IP30000/IP30040 Dissertation: Semesters One and Two, 2010-2011

IP30000/IP30040 Dissertation
Semesters One and Two, 2010-2011
Module Handbook
Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol Department of International Politics

Prifysgol Aberystwyth Aberystwyth University, SY23 3FE
Ffôn/Tel: +44 (0) 1970 622702
Ffacs/Fax: +44 (0) 1970 622709
E-bost: gwleidyddiaeth@aber.ac.uk E-mail: interpol@aber.ac.uk
Gwefan/Website: www.aber.ac.uk/interpol/
Module Coordinator: Prof Martin S. Alexander, Room 2.04 International Politics Building
E-mail: saa@aber.ac.uk
Tel. ext. 2693
Deputy & Welsh-Medium Coordinator: Dr Huw Williams, Ystafell/Room 3.17 International

Politics Building
E-bost/E-mail: huw@aber.ac.uk
Tel. ext. 2259
DISSERTATION
1. Aims and objectives:
The dissertation is an important element of the Department‟s undergraduate programme. It provides

the opportunity for final year students to study a specific topic in some detail, and to demonstrate
their initiative, their ability to work independently and their skill at constructing a coherent argument
in a long written assignment (12,000 words). The module will introduce students to how social
scientists frame research questions, choose research methods, formulate hypotheses, construct
research designs, and collect and analyse data. It will also offer a series of consultations during
which students can refine their ideas and receive feedback on their work. In the first few weeks of
semester one, each student will be allocated a Dissertation Adviser who will offer further guidance.
In the course of this module students will produce a dissertation, and the assessment of the
student‟s work will be in two parts: the Research Proposal and the Dissertation itself. As part of the
build-up to final submission, the student will have the benefit of feedback from staff on three
occasions. First, the student will receive feedback on her/his dissertation topic on submission of that
topic early in the autumn term. Second the student will receive feedback on the research proposal
which is due to be submitted in mid-November and is worth 10% of the total mark. Third, students
will have the opportunity to discuss their literature review at the Dissertation Forum at the beginning
of the second semester. The purpose of these three „landmarks‟ is to ensure that students work
steadily on their dissertation throughout the year and obtain feedback on a regular basis.
A student's dissertation subject must be related broadly to the subject area of her/his degree
scheme. This is because completion of the dissertation is the culminating element of progression
within the Department‟s Single Honours degree scheme structures.
If students need further advice about this, they should contact their Dissertation Adviser or
Dissertation Module Convenor.
Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Prifysgol Aberystwyth Aberystwyth University
2. Teaching outline
2.1 Lectures
There will be a series of 50-minute lectures, most in semester one. These are timed to provide
advice and orientation -- and relevant information before the submission dates of each of the
submitted pieces of work. As a result, they are not on a weekly basis and students will have to pay
particular attention to their timing. Reading suggestions are provided for each lecture and students
are advised to read before and after the lectures. Lectures will introduce and discuss important
ideas, skills and methods and will provide opportunities for students to ask questions about the use
of those skills and their application to the assessed work and the dissertation. In their written work
for the module students will be required to demonstrate that they have mastered the issues
discussed in the lectures. Students are therefore strongly advised to attend lectures. Students will
also be expected to read beyond the required reading in order to consolidate their learning.
2.2 Dissertation Fair and Dissertation Forum

There will be two 2-3 hour workshops for this module, one in the form of a Dissertation Fair at the
beginning of semester one, and a second, a Dissertation Forum at the beginning of semester two.
Attendance is obligatory, as these forums will provide an essential opportunity for debating the
issues, skills and methods introduced in the lectures. The workshops will also provide a more
hands-on approach to studying research methods, by encouraging students to relate the general
themes covered in the lectures to their own individual research projects. A better understanding of
the research process, as well as the specific written requirements for this course, will be achieved
through an analysis of examples of good and bad practice, and by discussing problems arising from
individuals‟ own research.
2.3 Dissertation advising

Each student will be allocated a Dissertation Adviser, and is entitled to up to two formal sessions
per semester, a total of four sessions, with her/him. Students should meet at least once with their
adviser before submitting their Research Proposal, and should organise a second session to
receive formal feedback on the Research Proposal.
In addition, students will have the opportunity to consult a range of academic staff at the
Dissertation Fair. Additional advice may be sought in office hours from your adviser or other tutors.
Students should bear in mind that, in the interests of equity, staff will reserve the right to limit the
total quantity of advice given to any individual student. It is the student‟s responsibility to organise
meetings with the Adviser, and the Adviser will not seek out students for meetings. The dissertation
is in part a test of student initiative, and it is therefore up to the student to arrange appropriate
meetings.
If a student wishes to change their Adviser s/he should contact the Module Convenor. Students
must have substantive grounds for requesting such a change, and changes will not be permitted for
frivolous reasons. Regrettably, it may be necessary for the Dissertation Adviser to be changed by
the Department because of staff research sabbaticals and other leave arrangements.

