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The Dissertation

Learn how to structure your advanced higher modern studies dissertation effectively. Discover how marks are allocated and guidelines for choosing a hypothesis, creating research questions, introduction, main body, and conclusion. Understand the importance of research methods in achieving a high mark.

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The Dissertation

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  1. The Dissertation Advanced Higher Modern Studies

  2. Marks Allocation • The dissertation is worth 45 Marks (the exam is worth 90) • How the 45 marks are allocated: • 10 marks for introductory sections • 25 marks for analysis and synthesis (main body of dissertation) • 10 marks for conclusions that address the hypothesis.

  3. Choosing a Hypothesis • Select from the approved list • It should be ‘slightly’ controversial • It is a statement which is to be proved or disproved • It encourages you to consider the other factors and weigh them up, e.g. “Bad parenting is the main cause of youth crime.” • You must now examine bad parenting AND the other factors which cause youth crime and decide in order to ‘test’ your hypothesis.

  4. Research questions • These are designed to help you ‘test’ (i.e. prove or disprove) the hypothesis • They break the research down into specific areas. • For the bad parenting hypothesis you might ask: • What are the causes of youth crime? • To what extent is there a link between bad parenting and youth crime? • To what extent is there a link between drugs/alcohol and youth crime? • To what extent is there a link between educational attainment and youth crime?

  5. The introduction – 10 Marks • Crucial to ‘setting the scene’ – first impression • Clearly state the hypothesis and research questions explaining the connection between them (always relate your research back to the hypothesis) • Summarise your research methods

  6. The Main Body – 25 marks • 3 – 4 main chapters (based on research questions) • Analysis is indicated by words and phrases such as: • “it can, therefore be concluded…” • “It is clearly not the case that….” • “from this is can be concluded that…” • Synthesis is when you draw from several different sources to arrive at a conclusion e.g. a statistical source and an academic paper or book • It is recommended that you have sub-conclusions at the end of each chapter

  7. How to get 25/25 for the main body • An approach that is analytical and not descriptive • clear and coherent argument that is fully developed • supporting evidence that has been critically appraised and attributed • analysis/synthesis that provide clear links with hypothesis/research questions

  8. Overall conclusion(s) – 10 marks • Marks include for sub-conclusions as well as the main conclusion • The conclusions MUST be: • based on the evidence collected • Valid • Detailed • Relevant • Directly linked to the hypothesis

  9. Research Methods • Crucial to the dissertation • Be described in some depth • Their use must be justified • Not included in the word count if contained in an appendix

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