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MATS65000
Dissertation (IFR and IFM)
2023-24
1. Unit Introduction
· This unit provides the student with the opportunity to study and research in-depth an international fashion retail topic.
· The students will gather secondary and primary data and analyse these and provide recommendations for future research and also for research implications and applications in the fashion retail industry.
2. Unit Aims
This handbook should be read in conjunction with the Department of Materials Undergraduate or Postgraduate Programme Handbook which can be found on the Undergraduate/Postgraduate Virtual Common Room on Blackboard
· To provide students with an understanding of the process of research in the international fashion marketing area and provide students with experience of the research process including literature reviews and primary data collection and analysis.
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Knowledge and understanding |
· Demonstrate in-depth and advanced knowledge, understanding and critical awareness of current issues in their subject, discipline or profession in an international context. · Demonstrate knowledge of professional responsibility, integrity and ethical considerations in an international context. |
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Intellectual skills |
· Demonstrate the cognitive skills of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, including the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, to detect false logic or reasoning, to identify implicit values, to define terms adequately and generalise appropriately. · Apply problem-solving and decision-making abilities using appropriate quantitative and qualitative skills including identifying, formulating and solving business and technical problems associated with the fashion industry. · Exercise original thinking and the ability to create, evaluate and assess a range of options together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of situations pertaining to fashion business. |
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Practical Skills |
· Find, evaluate, synthesise and use information from a variety of sources. · Express ideas effectively and communicate information appropriately and accurately using a range of media. |
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Transferable skills and personal qualities |
· Communicate complex ideas and arguments, in oral and written forms. · Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, exercise initiative and show personal responsibility. · Reflect on their own progress as a learner to identify strategies for improvement and development. · Articulate awareness of the social and community context within their disciplinary field. · Demonstrate independent learning ability to support their continued professional development. |
4. Teaching and Learning Process
This unit is delivered by individual student work and supported by a number of dissertation supervisions and dissertation workshops. Dissertation supervisions and dissertation workshops together with MATS61441 Research Methods should guide students through the dissertation project.
5. Unit Delivery
The dissertation period starts from the beginning of Semester 2 (30th January 2023) and ends with the submission deadline on Friday 8th September 2023. During the dissertation period, students will arrange regular meetings with their Dissertation Supervisors who will provide guidance and/or feedback on the research project.
The sequencing and timing of the dissertation activities have been designed in an integrated and complementally manner in order to maximise the student experience and to make the dissertation journey as smooth as possible. Table 1 provides an overview of the Key Dissertation Stages with Timelines, Table 2 privies details on the Research Proposal session delivered in semester 1, Table 3 provides details on the Dissertation Workshops, Table 4 provides details on the Dissertation Supervisory Meetings and Table 5 provides details on the overall Guide to the Dissertation Journey.
Table 2: Research Proposal Support Sessions
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THREE Research Proposal Support Sessions |
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Description: These are designed to provide guidance and direction on the research proposal. |
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Delivery: There are three research proposal support session as indicated below:
13th November 2023 22nd November 2023 27th November 2023
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Key Points:
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· The research proposal is fundamental to the dissertation process. · Please follow the guidance and structure provided for the research proposal. |
Table 3: Dissertation Workshops
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FIVE Dissertation Workshops |
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Description: These are designed to address any issues related to the dissertation process. |
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Delivery: There are five dissertation workshops as indicated in Table 1 and these will be showing on your individual timetables. Each workshop will cover key points relating to the dissertation and address any questions and provide clarity as required. |
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Key Points:
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· It is important that students use the discussion board on Blackboard as a principal form of: · Discussion · Exchange and sharing of ideas, experiences and information · Feedback · It is the discussions and feedback on the discussion board that will be used in part to formulate the Dissertation Workshop sessions (in conjunction with feedback from Dissertation Supervisors as well as any direct or indirect feedback from students and academics). · These workshops are designed to supplement the dissertation supervisory meetings. |
Table 4: Dissertation Supervisory Meetings
