Tick one box: POSTGRADUATE project UNDERGRADUATE project

Tick one box: POSTGRADUATE project UNDERGRADUATE project

Title of project:

Date:

Student name:

Student Department/School:

Student email address:

Name of supervisor:

YES NO N.A.

1 Will you describe the main experimental procedures to participants in advance, so that they are informed about what to expect in your study? 2 Will you tell participants that their participation is voluntary? 3 Will you obtain written informed consent for participation? 4 If the research is observational (including audio, video, and/or online), will you ask participants for their consent to being observed? 5 Will you tell participants that they may withdraw from the research at any time without penalty and for any reason? 6 If using questionnaires or interviews, will you give participants the option of omitting questions they do not want to answer without penalty? 7 Will you tell participants that their data will be treated with full confidentiality (and will be anonymised) and that, if published, it will not be identifiable as theirs? 8 Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e. give them a brief explanation of the study and give them the opportunity to ask questions)? 9 Will your project involve deliberately misleading participants in any way? 10 Is there any realistic risk of any participants experiencing either physical or psychological distress or discomfort? If Yes, give details on a separate sheet and state what you will tell them to do if they should experience any problems (e.g. who they can contact for help). 11 Will you tell participants that if you plan to use their data for another research project you will do so with their expressed written consent? 12 Will you explain to the participants how do you plan to treat and for how do you plan to store their data? 13 Do participants fall into any of the following special groups? If they do, please tick box B overleaf. Schoolchildren (under 18 years of age) People with learning or communication difficulties Clinical patients, e.g. mental health issues People in custody People engaged in illegal activities (e.g. drug-taking) 14 Background of research project (200 words maximum) In this section you explain the overall aim of the research project and outline specific research questions. It should indicate why the study is an area that should be explored and identify the benefits that the research project might bring.

15 Brief outline of project and study method (300 words max) Outline the methodology used in the project, including the research design, data collection, and plans for data analysis. It should also address how informed consent will be achieved and explain how you will respond to participants expressed desire to withdraw from the project.

16 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for research participants (100 words max) Indicate what criteria will be used to select and/or exclude participants. Recruitment procedures should also be explained.

17 Data Protect. Explain the way in which the data will be processed and stored. This must comply with GDPR and data protection legislation. Please check the research ethics guidelines for more information.

Ethical implications: (tick one box)

A I consider that this project has no significant ethical implications to be brought before the Ethics Committee. B I consider that this project may have ethical implications to be brought before the Ethics Committee and /or it will be carried out with children or vulnerable populations. Student signature: Date:

I am the manager or supervisor for this research. I have read this application and approve it. I do not consider that any part of the research process will cause physical and/or psychological harm to participants, or be detrimental to the reputation of Richmond, The American International University in London.

Supervisor signature: Date:

Submit the completed form and attachments as an electronic copy in a DOC format (please do not submit your application in a PDF format) to researchethics@richmond.ac.uk with Student Ethics Research Application in the subject line.

Please ensure that you have attached copies of all relevant supporting documents as approval to proceed cannot be granted until these are received:

participant consent form

data collection materials, e.g. questionnaires, interview questions, observation guide

debriefing information (compulsory for Psychology; applicants in other disciplines to consult supervisor)

any other supporting documents

OUTCOME

To be signed by a Member of the Research Ethics Committee: tick one box.

I grant ethics approval for this research I do not grant ethics approval for this research (provide rationale below) Provide rationale and advise amendments to the research

The application has been evaluated and needs minor revisions based on the following issues:

Signed: Date:

Printed Name:

APPENDIX A: Research Participant Informed Consent Form

PARTICIPATION CONSENT FORM

Full title of Project:

Brief Description of Project:

Name, position, and contact email of Researcher(s):

Please Initial Box (type if emailing consent)

45402505651500I confirm that I understand the purpose of the study and have had the opportunity to ask questions.

I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I

am free to withdraw at any time, without giving reason.

1511303175000

I agree to take part in the above study. 151130698500

I agree to the interview being audio and video recorded

147320483096001511309715500

I agree to the use of anonymised quotes in publications

Name of Participant: Date:

Signature:

Name of Researcher: Date:

Signature:

Name of Course Instructor:

Email address of Course Instructor:

399288697991

MBA &

MA Luxury Brand Management

Capstone Projects Professional Project

+

Extended Professional Project.