The Dissertation Adviser can provide general research guidance only, and will not necessarily be
an expert in the area of research a student chooses. S/he may provide guidance in focusing topics
and on research strategies and advise the student on sources and structure. Advisers will not read
drafts of dissertations, nor will they read the literature review. Students are advised to prepare for
meetings with their Adviser in order to make the best use of them. For example, students may
make a list of questions to ask and bring it to the meeting as an aide memoire, and may take notes
on suggestions made during supervisions.
Submission of the Dissertation Title Form (included at the back of this Module Handbook) is
absolutely essential before the student can be allocated a Dissertation Adviser or proceed with
writing the Research Proposal and the full dissertation. The deadline for submission of the
Dissertation Title Form is 4.30pm on Thursday 21 October, 2010. (hard copy only to the drop
box in the Department, no need for electronic)
2.4 Managing anxiety, time and maintaining writing discipline

The dissertation is a challenging piece of work, in that it is the largest single piece of work on a
single topic that a student completes as an undergraduate. Inevitably, some students experience
anxiety about this particular piece of work, about choosing a title, about the content of the thesis
and about completion. It may be some small consolation to know that many seasoned academics
continue to face very similar problems when faced with a book or article deadline. It is tempting,
when feeling anxious about a piece of work, to get involved in what psychologists call displacement
behaviour – keeping very busy with other things, seeking lots of advice, talking a lot about the piece
of work without DOING any of the actual work. Managing your own anxiety, and organising your
time is part of the test posed by the dissertation. Whilst there are certain supports available to you
to help you with your dissertation, at the end of the day, only you can produce it. Starting work,
starting the literature search, or starting writing - DOING - is one of the best ways of managing
anxiety.
2.5 Peer mentoring and review

In recognition of the challenge posed by the dissertation, and in order to maximise the amount of
support students have in its production, a system of peer mentoring is available to students. The
Appendix to this guide provides more detailed information on the peer mentoring system; please
read it carefully. This peer support is designed to be particularly important at the stage when
students have agreed their titles and completed their Research Proposals. At the stage when
students are beginning to work independently on their Literature Review and on the rest of the
Dissertation, peer support can reduce the isolation that such a piece of work can produce, provide a
valuable sounding board, source of ideas and feedback. At the beginning of the module, students
will be placed into peer mentoring groups of 4 students by the Module Convenor. While the groups
will be selected by the Module Convenor and every attempt to be made to put you into groups with
students working on similar topics, it will be the group‟s responsibility to organise to meet, to provide
encouragement, feedback and help (within reason) to other group members, and to ask for and
avail themselves of the help of other group members. Students will be asked to provide regular
feedback on the functioning of their peer mentoring groups throughout the year. Students are
reminded that the purpose of the group is to support and encourage each other, and therefore of
the need to be sensitive when offering negative criticism. Students are also reminded of the need to
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share the time equally between group members from the outset, so that no one student
monopolises the group‟s time. This group will undertake a peer review of the literature review in
preparation for the Dissertation Forum at the beginning of Semester 2. Students will be expected to
be familiar with each others‟ work, and be able to provide feedback to the others in their group at
this event.
2.6 Module evaluation

This module has been substantially redesigned to take account of feedback from students in
previous years. Therefore your feedback on this module is crucial to our ability to improve the
design, if necessary, for subsequent groups of students. Normally, students complete module
evaluations at the last lecture or seminar of the module. However, since the formal teaching finishes
early in this module, students are asked to complete the module evaluation on the day they submit
their completed dissertation, and to hand the evaluation in together with their dissertation. Module
evaluation forms will be available for this purpose on 3 May 2011, the deadline, from the
departmental office.
2.7 Teaching programme
SEMESTER ONE
Dissertation Introduction and ‘Kick Start’

Date: Thursday 30 September 2010
Time: 2 – 4 p.m.
Venue: Main Hall, International Politics Building
Dissertation Fair
Date: Wednesday 6 October 2010
Time: 12.10 – 2 pm
At this meeting, students will be introduced to the module‟s objectives and learning outcomes,
assessment criteria, role of the Dissertation Adviser, other Departmental guidance on submitting a
successful dissertation and the regulations governing the writing and submission of a dissertation in
the Department of International Politics. Students will then have the opportunity to explore in
workshops their preliminary ideas for dissertation topics, and get peer and staff feedback on these
ideas. Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the Module Convenor.
Lecture 1 Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Time 12.10 – 2 pm
General Introduction to Writing a Dissertation: choosing a topic

