1. Introduction to the Dissertation

Introduction to the Dissertation Module

• Instructor: Dr. Valerie Todd

• Email: vat8@aber.ac.uk

Overview

• Components of the Dissertation Module:

  • Preparation Lectures

  • What is a Dissertation?

  • Dissertation Process

  • Assessment

  • Key Staff

  • Choosing a Topic

  • Choosing a Supervisor

  • What Next?

Preparation Lectures

• Schedule:

  • Introduction to the Dissertation Module (today)

  • Choosing a Topic (07/03)

  • Finding a Dissertation Supervisor (21/03)

  • Submit online form by 28/03 (1-week)

  • Dissertation Ethics Application Process (29/04)

  • Summer Deadline 1: 04/07 (10 weeks)

  • Autumn Deadline 2: 29/10 (provisional)

What is a Dissertation?

• Core characteristics:

  • Year-long core module taken in year 3

  • Begins in year 2 for preparation purposes

  • Mandatory for

    • Attainment of an honours degree

    • Eligibility for BPS accreditation

  • Involves conducting an empirical piece of research of your own choice

  • Written lab report similar to research methods classes

  • 9000 words

Individual Research Project

• Unique to the student, allowing for:

  • Choice of subject and methodology

  • Personal interest and application of learning

  • Supervised rather than taught format

  • 1-on-1 work with a supervisor

Dissertation Process

• Steps involved:

  • Familiarize with existing literature

  • Design the project collaboratively with the supervisor

  • Gain ethical approval

  • Conduct the study

  • Write up lab report

Assessment

• Two-part assessment structure:

  • Ethics Application (10% of Module Grade)

    • Deadline: 4th July (between year 2 and year 3)

    • Deadline: 29th October (year 3)

    • Must obtain ethical approval to pass the module

  • Research Report (90% of Module Grade)

    • Final submission due 24th April 2026

Key Staff

• Module Convenor: Dr. Valerie Todd

  • Responsible for module organization

• Supervisor: Allocated staff responsible for day-to-day supervision

• Additional Staff:

  • Sarah Gwenlan (Subject Specialist Librarian)

  • Technicians: Jose & Filip (psych-tech@aber.ac.uk)

Role of Supervisor

• Works 1-on-1 with students

• Up to 10 hours of supervision meetings (15 min, 30 min, 1 hour)

• Individual approaches may differ among supervisors

• Importance of building rapport and planning meetings

Year 2 Process

• Now:

  • Develop project ideas

  • Research staff for preferred supervisor (refer to Staff Research Interests document on Blackboard)

  • Contact staff to gauge interest in supervising

• After Lecture 3:

  • Submit research ideas and supervisor preferences by 28/03

  • Can make notes that only module lead sees to add notes on conversations you’ve had with lectures OR to say who you definitely don’t want

• After Easter:

  • Request a meeting with assigned supervisor

  • Begin the Ethics Approval process

Year Abroad or Industry Considerations

• Supervisor must be allocated now to ensure continuity during the year abroad

• Follow the standard process to minimize workload later

Picking a Research Area

• Consider:

  • Enjoyable modules

  • Career interests

  • Hobbies or personal interests

  • Relevant topical areas

  • Inspiration from SONA and supervisors’ interests

  • Opportunities for organizational access

Refining the Question

• After selecting a topic area, conduct thorough readings

  • Identify recent questions or debates in literature

  • Review future research suggestions in papers

  • Aim for a novel angle in your research question

  • Final question approval by supervisor is essential

Areas to Avoid or Consider Carefully

• Topics to approach cautiously:

  • Ethically sensitive groups or topics

  • Vulnerable participants

  • Projects involving schools, NHS, or prisons

  • Projects with distant data collection

  • Projects with tight deadlines for data collection

Sources of Inspiration

• Suggested reading:

  • Frontiers in Psychology: https://www.frontiersin.org/

  • BPS digest: https://digest.bps.org.uk/

  • BPS Psychologist: http://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/about

  • The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/uk

  • Staff lists available on Blackboard

Staff Areas of Methodological Expertise

• Quantitative (Statistics or Experimental):

  • Dr. Eva Baglova

  • Dr. Caitlin Baker

  • Dr. Hanna Binks

  • Dr. Gil Greengross

  • Professor Nigel Holt

  • Dr. Ioana Mihai

  • Dr. Gareth Norris

  • Dr. Catherine O’Hanlon

  • Dr. Alex Taylor

  • Dr. Victoria Wright

• Qualitative (Language Based Data):

  • Dr. Jason Bush

  • Dr. Antonia Ivaldi

  • Dr. Alison Mackiewicz

• Both Methodologies:

  • Dr. Trefor Aspden

  • Miss Alexandra Brookes

  • Dr. Gareth Hall

  • Professor Charles Musselwhite

  • Dr. Heather Norris

  • Ms. Kate Parsons

  • Dr. Saffron Passam

  • Dr. Simon Payne

  • Dr. Rachel Rahmen

  • Dr. Judith Roberts

  • Dr. Martine Robson

  • Dr. Valerie Todd

Departmental Equipment

• Available resources include:

  • Eye-tracker

  • Bio-pac physiological measures

  • Sensory deprivation chamber

  • Biological kitchen

  • Online survey software (JISC; PsyToolkit)

  • Developmental and qualitative laboratories

  • Dictaphones and video cameras

What Next?

• Begin considering personal interests for research topics

• Review staff research interests for possible alignment

• Utilize office hours for discussions with staff about potential ideas

  • Note: No guarantees of supervision can be made

Conclusion

• Thank you for attending

• Open for questions