Dissertation Handbook

SPRING 2024

39928869799139928837694863992886578600

Contents

Dissertation overview and description3Learning outcomes and assessment3Summer 20234The Postgraduate Dissertation Key points to remember5The role of the Postgraduate Research Project supervisor7Data protection-IMPORTANT8The structure for your dissertation and how to submit it10DISSERTATION STRUCTUTRE11Chapter 1 Introduction11Chapter 211Chapter 311Methodology11Chapter 4 Results/Findings12Chapter 512Analysis and discussion12Chapter 612Conclusions, Limitations and Recommendations for further research12Presenting your Dissertation for final submission12Plagiarism14Research and ethics16Final considerations19How your project and presentation will be marked21399288697991

Dissertation overview and description

The dissertation is designed to develop your wider appreciation of academic research and exploration of in-depth contemporary issues in the fieldsof business and management and produce knowledge transferrable to the business world.

The dissertation is the preparation of an extended research project. This activity is designed to enhance your professional development, the functional skills of problem solving and written communications along with the production of material utilising information technology.

This individual and independent research project is designed by you to fit with contemporary issues under research and investigation. The production of the project in most incidences will include the use of theoretical concepts/academic models to provide a basis for analysis and discussion and you will also be required to defend your findings to your peers in the presentation format.

Learning outcomes and assessment

The Learning Outcomes and Assessment for this Dissertation/Extended Dissertation are outlined in the dissertations syllabus which is available via Blackboard. Successful completion of the dissertation will mean that you have achieved the following:

Critically appraise topic literature and produce viable aims and objectives for study

Critique and deploy an appropriate research methodology to validate arguments

Integrate theoretical concepts/models to establish reliable and justified research

Draw appropriate conclusions and recommendations

Coursework (CW - 100%)

Professional Project = 7,000 Maximum.

Extended Professional Project = 10,000 words Maximum.

N.B. Students taking the Professional Project also must complete an internship and 5,000 internship project.

In exceptional circumstances candidates may be asked to perform a viva voce examination.

During the months that you will spend undertaking this research activity the university is required to monitor your attendance. Contact with your supervisor via email, in person or via online conferencing will be registered. Scheduled online meetings that will require your participation. Meetings and key dates for this period of time are as follows:

399288697991SPRING 2024

Meeting Date Purpose

1 29-Jan to 2 Feb

2024 The First Meeting Group Meeting with supervisor to discuss your research dissertation proposal, proposed research methods and agree meeting process.

Online. Supervisor will send you a link.

Attendance is compulsory

Online Submission 1 19th February 2024 Outline Submission of:

Rationale

Aim and Objectives

Literature Matrix (tabulated content of lit review)

Outline of Methodology

Ethical Approval for supervisor to sign

Feedback will be given on Blackboard

2 26 Feb to 1 March

2024 The second Group meeting supervisor: Opportunity to raise questions about the feedback and ask for further advice.

Online. Supervisor will send you a link.

Attendance is compulsory

Ethical Approval Deadline 4th March If you are undertaking any form of primary research that requires Ethical Clearance, you must submit an Ethical Clearance form (found within the dissertation site) by 4th March 2024. Please refer to the section on Research and Ethics which appears later in this handbook. YOU MUST HAVE PREPARED ANY DATA COLLECTION TOOLS (e.g.

questionnaires, interview schedule etc.) BEFORE YOUR SUPERVISOR CAN APPROVE THIS. THE ETHICAL APPROVAL FROM MUST BE SENT TO

researchethics@richmond.ac.ukThere is s 7-day minimum turn around for ethical approval.

FAILURE TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC FAIL GRADE

3 25-29 March Individual Meeting with your research project supervisor to discuss progress to date receive feedback on any work submitted.

Online. Supervisor will send you a link.

Attendance is compulsory

Draft Submission MONDAY

8th April 2024 Your final submission for draft work.

LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PRIOR APPROBAL BY YOUR SUPERVISOR

Written Feedback will be given on Blackboard

Final Submission MONDAY

29th April

2024 The final submission date for your project will be Thursday 31st August and your work will be submitted via SafeAssign on Blackboard

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The Postgraduate Dissertation Key points to remember

Success with your research project leads to the award of a masters degree; without attempting or passing this final project, you may achieve a Postgraduate Diploma - as long as you have The University of Richmond requirement for being awarded the Diploma.

Students must successfully pass all taught courses before they can progress to dissertation.

Shortly before you finish your taught courses you will be asked to complete an detailed research proposal and allocated a research supervisor. From this point you will have approximately 4 months to produce a business, management or related discipline research dissertation. An interdisciplinary approach to the dissertation is also considered appropriate.

Students undertaking an Internship will complete a 5,000 word internship project + 7,000 maximum word dissertation

Students not taking an internship will complete a 10,000 maximum word dissertation.

Experience has shown us that you will need all these 4 months in which to succeed and so starting the process late not effectively using the first few months, for example usually results in a dissertation failing to reach the pass mark.

The production of a postgraduate extended project is a challenging piece of work and consequently one that you need to ensure you have planned for and are working effectively on with your project supervisor. Starting fulltime work or simply not staying in contact with your supervisor will usually mean your work will not reach the pass mark: relying on communicating with your supervisor via email contact only is very unwise and often results in a poor performance. As mentioned, it is essential that you have regular and planned video conference meetings with your supervisor and bear in mind that your attendance at meetings is monitored. Should you not, your supervisor may refuse to work with you.

Few or no meetings with your supervisor may result in you being required to attend a Viva Voce. This is a formal examination where you will be required to demonstrate full understanding and ownership of the submitted work. If you cannot demonstrate this, at best, we may not accept the work for assessment and we may award a Postgraduate Diploma; at worst, we may initiate proceedings for plagiarism/academic misconduct. If you cannot attend for a face-to-face Viva, we will continue with proceedings in your absence.

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For students in the UK with a Tier 4 student visa UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) rules require us to keep monthly reports from your project supervisor on both attendance and your effort/work shown. We are required to pass names and details onto the UK Visa and Immigration agency of those who do not make and maintain regular contact with their supervisor.

Any student that uses primary research will be required to keep and show, on request, evidence of all completed questionnaires, interview transcripts etc., and will be expected to provide contact details of those who took part in the primary research. If you cannot produce these when asked to, at best, we may not accept your dissertation for assessment and at worst, we may initiate proceedings for plagiarism/academic misconduct. If in doubt, please contact the Postgraduate Director Prof. Greg Gannon GannonG@richmond.ac.ukTo ensure academic integrity, any and potentially all research project students may be called for a Viva Voce. The dissertation team may select at random any project to discuss with its author. We do this solely to promote academic integrity and transparency of process. It is essential that you are available for this Viva as if you are not, we may not be able to accept your work for assessment. If you have issues with availability, please contact the dissertation convener before the work is submitted.

All of our evidence and prior experience shows us that if you start your Postgraduate Project as soon as you are allocated a research supervisor and have regular meetings, this should result in success. The opposite is also true, however!

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The role of the Postgraduate Research Project supervisor

You will have a research project supervisor who will offer guidance and support throughout the research project process. However, you should observe the following points:

Your supervisor may not be your subject expert

As there will be a wide range of areas that students will choose to research in any year, it is not always possible to expect your project supervisor to be an expert in the field. However, and more importantly, you must remember that this requirement is simply not necessary. What is far more important and useful is your supervisors knowledge and experience in guiding and assisting you towards successful dissertation completion.

An important aspect to consider is that you will be assessed upon the research procedures you demonstrate, and not upon your topic per se. Your supervisors knowledge and understanding of the process, experience and requirements is what you should take full advantage of as this is why they are research supervisors.

Your project supervisor will rarely demand attendance at supervisory meetings

When you first meet your supervisor, you should discuss the most suitable days and times for your meetings. Should you not be able to make a meeting you must let your supervisor know in good time. Should you rarely turn up, or often turn up without agreed work completed, please do not be surprised if your supervisor eventually assumes that you have done little work or are not interested in progressing. A supervisor can do very little when limited or no work or effort is apparent. Please do not think all is well because your supervisor is not demanding work from you. Why should they?