Reading:
Blaxter, Loraine, Hughes, Christina, and Tight, Malcolm (1996) How to Research. Buckingham:
Open University Press. Chapter 2.
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Deadline - Dissertation Title Form: 4.30pm, Thursday 21 October 2010 (hard copy only,
to the drop box in the Department, no need for electronic)
Lecture 2 - Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Formulating a research proposal: the importance and choices of methods & evidence
(international & military history, strategy, war studies& intelligence studies emphasis)
Reading:
Open University Press. Chapters 3, 6 and 7.
McDowell, W.H., Historical Research. A Guide for Writers of Dissertations, Theses, Articles and
Books (Longman-Pearson, 2002)
Lecture 3 - Wednesday 3 November, 2010
Time 12.10 – 2 pm
Formulating a research proposal: the importance and choices of methods and evidence
(poli-science, IR theory, contemporary politics, critical security & terrorism studies
emphasis)
Reading:
Open University Press. Chapters 3, 6 and 7.
Deadline for submitting Research Proposal: Thursday 18 November 2010 (To be submitted in
accordance to departmental procedure, 2.30 Electronic copy & 4.30 hard copy)
Deadline for submitting Peer Mentoring Group Monitoring Form to Module Convener:
Wednesday 24 November, 2010
Lecture 4 - Wednesday 1 December, 2010
Time 12.10 – 2 pm
The literature review and developing critical thought


SEMESTER 2
Dissertation Forum
Date: Wednesday 9 February 2011
Time: 12.10 – 2 pm
This forum will take the form of a practical workshop session where students will have the
opportunity to discuss and clarify all questions that might have arisen in preparation for writing a
dissertation.
Wednesday 23 February, 2011
Lecture 5 - Wednesday 9 March, 2011
Time 12.10 – 2 pm
Presentation: the importance of argument, writing and referencing

Open University Press. Chapters 8 and 9.
David Marsh and Gerry Stoker (eds.) Theory and Methods in Political Science. Basingstoke:
Palgrave Macmillan. Chapter 1.
The Module Convenor will be available for 30 minutes after each lecture for brief consultation in a
dissertation „clinic‟.
Wednesday 23 February, 2011
Deadline for submitting Dissertation and Module Evaluation: Tuesday 3 May 2011 (In
accordance to Departmental procedure).

3. Reading.
Basic readings only are assigned for each teaching session. Students are advised to read widely
before and after the lectures, using the readings list and the resource list in this Module Handbook.
There is no one book that covers all of the material covered in the module, and no one book that
provides all the guidance required for writing a dissertation. Because there are no obligatory
seminars on this module, expected reading levels are higher than on other modules. The readings
are divided into two categories: readings on research methods, and readings on dissertation writing.
A resource list of printed and electronic material is also included in the handbook, classified by
topic. This resource list is aimed at assisting students to identify further reading on specific aspects
of their dissertation work which may not be covered in lectures or dissertation forums.
The reading list presented here is merely suggestive and students are expected to read widely and
to use their initiative when researching reading material.
3.1 Reading on research methods

A good research methods textbook which gives a good all round introduction is:
Burnham, Peter et al. (2004) Research Methods in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
A second book provides a good introduction to the research process and includes guides and
exercises:
Blaxter, Loraine; Hughes, Christina and Tight, Malcolm (1996) How to Research. Buckingham:
Open University Press.
These two books provide a good foundation on the research methods aspects of the module.
However, they will not cover every aspect of the research process. In addition, the following books
and internet sources are worth consulting.
Bryman, Alan (2001) Social Research Methods. Oxford: OUP.
Burns, Robert (2000). Introduction to Research Methods. London: Sage
Hammersley, Martyn (1995) The Politics of Social Research. London: Sage.

- Also provides a good, yet simple introduction to many of the main issues.
Marsh, David and Stoker, Gerry (2002) Theory and Methods in Political Science. Basingstoke:
Palgrave.
May, Tim (1997) Social Research: Issues Methods and Process. Buckingham: Open University
Press.
- Provides a good overview of the main approaches to social theory and links them to specific methods.
Neuman, W. Lawrence (2000) Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Techniques:
Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
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3.2 Resources on research methods on the internet
The Political Methodology Society and the Political Methodology Section of the APSA is a very
useful resource:
http://polmeth.calpoly.edu/
Sociological Research Online is a good online research methods journal:

http://www.socresonline.org.uk/socresonline/
The University of Surrey has lots of useful working papers related to research, available at:
http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/sru/
3.3 Reading on writing a dissertation
There are some very helpful books which address the process of researching and writing a
dissertation. Two of the first three are essential reading:
Walliman, Nicholas (2004) Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for Success.
London: Sage.
OR
Newton, Rae (2001) Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process.
London: Sage.
AND
Bonnett, Alastair (2001) How to Argue. London: Pearson.
Other useful material on writing a dissertation:
Allison, Brian (1993) A Guide To Dissertation Preparation. Leicester: ARIAD.
Bell, Judith (1993) Doing Your Research Project : A Guide For First-Time Researchers In Education
And Social Science. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Berry, Ralph (1994) The Research Project: How To Write It. London: Routledge.
Glatthorn, Allan (1998) Writing The Winning Dissertation: A Step-By-Step Guide. London:
Thousand Oaks.
Grix, Jonathan (2004) The Foundations Of Research. London: Palgrave.

