Honours Project Survival Guide

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Who Am I?

• Jim Kelly
• j.kelly_at_abertay.ac.uk
• Student Academic Support Advisor

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Student Academic Support

• Advise students on learning in the university
  environment.
• How to write essays, reports, dissertations and
  other type of coursework.
• Advice on how to study for and perform in exams.
• How to become an effective researcher.
• Tuition in Statistics/ numeracy and research
  methodology.

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How use our resources.

• We have a website with advice you can access and
  download.
• http//studentacademicsupport.abertay.ac.uk/
• You can email us to book an appointment to see an
  advisor.
• studentacademicsupport_at_abertay.ac.uk/
• MSN
• studentacademicsupport_at_abertay.ac.uk

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Drop in to see us on the ground floor in the
foyer of the Kydd building..
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What is an Honours project?

• Own research project
• Involves picking topic area
• Planning project
• Reading around subject
• Doing own research
• Working with a supervisor
• Writing a dissertation.

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Supervision

• You are assigned a supervisor to guide you on
  your project.
• You must work with them and listen to their
  advice and direction.
• Meet with your supervisor as often as you can.
• Do not hesitate to discuss any problems you have
  with them.

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Time management

• Plan the project
• Identify specific goals
• Set deadlines to achieve specific goals
• Try to work on something every week
• Try to do research before Xmas vacation.
• Set aside plenty time for writing dissertation.

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Keep project moving

• You may have to wait before something happens to
  start research (e.g. Approval from the ethics
  committee).
• Dont put your project to one side.
• Do something elsereading or planning
  introduction.

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Research and Statistical Analysis

• If you have statistical analysis as part of your
  project
• Make sure you understand what you must do (If not
  ask someone).
• Check that the analysis fits the research method.
• Carefully check the statistical analysis for
  mistakes or misinterpretations.

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Fourth year will be busy!
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Plan your whole Forth Year

• Dont just plan your honours project
  carefullyplan all your work
• Find out from Module descriptors what other
  assessments you have.
• Note submission dates and factor these into your
  fourth year workload.
• Set deadlines for honours project work and
  assessment for other modules together!

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Dont Despair!

• Dont be frightened about the workload.
• You can manage it if you keep a positive
  attitude.
• Stick to your deadlines as much as you can.
• Keep on top of the work and you will be okay.

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Reading for the Dissertation

• You cannot read thirty plus books cover to cover.
• Choose most important sources.
• General books about the topic area
• Particular studies similar to your research.
• Data mine these sources to extract information
  you need to write the thesis.

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Doing the Research

• Allow plenty time to source materials/ special
  equipment.
• Start questionnaire /interview research as soon
  as possible
• Do pilot studies to test experiments /research to
  check procedures and materials.

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Writing up the Dissertation

• Minimise problems with writing research
• Keep careful notes of everything you do so you
  have accurate accounts to refer to.
• Make sure you have the details of all your
  sources so you have a complete referencing
  section.
• Refer to guidelines for the structure of the
  dissertation.

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Keep Meticulous Records

• Keep records of your research.
• Write down procedures of experiments or how
  research was carried out.
• Problems encountered with research.
• You will need this information for your
  dissertation.

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Structuring your dissertation

• Introduction/literature review
• Methodology/methods section
• Results/findings section
• Discussion/conclusion
• Recommendations
• Appendices

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Introduction/background

• Explanation of what your research is about.
• Overview/background of research area.
• Previous studies or research your study is based
  on.
• Brief explanation of how your study will be
  carried out.
• Outline research your research/aims questions.

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Methodology/Method Section

• More detailed account of how your research study
  was carried out.
• Details about participants.
• How experiment was carried out.
• Blow by blow account of entire procedure.

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Results/findings.

• Basic reporting on results of research/study.
• Can include graphs/tables to illustrate figures.
• Matter of fact style of language.
• No discussion of results here.

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Finished Product

• Interpreting your results-writing your
  conclusions
• Proofreading your dissertation.
• Checking style guidelines.
• The process of binding and submission.

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Interpreting your results

• When you write your dissertation discuss your
  results/findings in relation to your research
  aims/hypotheses.
• Discuss your results in relation to past
  research/previous ideas.
• Discuss your findings in relation to the wider
  literature.

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Proofreading Your Dissertation

• Leave time to carefully check your written
  dissertation. (Get someone else?)
• Check the structure, does it flow?
• Check for inaccuracies, vague explanation,
  markers must understand your work.
• Check for grammar, spelling and presentation.

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Checking Style

• Your honours dissertation will have to be
  written in a particular style index, line
  spacing, margin size etc.
• Guidelines exist for writing the dissertation,
  your project module guide will give you full
  details on how your project must be presented.

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Binding and Submission

• Once you print off copies of your dissertations
  you must have them bound before submission.
• The student centre does this for you for a small
  fee.
• Ensure you have left time at the end to check
  your dissertation and have it bound.

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How are projects Marked

• Honours projects tend to vary so widely across
  courses that there is no single marking scheme.
• For general information on how your project you
  should go on Oasis and look at the module
  descriptor.

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Main features markers look for.

• Research problem has it been well defined?
• Literature review have the works included been
  well chosen?  Have all the main works in the
  field been included?
• Originality of project how much of the project
  repeats other people's work?
• Structure has it been planned well?
• Data has it been collected appropriately? 
• Evaluation and analysis is it critical?  Is it
  well thought out? 
• Conclusion and discussion does it cover the
  important points?  Does it raise useful issues
  for further work?
• Presentation does it follow guidelines

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Further Information

• Visit Student Academic Support web page
• Completing your honours project
• http//studentacademicsupport.abertay.ac.uk/Honour
  s20Project20Guide/Introduction.htm