Preparing for meetings with your project supervisor

At the end of your first meeting with your supervisor, please agree a broad way of working and the work that you will need to do before the next meeting, making sure that this is completed by the agreed time. You must make sure that all work sent to your supervisor in readiness for a meeting has been proof-read and grammar-checked and that your supervisor has enough time to prepare feedback on it sending work to your supervisor late will result in a wasted or cancelled meeting.

Make sure you get the most from your meetings by also preparing items for discussion. Sometimes, there may be valid reasons why you have not completed certain tasks. However, should this be the case on several occasions, you should consider your plans and re-evaluate your approach. So that the key points of each meeting are recorded, your supervisor will record the main points covered along with agreed action for the next meeting. Be pleased if your supervisor criticizes your work Although it may not be much fun at the time, a supervisor who constructively criticizes your efforts should be thanked and you should also expect your supervisor to challenge your approach and to expect answers to many questions. When you can answer all the questions your supervisor poses you will be in a position to produce good sections of your dissertation and prepare a worthy final draft.

In the context of your programme of study, you are set the task of producing an independent research project. This will demonstrate you are able to select a suitable and relevant topic or

399288697991area for study, design the most appropriate means for its exploration and offer a defended, justified and logical response to the issues identified as this is the highest form of academic activity. The Professional Project/Dissertation is a key mechanism through which the skills of analysis, problem solving, assimilation and presentation of data are developed and may, very possibly, be the only occasion where you have the autonomy to select your own questions and the means for approaching and evaluating them. Quite simply, you are exposed to the vagaries of unpredictability and independence, as opposed to being given questions, aims and objectives by a teaching team.

Primary and secondary research

This particular terminology is unfortunate, as you may think the implications associated with secondary research mean that it is inferior to primary research. This is not the case, however, and, if anything, secondary research may be more important, as this is where you will find numerous sources of information on theories, concepts, definitions, arguments and ideas. Often, secondary research is more challenging and difficult. Here you will have to read, understand and evaluate often quite complex theories and arguments, written in a formal and academic style.A project that includes no primary research should still have a methodology as here you can still discuss the sample of the literature you used and why, and what methods you adopted to ensure that the literature used was of the most relevant and appropriate type.

In your context, a project based upon secondary research has one essential advantage over a primary research study in that, from the start, secondary research allows you more control over your work. A primary research design will involve you having to negotiate access to a range of people and, quite often, these people may be busy and difficult to contact. You must ask the question - why should they give me their time and effort and, furthermore, why should they fill-out and return my questionnaires? Should you decide that primary research is required, please ensure that you have negotiated access to the necessary people in good time to implement a contingency plan if you are refused such access. The

lack of such a contingency plan is not only a common failing, but also a serious one. If you cannot access those people you need, then you cannot do primary research.

However, students are encouraged to explore new ways of generating data/information for their research that may replace or supplement more traditional data collection methods such as survey questionnaires and interviews. For instance, pictorial and video analysis, content analysis, document analysis are just some of the ways students have successfully researched topics such as: social media; marketing communications; employee attitudes; and customer behavior and attitudes in recent years. Students have also fruitfully generated new data/information through the primary analysis of already collected data by using such tools as Mintel or Google Analytics.

Data protection-IMPORTANT

399288697991The Data Protection Act (1998) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which became make clear that consideration of anonymity and privacy cannot simply be considered just a matter of ethics; it also has legal implications. The Act protects the rights of individuals in respect of personal data held, including that held by researchers. Whilst we insist that you keep both your primary data and your sample's contact details securely confidential, your project supervisor has the right to be informed of all details of those whom you are interviewing, observing, giving questionnaires to etc., and has a right of access to their contact details.

YOU MUST ONLY USE YOUR RICHMOND ONEDRIVE AS CLOUD STORAGE OR TO GENREATE FORMS.

THIRD PARTY CLOUD STORAGE OR FORM SURVEYS (GOOGLE, SUREVEY MONKEY ETC.) MAY NOT BE GDPR COMPLIANT.