Hart, Chris (2002). Doing a Literature Review. Releasing the Social Science Imagination. London:
Sage.
Luck, Martin (1999) Your Student Research Project. Aldershot: Gower.
Mauch, James and Park, Namgi (2003) Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A
Handbook for Students And Faculty. New York: Dekker.
Pennings, Paul et. al (eds.) (2005) Doing Research in Political Science: An Introduction To
Comparative Methods and Statistics. London: Sage.
Preece, Roy (1994) Starting Research: An Introduction to Academic Research and Dissertation
Writing. London: Pinter.
Rudestam, K.E. and Newton, R.R. (2001) Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to
Content and Process. London, Sage.
Silbergh, David (2001) Doing a Dissertation in Politics. A Student Guide. London: Routledge.
Swetnam, D. (2000), Writing Your Dissertation: How to Plan, Prepare and Present Successful
Work. Oxford: How to Books.
Wildavsky, Aaron (ed.) (1993) Craftways: On the Organization of Scholarly Work. London:
Transaction.
Wright, Debra and Secrist, Jan (1998) Secrets for a Successful Dissertation. London: Sage.
3.4 Resources for dissertation writing on the internet
The following are good sites for developing general academic skills:
http://library.usask.ca/offcampus/guides/guides.html
http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/Dept/Tips/writing/thesis/thesis-intro.htm
http://final-year-projects.com/
4. Examples of good practice

Examples of high-quality research proposals and dissertations are available on the Departmental
Blackboard site, „About Interpol‟, for students to consult. Blackboard can be reached by opening the
University website, clicking on Student, followed by Learning and Teaching, then Online Resources,
then Blackboard. To get in to Blackboard you will need your student login information.
The Criteria used for marking dissertations are available in the information sheets on the
Blackboard module, „About Interpol.‟
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5. General resource list
Choosing a topic and preparing a research proposal.

Burnham, Peter et al. (2004) Research Methods in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Chapter 2.
Burns, Robert (2000) Introduction to Research Method. London: Sage. Chapter 3.
Key terms, ideas and approaches

Bryman, Alan (2001) Social Research Methods. Oxford: OUP. Chapter 1.
Grix, Jonathan (2004) The Foundations of Research. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Chapters 4 and 5.
Guba, Egon and Lincoln, Yvonna (2004) „Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research‟, in: S. N.
Hesse-Biber and P. Leavy, Approaches to Qualitative Research. Oxford: OUP.
Hollis, M. (1994) The Philosophy of Social Science: An Introduction. Cambridge: CUP. Chapter 2.
Marsh, D. and Stoker, G. (2002) Theory and Methods of Social Research. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Chapter 1.
Neuman, W. Lawrence (2000). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Techniques:
Boston. Allyn and Bacon. Chapter 4.
Compiling a literature review

Burnham, Peter et al. (2004) Research Methods in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Chapters 7 and
8.
Coomber, R. (1997) 'Using the Internet for Survey Research' Sociological Research Online, 2 (2),
http://www.socresonline.org.uk/socresonline/2/2/2.html
Hart, Chris (1998). Doing a Literature Review. Releasing the Social Science Imagination. London:
Sage. (The whole book but particularly chapter 7).
Hart, Chris (2001). Doing a Literature Search: A Comprehensive Guide for the Social Sciences.
London: Sage. (The whole book)
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Guidance on writing can be found at the Writer‟s Complex, at http://www.esc.edu/writer
Information on literature reviews is available from the Writing Centre, University of Wisconsin at
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature.html
Similarly, comprehensive guidance on conducting a literature review is available from the University
of Melbourne at http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/postgrad/litreview/home.html
The Social Science Gateway has a section on methods at http://www.sosig.ac.uk/politics/
Comparative methods
Bartolini, Stefano (1993) “On time and comparative research” Journal of Theoretical Politics, 5 (2),
131-167.
Chapter 12.
Press. Chapter 9.
Peters, Guy (1998) Comparative Politics. Theory and Methods. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Chapters 1
and 2.
Ragin, Charles (1987) The Comparative Method. Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative
Strategies. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 34-48.
Silbergh, David (2001) Doing a Dissertation in Politics. A Student Guide. London: Routledge.
Chapter 7.
A useful guide to comparative research is at http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/sru/SRU13.html
The data collection process

Chapter 12.
Boston. Allyn and Bacon. Chapters 6 and 7.
Sharp, John; Peters, John and Howard, Keith (2002) The Management of a Student Research
Project. Aldershot: OUP. Chapter 7.
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Quantitative analysis
Bryman, Alan (2001) Social Research Methods. Oxford: OUP. Chapter 3.
Burnham, Peter et al. (2004) Research Methods in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Chapters 4, 5 and 6.
Government Statisticians Collective (1993), 'How Official Statistics are Produced: Views From
Inside', in Martyn Hammersley (ed.), Social Research: Philosophy, Politics and Practice. London:
Sage. pp. 146-165.
Huff, Darrell (1981) How to Lie With Statistics. London: Penguin.
Wood, Michael (2003) Making Sense of Statistics. A Non-Mathematical Approach. Basingstoke:

Palgrave. Chapter 4.
Qualitative analysis
Bryman, A. (2001) Social Research Methods. Oxford: OUP. Chapter 13.
Burnham, Peter et al. (2004) Research Methods in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Chapters 9 and
10.
Marsh, D. and Stoker, G. (eds.) (2002) Theory and Methods of Social Research. Basingstoke:
Palgrave. Chapter 9.
Press. Chapters 6, 7 and 8.
Morgan, David L. (1996) „Focus groups‟ Annual Review of Sociology, 22, 129-52.
Weinberg, D. (2002) Qualitative Research Methods. Oxford: Blackwell.
A list of web resources on qualitative methods is at http://www.sosig.ac.uk/roads/subject-

listing/World-cat/qualmeth.html
A useful article on interviewing techniques is at

http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/IGSD/IQPHbook/ch11.html#11
A useful summary of approaches to qualitative research can be found at

http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/tutorial/Mensah/default.htm
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The ethics of research.
Fairbairn, G.J. and Winch, C (1998), Reading, Writing and Reasoning: A Guide for Students:
Basingstoke: Palgrave. (Good for tips on grammar and writing style)
Finch, Janet (1993) ''It's Great to Have Someone to Talk to': Ethics and Politics of Interviewing
Women', in Martyn Hammersley (ed.), Social Research: Philosophy, Politics and Practice. London:
Sage. pp. 166-180.
Press. Chapter 3.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Chapter 5.
Romm, N. (1998) 'Caricaturing and Categorising in Processes of Argument', Sociological Research

Online, 3 (2), http://www.socresonline.org.uk/socresonline/3/2/10.html
Walliman, N. (2004) Your Undergraduate Dissertation. The Essential Guide for Success. London:
Sage. Chapter 12.
Turning your literature review into a dissertation.
Denscomber, M. (1998) The Good Research Guide for Small-Scale Social Research Projects.
Buckingham: Open University Press.
Fairbairn, G. J. and Winch, C. (1998) Reading, Writing and Reasoning: A Guide for Students.
Basingstoke: Palgrave. (Good for tips on grammar and writing style)
Fitzpatrick, J. et al (1998), Secrets for a Successful Dissertation. London: Sage. (Actually designed
for doctoral candidates but contains some interesting points).
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6. Assessment methods
The module assessment has two components. The research proposal is 10% and the written
dissertation is 90% of the assessment for this module. Students are expected to keep to the
assessment deadlines. No extensions will be given. Please consult the relevant advice sheets in
the Blackboard module „About Interpol‟ for assessment criteria and general guidelines for the
submission of written work. You must submit your dissertation in paper and electronic form strictly
according to the guidelines. If you do not prepare your work correctly for submission, then you
will not be allowed to submit.
1) Unassessed - Dissertation title form: Deadline 4.30pm Thursday 21 October, 2010. The
pro-forma is included at the back of this handbook, and must be completed and submitted
by the deadline to the drop box in the Department. On the basis of this form, students will be
allocated a Dissertation Adviser and a peer mentoring group.
2) 10% - Research Proposal: a research plan of the student's dissertation of approximately

2000 words. The design project should outline how the student intends to tackle the topic,
identify the key research questions, provide a structure for the dissertation and discuss the
research methods that will be appropriate. Written guidance on this paper will be provided.
The deadline is, Thursday 18 November, 2010 (In accordance with departmental
procedure)
3) Unassessed - Literature Review: You are expected to outline the main research in the
area, critique it and relate it back to your primary research questions. The literature review
will provide some of the core material for your final dissertation and should be around 3500
words long. Although this piece of work is not formally assessed at the time it is written, it
can form a substantial part of the work for your finished dissertation, since all dissertations
must situate themselves in the relevant literature. Completing a review of the literature will
allow you to outline the main themes of the literature in your dissertation, and the literature
review may be integrated into the final written dissertation. Clearly, as work on your
dissertation progresses, you may wish to update or change your view on the literature, so it
is unlikely to be included in its original form, but nonetheless the work undertaken for the
literature review is a valuable contribution to your final work. The literature review will also
be discussed in detail by peer review at the Dissertation Forum. The Literature Review
should be complete by the Dissertation Forum to be held on 9 February 2011
4) 90% - Dissertation – 12,000 words (+/-10%) and Module Evaluation Form: Deadline -
Tuesday 3 May 2011 (To be submitted in accordance to departmental procedure)
All pieces of assessed work must meet minimum standards of presentation. This means
they must be typed or word-processed. They must correctly acknowledge sources in the
text or in notes. They must include a full bibliography of sources consulted that is correctly
set out. The standard of presentation is judged as part of the assessment process.
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Dissertation regulations
 The dissertation is part of your subject-specific core and its topic must, therefore, be located
within the broad subject area of your degree scheme.
 Students are entitled to a total of four sessions with their designated Adviser. Students are
responsible for making appointments to see their Adviser, who can offer guidance on such
matters as organisation, method, use of sources and reading. Dissertation Advisers neither
read nor comment on working drafts.
 Dissertations should be clearly written, logically planned and well-focused. It is important to