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SIX Dissertation Supervisory Meetings |
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Description: The Dissertation is designed to allow students to demonstrate a wide range of skills that build on their course content through an independently driven and supervisory based process. Meetings with Dissertation Supervisors are a fundamental component of a successful dissertation outcome. You are very strongly advised to follow the advice and guidance provided by your Dissertation Supervisor throughout the Dissertation Process. |
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Delivery: There are six dissertation supervisory meetings and the nature of the dissertation and the focus on independent study allows for a scope of flexibility in how the supervision process is undertaken. All supervisory meetings will have an element of 1-2-1. The column titled ‘Dissertation Supervisions Meetings’ in Table 1 in this handbook is a ‘guide’ only and is flexible. |
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Key Points:
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· Your supervisor will contact you to arrange your first supervisory meeting scheduled for the week commencing 19th February 2024. · Establish a strong and positive working relationship with your Dissertation Supervisor. · Be organised and prepared ahead of any supervisory meetings. · Follow the advice and guidance provided by your Dissertation Supervisor. Throughout the Dissertation Process, you will speak with other students, other staff and a variety of other people as well as reading a significant amount of literature. As a result, you will be exposed to a diverse range of options and advice. This is good practice and is encouraged. However, keep your Dissertation Supervisor ‘in the loop’ (updated and involved) at all times and discuss any issues with your Dissertation Supervisor. Your Dissertation Supervisor is the one person that is closely connected to you and your dissertation – follow the advice and guidance provided by your Dissertation Supervisor. · Attendance and engagement with the supervisory process will be monitored. |
Table 5: Guide to the Dissertation Journey
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Guide to Dissertation Journey |
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Description: This is a general guide to the dissertation journey – i.e. the key stages involved in undertaking the MATS65550 Dissertation. These steps are based on the essential requirements of the MATS65550 Dissertation and have been split/distributed based on the start date of the dissertation (29th January 2024) and the dissertation submission date (6th September 2024). The Dissertation Supervisory Meetings have been aligned to this Dissertation Process. |
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Key Points:
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· The dissertation starts week commencing the 29th January 2024. · Use this Dissertation Journey Guide to plan your dissertation. · Every dissertation is different and every student’s circumstances are different. Therefore, although every student will progress through the same steps, they may do so at a different pace. · The steps, pace and progress of your dissertation will be discussed and agreed between the student and the Dissertation Supervisor. |
6. Student Participation
This is an individual piece of research, which requires you to attend meetings with your Dissertation Supervisor (the meetings and level of engaged will be logged). The following highlights and outlines your role as a student and the role of your supervisor in this process.
The student’s role:
A dissertation is the outcome of a student’s own work. The student is wholly responsible for the preparation of their dissertation, its contents, its quality and presentation to a satisfactory standard.
• Students are expected to show a high level of commitment, initiative, and organisation and be responsible for the management of their time and work.
• Students should maintain progress of their work in accordance with the stages agreed with supervisors.
• Students should frequently check their emails and the unit space on Blackboard to access any messages, announcements posted and updates to guidance notes or other information.
• Students are responsible for drafting, re-drafting and editing their work so the text is clear and comprehensible, the layout well-structured and the syntax appropriate.
• The dissertation period starts at the beginning of Semester 2 (29th January 2024) and ends with the submission of the student’s dissertation by 1pm on the 6th September 2024.
· Students are expected to be in attendance in Manchester on-campus for all of the dissertation supervisory meetings.
· Students should inform their supervisor in advance if they are unable to attend any scheduled meetings and arrange alternative meetings in agreement with their supervisor.
The supervisor’s role
The supervisor’s role is to provide general advice and guidance on the process of carrying out the dissertation, and, as and when appropriate, the structure and scope of the dissertation including the methodology, the associated ethical approvals, the analytical approach and the presentation required.
• Supervisors should give guidance about the nature of research, the standard expected and the planning of research programme to make sure the project is feasible within the time available.
• During the dissertation period supervisors are expected to set regular meetings to discuss progress and provide guidance and feedback. The meetings can be individual or in group depending on the nature of the topic to be discussed. It should be noted that such meetings will be scheduled around any periods of absence of the supervisor.
· Supervisors are expected to provide guidance and feedback to students’ research proposal (formative assessment).
• Supervisors are not expected to proof read drafts, although general feedback on the contents, structure and standard of academic writing should be given.