WORK THAT USES THIRD PARTY DATA COLLECTION OR STORAGE WILL NOT BE GRADED.

Whilst adhering to the university code of research ethics, your research supervisor has the right to contact anyone who is included in your primary research sample and discuss with them the approach you have or have not taken during the course of your research. Your supervisor will never contact anyone in your sample without first discussing this with you and then agreeing a course of action, in writing, with the Dean of your School.

If you decide to use primary research, you will complete and submit the Application for Ethical Clearance form that is available on this dissertationsBlackboard site. If you carry out primary research before gaining ethical clearance, then the university will not be able to accept your work for marking and further action may have to be taken.

The above is an introductory overview to ethics in research. It is essential that you discuss any queries with your research project supervisor or the dissertation leader immediately. Please see Appendix 1 for more information relating to research and ethics.

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The structure for your dissertation and how to submit it

The following guide on the structure for your project must be followed as submission of a dissertation to a recognized journal would require adhering to similar instructions. Bearing in mind that you may produce a dissertation that your supervisor could feel is worthy of submission to a journal under co-authorship, these guidelines are reflective of this requirement.

Please bear in mind the importance of reading as many dissertations as possible not only to research your topic area but, just as importantly, to see the various ways in which they may be structured key elements we expect to see, or not, in all dissertations are as follows:

Title page (not page numbered)

The title shown on your title page should accurately reflect the nature of the study and be brief and concise. A subtitle may be included if it clarifies the purpose of the study. A template of the title page is available on the dissertations Blackboard site.

Author's Declaration Form

When submitting your dissertation, you must complete an Author's Declaration Form which should appear as the second page of your submission.The Declaration Form can also be found on the dissertation site.

List of Contents

A list of contents (chapters and sub-sections) with page numbers should be included.

List of Figures

A list of figures (graphs, tables, images etc.) with page numbers should be included.

List of Abbreviations

A list of abbreviations or acronyms should be included.

Structured abstract & keywords (providing page numbers begins here)

Your abstract should provide a succinct summary of your project as it would influence a potential readers decision on whether or not it may be worth reading when undertaking a research project. As this is the first section of your dissertation that an assessor will read, you need to make sure that it is written correctly and fluently first impressions count. You will come across numerous examples of abstracts when undertaking research for your dissertation ask yourself which ones have impact, which ones do not and why.

At the start of your dissertation, therefore, you must supply a 250 word structured abstract (this is a maximum number of words that will include keywords and dissertation classification) set out under the 5 sub-headings below, with a maximum for each sub-heading also shown

Purpose (mandatory 100 word maximum)

Methodology/approach (mandatory - 80 word maximum)

Findings (mandatory 100 word maximum)

Practical implications (mandatory 80 word maximum)

Originality/value (mandatory 80 word maximum)

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You must avoid the use of personal pronouns within the structured abstract and body of the dissertation (e.g. "this paper investigates..." is correct,while "I investigate..." is incorrect).

DISSERTATION STRUCTUTRE

Below is a generic guide to dissertation structure. Some dissertations may benefit from taking very different structures. For example, sometimesit is appropriate to write a chapter detailing a specific case study. Below is a general guide. Do not be afraid to be creative. Consult with your supervisor about structures that work best for your project.

Chapter 1 Introduction

This is the start of your dissertation proper and like other written communications, is best introduced by carefully devised writing that establishes the overall area of research, establishes an aim for your research, arouses interest and communicates the information essential to the readers understanding of what follows. For most dissertations, the best way of introducing the research area is to offer an overview of the definitions and show knowledge of any competing definitions and clarify concepts. Present the basic facts first and leave the more thorough discussion until later.

When seeking to provide a rationale for your research, it is often useful to suggest that (i) you are undertaking your study to clarify issues on a complex area (ii) the study is being done to assess the applicability of a theory (iii) the area chosen is one that appears to have been ignored for

some time by other researchers and that there is, perhaps, a possible gap in the literature or (iv) you find existing research on your topic unsatisfactory.