ensure that a clear and sustained argument is maintained throughout the dissertation.
Students are not required to produce a dissertation of PhD-style originality to achieve a
good mark, but we do expect them to adopt an original perspective and/or apply an original
formulation to the topic.
 The dissertation should be entirely the student's own work. Plagiarism will be penalised
very severely. Each student will be required to sign a statement certifying that the
dissertation is his or her own work. (There is a pro-forma for this purpose at the end of this
handbook – bind this statement in with the dissertation). Students should pay close attention
to the information on plagiarism contained in the document „Writing and Referencing in
Interpol‟ and in the information sheets available on the Blackboard module „About Interpol‟.
 The dissertation must contain correct acknowledgement of sources either in the text or in
footnotes/endnotes and a full bibliography of sources consulted (including those that have
been consulted during research but not cited in the final draft). For information on correct
referencing, please see the document „Writing and Referencing in Interpol‟ which is
available in hard copy and on the Blackboard module „About Interpol‟.
 The dissertation must include an Abstract. An abstract is a one paragraph statement

summarising the main focus and central question guiding the dissertation, as well as its
overall finding or main argument. It should be no more than 200 words in length.
 The dissertation should be 12,000 words in length (+/-10%), including abstract,

acknowledgements, footnotes/endnotes & appendices, but excluding bibliography.
Dissertations that exceed the word limit by more than 10% will be penalised by
deduction of marks, in line with Departmental policy.
 The dissertation must be typewritten or word-processed.
 The dissertation must be submitted in a suitable binder (soft binding is recommended;

contact Media & Printing Services, Hugh Owen Library, x.2405, email: is-
printing@aber.ac.uk for further information).
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 The dissertation must include a title page with your name and student matriculation number.
(Since the Dissertation Adviser is generally the first marker of a dissertation, it is not feasible
to maintain anonymity here.)
 The dissertation may be submitted in Welsh, though we ask you to give prior notice of your
intention to do this.
 Late submission will result in the deduction of marks according to the usual Departmental
procedures (the deduction of 5 marks per working day that the work is late; after ten working
days, the work will be awarded a mark of zero). Extensions will not be granted in any
circumstances.
 Dissertations will not be returned.
7. Planning your work

This module will encourage you to begin thinking about and planning your dissertation from the
beginning of semester one. In the second semester you will be expected to get on with the job of
producing it. You are advised to work on your dissertation steadily throughout both semesters
rather than allowing work for your other modules to take over; decisions about time management
and how to manage this project are, however, entirely your responsibility.
8. Deadline for the submission of dissertation
Your dissertation is due no later than Tuesday 3 May 2011. It must be submitted in accordance
with Departmental Procedure, 2.30pm for the electronic copy and 4.30pm for the hard copy. A copy
of the Dissertation Declaration Form must be bound in at the front of your submitted dissertation.
9. Copies of dissertations
Your dissertation will not be returned to you; you should ensure that you keep a duplicate copy
yourself.
10. Where to get help
If you have questions which are specific to your dissertation topic (where to look for additional
sources, how to narrow down the topic etc) you should address them to your Dissertation Adviser.
If you have general questions about the rules and regulations (i.e. about points discussed in this
handbook) you should contact the Dissertation Module Convenor.
If you need advice on how your dissertation topic relates to your degree scheme, you should
consult the Dissertation Module Convenor.
17

Attached appendices:
1. Dissertation Title Form to be submitted by 4.30pm on Thursday 21 October, 2010.

2. The Peer Mentoring System
3. Peer mentoring monitoring group form: to be submitted on 24 November, 2010 and 23
February, 2011.
4. Declaration Form to be submitted with Dissertation on Tuesday 3 May 2011.
18

Appendix 1
IP30000/IP30040/GW30000/GW30040
DISSERTATION
TITLE FORM
Name (Printed):
………………………………………………………………………………
Degree Scheme…………………………………………………………..
Student matriculation number:………………………………………….
Date:………………………………Email:………………………………..
Proposed title of dissertation:……………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION is 4.30pm on Thursday 21 October 2010.
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
Name of Dissertation Adviser
………………………………………………………………………………..
19

APPENDIX 2: The Peer Mentoring System
What is a Peer Mentoring Group?

