level. Hence it is important that the research criterion be adequately met, and that the conceptualisation and analysis criteria are met to a level that suggests the student would be able to complete PhD studies successfully.

60-69 CRAcceptable work, but not of a standard which indicates the student is ready to undertake postgraduate research at PhD or Masters by Research level. Here most of the above criteria are met, though there may be some deficiencies in performance on two or three of them, not compensated for by superior performance in other criteria.

50-59 PWork of some merit, but with serious deficiencies. Here there are doubts as to the student having met several of the criteria, though there is evidence of some potential and of work which deserves acknowledgement. An MSW with Dissertation grade at this level effectively precludes a student from undertaking postgraduate research study, without substantial additional work of a considerably better standard, at some future time. Note that there is a wide range of marks available within this band, ranging from the barely passable to work that is close to CR standard.

45-49 Fail (N+)0-49 Fail (N)

It should be noted that there is no option for an examiner to ask for a rewrite and re-submission of an MSW with Dissertation.

The Examiner’s Report: As already indicated, two examiners are appointed for each MSW with Dissertation, and they examine it independently. One of the examiners should be external to UWA. The student’s supervisor is not an examiner, but may provide comments to the Discipline Board of Examiners which may assist in the final determination of the grade of MSW with

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Dissertation (e.g. if there were factors outside the student’s control which may have affected the research project).

The examiner’s written report, normally of 1 to 2 pages in length, should discuss the dissertation according to the stated criteria. However the examiner is also encouraged to make additional comments on the dissertation, for the benefit of the student, the supervisor and the Discipline. The examiner is requested to give a percentage mark to the dissertation (NOT a range such as “60–64”), on the basis of the report.

The examiner is asked NOT to make any marks or notes on the dissertation itself. The dissertation may be sent to a third examiner, and will also normally be kept in the Discipline for others to read, so it is important that it remain a clean copy. Typographical and other errors may be indicated on an addendum sheet, or with yellow “stickers”.

If there is a significant discrepancy between the marks given by the two examiners, a third examiner will be appointed. The final resolution about marks will be done in a full meeting of Discipline Board of Examiners.

The examiner’s report will normally be made available to the student, and the identity of the examiners will also be made known to the student after the examination process is complete. An examiner wishing to remain anonymous to the student may request to do so.

Following the finalisation of the marks, supervisors will provide students with a brief report which outlines the strengths and weaknesses of their dissertation – as identified by the markers.

Calculation of the Final MSW with Dissertation GradeThe class of MSW with Dissertation which a student receives will be determined by the total of the student’s second year coursework marks and the dissertation mark on a 40%/60% basis as follows:

((average SWSP5405 mark, + SWSP5406 mark + SWSP56021 mark) × 40%) + ((SWSP4536 Dissertation Mark) × 60%).

Postgraduate research scholarships (providing a living allowance while completing the degree full-time) are available to students commencing Masters by research or Ph.D. study. However they are very competitive, and a student normally needs a good HD MSW with Dissertation degree in order to have a chance of being successful.

1 5602 is taken by Dissertation students instead of 5407

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Other Matters of InterestPostgraduate Research SeminarsMSW with Dissertation students are welcome to attend the Discipline’s postgraduate research student seminars, which are held regularly during semesters. These are for postgraduate research students, staff and MSW with Dissertation students to meet to discuss their research projects. Sometimes a student or staff member will present their work-in-progress, while at other times it is simply an informal exchange of information and mutual support. Dates and times will be advised.

Attendance at postgraduate seminars is voluntary. MSW with Dissertation students in their final year may wish to discuss their research projects, either formally as a seminar presentation or informally. The postgraduate research students have indicated that they are happy to provide help and support to MSW with Dissertation students through this format.

Communicating Research ResultsAll researchers have an obligation to share their results with appropriate audiences. This may include the people involved in the study itself (the participants), a community in which the study was located, the agency, fellow students, and professional colleagues. MSW with Dissertation students should discuss with their supervisor the best way this can be achieved.

This might involve making extra copies of the dissertation for distribution, producing an abridged or more ‘accessible’ version of the report for community consumption, presenting the results at an agency meeting or public forum, etc.

MSW with Dissertation students may be asked to share their research findings with other students in their year, as part of the Research Methods unit done by MSW students in the final semester.

MSW with Dissertation students are encouraged to think about publishing their research on completion of their degree. This may be formally in a journal, or in a newsletter (e.g. the AASW newsletter) or some other suitable publication. Students should discuss this possibility with their supervisor. If the supervisor is involved in helping the student prepare a manuscript for publication, the supervisor will need to be included as a joint author. In such cases, the first named author is the one who has contributed most to the publication, e.g. if it is predominantly a student’s work but the supervisor has given some assistance, written some parts of the article and helped with editing, the student would be named first.

Dissertation Ownership and Rights of VetoWhen research is carried out in an agency, it is natural for the agency to have an interest in the results. The student will probably wish to consult agency representatives about the content, to ensure accuracy etc. However it must be emphasised that the dissertation as submitted by the student is a piece of University research, and is not subject to veto or alteration by the agency; the student maintains the role of independent researcher and commentator. This can sometimes be a source of contention, and it is important to negotiate it clearly at the beginning of the project.

It is also important to emphasise that any identifying data collected in the research is not divulged, and remains in the control of the University. In some instances, where an agency has actually commissioned the research within certain parameters, it may be necessary or appropriate for the student to produce two different versions of the report, one for agency use, and one for the purposes of University assessment (the latter indeed may require restricted access, see below). Again, this would need to be negotiated with the Agency.

The student’s supervisor is able to assist with such negotiation where necessary, and it is usually a good idea to organise an early meeting with the student, the University supervisor

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and agency representative(s) to ensure that there are clear understandings of the parameters of the research.

Confidentiality, Anonymity and Access to DissertationNormally, a copy of the dissertation will be kept in the Discipline for use by staff and other students, and will be made available to any interested person. A summary of the dissertation will also be placed on the Discipline’s home page. However in some instances a dissertation may contain sensitive material, and in such cases it is possible to restrict access. This needs to be discussed with the supervisor and, where necessary, negotiated with the agency. Such occasions will be rare.

In most cases, no identifying information should be included in the dissertation when reporting the results, to protect the anonymity of research participants, and sometimes of organisations. At times, however, this is impossible, e.g. when a prominent person, or person who holds a particular position, is quoted, or where the organisation has clearly defining characteristics which need to be included (e.g. “a large state government agency responsible for child protection”, “a state Premier”, “the Head of a Social Work School”, etc). This also needs to be carefully negotiated early in the research, and may sometimes be a reason for restricting access to the final dissertation. Such ethical matters must be cleared with your supervisor and may be referred to the Human Research Ethics Office at:http://www.research.uwa.edu.au/welcome/research_services/Ethics/human_ethics

Achieving Research SatisfactionThis Handbook has been intended to provide you some of the information necessary to meet the formalities of undertaking the MSW with Dissertation. Most of all, though, the Dissertation is about the excitement of enquiry: and in the exploration providing some answers to something which interests you, which has stimulated questions about how, what and why certain issues or situations exist and how they may be better understood. A treasured quote from a colleague who once managed this process illustrates one of its aspects:

We shall not cease from explorationAnd the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we startedAnd know the place for the first time.

(Eliot, 1969)

Let us not cease from exploration and delight in the knowing. I commend your journey to you.

Eliot, T. S. (1969). Little Gidding, 1942 The Complete Poems and Plays of T.S. Eliot (pp. 191-198). London: Faber and Faber.

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