This usually accounts for approximately 10% of your dissertation

Chapter 2

A literature review and theoretical framework (sometimes placed after the methodology)

Your dissertation must contain a review of appropriate literature that is focused around your

research topic and uses a range of business and management sources. Your supervisor will also ask you if your dissertation demonstrates an adequate understanding of the relevant literature in your research field, does it cite an appropriate range of literature sources and is any significant work ignored? If you are choosing to present your dissertation as a literature review, then this section obviously takes on additional importance.

This usually accounts for approximately 30% of your dissertation

Chapter 3 Methodology

(sometimes placed before the literature review)

Your methodology should explain and justify why you have adopted the methods you have. For instance, why are questionnaires most suited to your study rather than interviews or observations instead? You should give details of how the method(s) were deployed - how were

399288697991the questions constructed, how was the sample size determined, what was the procedure for executing the method, and did you have any plans for ensuring youachieved the required response rate, for example? Your supervisor will also ask you to consider if arguments and discussions that you use within your dissertation are built on an appropriate base of theory, concepts, or other ideas and are the methods employed appropriate?

This usually accounts for approximately 10%-15% of your dissertation depending on the research approach taken.

Chapter 4 Results/Findings

If you are undertaking primary research, your results will be presented in this section and it should be a clear and concise. Your supervisor will ask you to ensure that your results are presented clearly and are then analysed appropriately.

Chapter 5

Analysis and discussion

It is important not to spend too much time simply describing what you have found. Analysing and evaluating your results are essential elements of your dissertation and should refer back to your theoretical framework and key elements of your reading - this is how you should analyse and evaluate your findings. As well as reading widely on methods of analysis and evaluation, you should seek your supervisors advice on the presentation of this section.

Chapters 4 AND 5 usually account for approximately 40% of your dissertation.

In some dissertations it might be appropriate to merge chapters 4 and 5 into one chapter called Findings and Discussion. This would still account for approximately 40% of your dissertation.

Chapter 6

Conclusions, Limitations and Recommendations for further research

Offer a brief discussion on what your study has and has not found as a useful prelude into your conclusions - these should not contain any new information as, essentially, they are concise summaries of the key points to your work. Do your conclusions adequately tie together other elementsof the paper? Is your dissertation original and what does it bring to the research area? You should evaluate your contribution to the research area, suggest where you believe future research effort on this subject should be directed and put forward any limitations of your dissertation. This is always an interesting section to read as it shows that you are aware of what your research has and has not achieved, and of how your research study can be built upon by others. At the same time, you should also suggest what the implications of your research are for the sector applicable to your study, how the research can be used in practice (economic and commercial impact) and in research (contributing to the body of knowledge) This usually accounts for approximately 10% of your dissertation

Presenting your Dissertation for final submission

Your dissertation must obviously be original and cannot have been submitted or published

399288697991before in its current or substantially similar form, or be under consideration for publication. While you will obviously be submitting your work as a submission using SafeAssign, you must also submit 2 printed and bound copies to your supervisor on the submission date

As discussed below, you must use and pay full attention to the university guidelines for submitting work (available online). We expect professional presentation. To forgo marks due to careless presentation and a lack of willingness to proof-read the document would seem a shame. The following instructions give you the University standard for presenting your project for assessment and it is strongly recommended you follow these carefully as they aim to ensure that the work you submit will be presented in a professional and consistent manner:

Fonts

You must use Times New Roman size 12 for general text and sub-headings and size 14 for main headings. Please do not underline your text as it adversely affects its appearance and ease of reading.

Alignment and Spacing

Please use justified text throughout your dissertation

Work must be 1.5 line spaced, except leaving one-line space between sub-headings and text

Paragraphs should be separated from each other by twice as much white space as there is between lines. This can be achieved by using two hard returns.

Wherever possible, no gaps should be left on a page unless a chart means you have to.

Only main headings or new tasks should start on a new page not sub-headings.

Tables, charts and graphs should be centered on a page wherever possible and should be of approximately the same size wherever possible.

Bullet points and numbers can use the pre-given Microsoft Word settings.

Headings

Major headings should be typed in upper- and lower-case letters in size 14, in bold and aligned to the left-hand margin

Sub-headings should be typed in upper and lowercase letters, size 12, aligned to the left margin and in bold.