Peer mentoring can be defined as the provision of support and guidance by those members of an
organisation similar in age and status to those whom they seek to help. A peer mentoring group is a
group of individuals who meet with the purpose of exchanging support and guidance with each
other. Several universities (e.g. Glasgow, Manchester) have initiated peer mentoring schemes in
order to offer this kind of support to students facing a range of challenges. In this case, the
challenge you all face is writing an excellent dissertation.
Peer mentoring will involve small groups of you meeting regularly to discuss your work, your
progress, and obstacles to that progress. The groups should be supportive and benefit participants
by allowing them to relate their progress to that of other students and to obtain informal advice and
information, and by providing a more cohesive social network.
What does a Peer Mentoring Group do?

The purpose of a PMG is to offer additional encouragement on aspects of your work to help
maintain your confidence and morale throughout the process of writing your dissertation. Primarily,
the PMG is an arena where you can be listened to, where you can receive feedback from other
group members, and where you can offer your time and experience to other students on a
reciprocal basis. It offers additional support to that available from your Dissertation Advisor.
How might a peer mentor help and support another student?

A peer mentor‟s most important function is to listen. By listening a mentor can help with:
1. Identifying problems: for example „It sounds as if you are having problems with
procrastination,‟
2. Relating relevant experience to what the other student is experiencing, „I found it
really hard to get started on the literature search, too.‟
3. Brain-storming as a way of problem-solving; „What would work to help you get
started? Setting aside half an hour a day? Promising yourself a reward? Making out a
timetable with deadlines in it?‟
4. Pointing the student towards other resources: „There‟s a great website that might be
helpful.‟
5. Providing feedback on progress, „It is brilliant that you managed to write 1,000 words,
when you were totally stuck last week.‟
What do I get out of becoming a peer mentor?

Becoming a peer mentor can be a valuable experience. Mentoring schemes are run by many of the
large employers in the UK and the US. Having been a mentor will be a great addition to your C.V.
Evidence also shows that participation in mentoring groups can significantly improve student
performance as measured by their marks (Carmichael, article posted on Blackboard).
What kind of feedback should PMG members offer each other?

Praise is always more effective than criticism, so please remember that the PMG is there to
ENCOURAGE, not to rip people apart. Peer mentors have a responsibility to make sure they are
20

encouraging, and not overly negative. Those mentored should point out to the group if they are
finding the experience overly negative. However, we all need to receive negative criticism from time
to time, and our work can be dramatically improved as a result. Please make sure that the
motivation for such criticism is to benefit the recipient, and not to score points. Please try to find
some positives alongside the negatives, and be sensitive in delivering negative feedback.
What are the boundaries of the PMG relationship?

We strongly recommend the adoption of the Chatham House rule at the first meeting of the PMG, in
order to reassure members that their business will not be discussed outside the PMG. We also
recommend that the PMG plans set times to meet, in a venue that is conducive to serious
discussion and distinguishes this time from socialising or other activities. The purpose of the PMG
is to offer mutual support in relation to the writing of the dissertation, and it is up to PMG members
to ensure that this remains the focus of the group. If a PMG group member becomes seriously
concerned about something that is going on in the group, they may seek the advice of their
Personal Tutor, Dissertation Advisor or Module Convenor.
What sort of issues can a peer mentor help with?

This scheme prioritises supporting students to write their dissertation. Therefore any issue that is
related to this is the proper concern of this scheme. The sort of help a PMG might provide could
include:
 offering an arena for students to explore ideas
 offering feedback on academic work related to the dissertation
 offering information and useful references for the dissertation
 exchanging tips and support on study and writing skills.
It must be emphasised that it is up to each PMG to agree what kind of work it is going to do
together, and this is a matter for each PMG. There is no obligation on students to give their work to
others to read, for example.
What happens if the group goes wrong?

A group can go wrong in a number of ways.
 Group meetings can degenerate into a social occasion. This can be avoided by
agreeing a time and length for meetings, and having them in a venue that is
associated with academic work.
 Group meetings may peter out, and just not happen. This can be avoided by
appointing one or two people as convenor or joint convenors, who can call a meeting
if this happens, and by agreeing a schedule of meetings for the year at your first
meeting.
 Conflicts between group members can be uncomfortable for them and for other
group members. Such conflicts are a natural occurrence, and offer opportunities to
practice your conflict resolution skills. If such conflicts prove too difficult for you to
resolve, you may wish to seek outside help, with the agreement of the other PMG
members.
 One group member may demand a great deal of attention from the group, leaving
other group members frustrated and unable to get support from the group. This can
be avoided by agreeing at your first meeting that the time is divided evenly between
21

group members and appointing a time-keeper to ensure that members get roughly
equal air-time.
How often should we meet?

How often you have your meetings will depend on how long one session lasts, how useful you all
find it, and what deadlines are looming. To begin with, we suggest that the PMG meets weekly for
the first two or three weeks, so you can get to know each other, iron out any problems with the
functioning of the group, and agree a way of working together.
Suggested agenda for your first meeting

1. Introductions, including your dissertation topic
2. What you each expect or would like from the group
3. Agreeing what kind of work the group will do together (study skills, clarification of topics or
titles, checking in on deadlines, reviewing each other‟s written work, etc)
4. Appoint a convenor/ joint convenors
5. Appoint a timekeeper/s
6. Agree times, venues and length of future meetings
Suggested agenda for subsequent meetings
1. General announcements, information

2. Agree order of discussion and time limits
3. Person 1 airtime: any issues they want to discuss or seek help on
4. Person 2 airtime : any issues they want to discuss or seek help on
7. Evaluation: did the meeting work? What will you do differently next time? Feedback from
time-keeper etc
8. Date, subject and venue of next meeting
You will be asked to evaluate your experience of peer mentoring during the year. Remember, you
will generally get out of the experience what you put into it. Good luck!
22

Appendix 3 IP30000/IP30040/GW30000/GW30040
PEER MENTORING GROUP (PMG) FEEDBACK FORM
PMG number……………………….
Names of PMG members (Printed):
1.…………………………………2.……………………………………………
3. …………………………………4……………………………………………
Dates of PMG meetings………………………………………………………
What is the most useful thing about your PMG?........................................
……………………………………………………………………………………
What is the least useful thing about your PMG?........................................
……………………………………………………………………………………
Any suggestions you wish us to have?.......................................................
…………………………………………………………………………………….
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM TWICE DURING THE YEAR

AND SUBMIT TO THE MODULE CONVENER ON
WEDNESDAY 24 NOVEMBER, 2010 and
WEDNESDAY 23 FEBRUARY, 2011
23

Appendix 4
IP30000/IP30040/GW30000/GW30040
DISSERTATION
DECLARATION FORM
This dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except where

otherwise stated.
Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes/endnotes giving explicit

references.
A bibliography is appended.
Signature:
…………………………………………………………………………….
Name (Printed):
………………………………………………………………………………
Student matriculation number:
………………………………………………………………………………
Date:………………………………………………………………………..
24


IP30000/IP30040 Dissertation: Semesters One and Two, 2010-2011

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IP30000/IP30040 Dissertation

Semesters One and Two, 2010-2011

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol Department of International Politics

Deputy & Welsh-Medium Coordinator: Dr Huw Williams, Ystafell/Room 3.17 International

1. Aims and objectives:

The dissertation is an important element of the Department‟s undergraduate programme. It provides

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

2.2 Dissertation Fair and Dissertation Forum

2.3 Dissertation advising

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

2.4 Managing anxiety, time and maintaining writing discipline

2.5 Peer mentoring and review

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

2.6 Module evaluation

2.7 Teaching programme

Dissertation Introduction and ‘Kick Start’

Lecture 1 Wednesday 13 October, 2010

General Introduction to Writing a Dissertation: choosing a topic

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Lecture 2 - Wednesday 27 October, 2010

Lecture 3 - Wednesday 3 November, 2010

Lecture 4 - Wednesday 1 December, 2010

The literature review and developing critical thought

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Lecture 5 - Wednesday 9 March, 2011

Presentation: the importance of argument, writing and referencing

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

3.1 Reading on research methods

Burnham, Peter et al. (2004) Research Methods in Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Bryman, Alan (2001) Social Research Methods. Oxford: OUP.

Burns, Robert (2000). Introduction to Research Methods. London: Sage

Hammersley, Martyn (1995) The Politics of Social Research. London: Sage.

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Sociological Research Online is a good online research methods journal:

3.3 Reading on writing a dissertation

Bonnett, Alastair (2001) How to Argue. London: Pearson.

Other useful material on writing a dissertation:

Allison, Brian (1993) A Guide To Dissertation Preparation. Leicester: ARIAD.

Grix, Jonathan (2004) The Foundations Of Research. London: Palgrave.

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Luck, Martin (1999) Your Student Research Project. Aldershot: Gower.

3.4 Resources for dissertation writing on the internet

4. Examples of good practice

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Choosing a topic and preparing a research proposal.

Burns, Robert (2000) Introduction to Research Method. London: Sage. Chapter 3.

Key terms, ideas and approaches

Compiling a literature review

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

The Social Science Gateway has a section on methods at http://www.sosig.ac.uk/politics/

A useful guide to comparative research is at http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/sru/SRU13.html

The data collection process

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Huff, Darrell (1981) How to Lie With Statistics. London: Penguin.

Wood, Michael (2003) Making Sense of Statistics. A Non-Mathematical Approach. Basingstoke:

Weinberg, D. (2002) Qualitative Research Methods. Oxford: Blackwell.

A list of web resources on qualitative methods is at http://www.sosig.ac.uk/roads/subject-

A useful article on interviewing techniques is at

A useful summary of approaches to qualitative research can be found at

Adran Gwleidyddiaeth Ryngwladol The Department of International Politics

Romm, N. (1998) 'Caricaturing and Categorising in Processes of Argument', Sociological Research

Turning your literature review into a dissertation.