Margins

Top and bottom margins are to be 2.5cms while left and right margins are to be 3cms Page, paragraph and section numbering and headers

Page numbers are to be size 12 and centered on the bottom of the page

Paragraphs in your dissertation should not be numbered as this can often become confusing and adversely affect presentation

Sections within your dissertation, such as the introduction, must be numbered

You should not insert either a header or footer on your dissertation

Numbering and Titling Tables and Charts

Please number each table Table 1, Table 2 etc. and each chart or graph as Figure 1, Figure 2 etc. Align these to the left-hand margin directly above the table or figure they relate to, giving each table or chart a title. The source for a table or figure should be in Times New Roman, size 12 and aligned to the left-hand margin below the chart or table itself.

Quotations

399288697991If a quotation is less than one line, it should be included in the main text enclosed in a double speech mark do not italicise or place it in bold. If the quotation is more than one line, then (i) separate it from the main text with a double hard return (enter) top and bottom and indented by 1 cm each side (ii) place it within double speech marks and (iii) type it in size 12 font.

Appendices

Appendices should be kept to a minimum. When used, they should be titled and presented in a professional and consistent manner. Title each one

Appendix A (with a description of the content), B, C, etc., and place this title in bold, Times New Roman size 12 and left aligned.

Paper and word-count

You must only use white A4 paper and you must include a word count at the (i) end of your dissertation and (ii) again at the end of your list of references

Plagiarism

Co-operation in the creation and pursuit of knowledge is encouraged and often necessary. However, such co-operation must be distinguished fromplagiarism. Plagiarism is the taking of someone elses thoughts, writings or efforts and claiming them as your own. Common examples of plagiarism in student work are as follows:

914704134167Failure to reference source material or unpublished work of other people Copying text without correctly quoting the original work and author Allowing another person to write some or all of the work for you

The University expects that your project is your sole effort and once you have signed the Declaration Form you have attested to this being the case. It is recognised that there is great value in discussions of general principles with others in order to understand the topic, but it is you who is responsible for submitting an individual piece of work. Your supervisor may suspect plagiarism if:

The work you submit is significantly different in content, style and quality to previous work your supervisor has seen and discussed with you

Your supervisor is not satisfied that during meetings that you can sufficiently discuss and

explain the content of your work and the procedures taken in its design, compilation and presentation or your supervisor has had little or no contact with you

9147047436Your supervisor recognises the unattributed work of others

You claim a primary research study but cannot provide evidence of any primary research having been carried out.

Should plagiarism be suspected, then university procedures (found in your student handbook) will apply please read these carefully. If you are in any doubt about whether an intended sentence or passage in your dissertation could be construed as plagiarism, then check with your supervisor -it is your responsibility to do this - no one elses.

The burden of proof will be on the candidate to show evidence for the originality and

399288697991authenticity of their work. Examiners will look for evidence of:

document drafting and editing.

dates of downloads of online articles.

If sources are not available through the university library evidence of when and how they were accessed.

Email chains for interviews and surveys.

It is very important to the University that students, staff and any external bodies are clear and certain that any project submitted to the university is indeed that students own work and that any data collected and reported therein is indeed true and accurate data and we are sure that we do not need to explain to you the importance of this being the case. To help ensure this clarity and certainty, will you please ensure that:

All data collected in a primary research study is kept and made available to your supervisor and to the dissertation leader on request. If you are unable to produce evidence of primary research that you claim to have undertaken (all the completed questionnaires, interview tapes, interview notes, transcripts) may be ineligible for assessment. If this is the case, the Postgraduate Academic Director or other delegated faculty member will then have to discuss with you the procedures you adopted, the evidence you collected and the sample you collected it from and we reserve the right to contact your sample to discuss your study further.

Those copies (digital or hard copies) of all the dissertations, books, publications etc. that you cite in your dissertation are kept and made available to your supervisor and the Academic Director on request. If you cannot produce these your dissertation may be ineligible for assessment. We will then have to discuss with you in detail the content of the sources you have used in your work.

Please do not place such materials into appendices, however - simply keep them safe in case we wish to see them.

Both Richmond University faculty and External Examiners are often very impressed by the high standard of Richmond University student research and we trust that you will understand the above measures are intended to ensure these high standards remain.

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Research and ethics

If you intend to do PRIMARY RESEARCH, you MUST

DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR

COMPLETE AN ETHICS APPLICATION FORM AND HAVE THIS SIGNED BY YOUR

SUPERVISOR THEN SEND TO researchethics@richmond.ac.ukFAULURE TO GET APPROVAL FOR PRIMARY RESEARCH FROM YOUR SUPERVISOR AND FROM THE ETHICS COMMITTEE WILL RESULT IN A FAIL GRADE

Ethics is a complex subject, but in professional contexts some of its central concerns are:

to respect the autonomy of individuals

to avoid causing harm

to treat people fairly

to act with integrity

to use resources as beneficially as possible

These concerns are also very relevant to research, including the Postgraduate Conference Research Project. Ethics and research can be a complexand a wide area, and since research in almost every area can have ethical implications, the considerations given here are indicative of those it may be appropriate to bear in mind in all areas.

Respecting autonomy and informed consent - we respect autonomy when we:

equip individuals to make informed decisions about what they do

provide individuals with opportunities for making informed choices

do not prevent individuals from acting in accord with their informed decisions.

One way in which academic work can respect others autonomy is to provide them with adequate information about research projects so that they can make informed choices before participating in your study.

Some questions you might find useful when considering the extent to which autonomy is to be respected in your research

do the objectives or methodology of a research project fail to respect the autonomy of others because they involve deceit, dishonesty, privacy invasion or breaking confidentiality

are all likely participants, subjects and researchers, fully informed of the nature of the research before deciding whether to participate or allowinformation about themselves to be used?

is the situation in which people are invited to take part in research such that they will not feel pressured or coerced to do so?

399288697991will the consent of participants be gained before research proceeds?

is written consent to take part in research necessary/appropriate?

can participants withdraw at any time without feeling they might be penalized?

is research data to be used in ways not clearly stated to researchers and subjects?

These questions on research are not only concerned with respecting autonomy but with requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Avoiding harm - what counts as harm may be a matter of debate, but most frequently it is seen as whatever damages the interests of individuals.Sometimes this is extended to include the interests of institutions, such as universities and professions, and the communities in which research takes place.

Damage to the interests of individuals includes physical harm, psychological harm - such as unreasonable stress - invasion of privacy and damageto the social fabric of an individual's community.

Although higher education activities are expected to be challenging - and their value might be questioned if they are not - there is usually a clear difference between a challenging activity giving rise to some stress and it causing unreasonable stress or personal distress.

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Distress can be caused to students and research subjects when physiological or psychological data is collected about them which - it is ethically important to make individuals aware of this possibility and give them the opportunity to withdraw from the activity.

Some questions you might find useful when considering the importance of avoiding harm

has sufficient care been given to anticipating any physical or psychological harm or unreasonable stress which teaching, or research activities might cause to others?

have all steps been taken to eliminate possible harm or to reduce it as far as possible?

if adverse effects are possible on students, subjects, institutions or communities from the conduct of research or publication of its findings, are these ethically justified?

should a dissertation or research project be rejected or discontinued if its objectives cannot be achieved without the risk of harm? What is the justification for continuing it?

if risk of harm is foreseeable, is this clearly stated to participants as soon as possible?

Treating others fairly - we treat people fairly by treating them alike unless there are good reasons for treating them differently. There is a good reason for treating people differently from each other only when there is a difference between them which is relevant to the particular situation. Generally speaking, we treat people fairly if we:

do not allow any personal views we may have to affect the quality of service we give to each individual

treat individuals differently from each other only when there are differences between them which are relevant to the situation

when there are relevant differences between individuals, treat them in ways which are appropriate to those differences

This is an introductory overview to ethics in research. Should you need further information, please discuss any queries you may have with your supervisor or the dissertation leader as soon as is possible. Further ethics may encompass issues of plagiarism. However, please refer to your HE Handbook for further details on this issue.

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Final considerations

Your finished project should be an example of a professionally presented document. Many students seem to waste the opportunity of picking-up extra marks by not paying attention to how the dissertation looks and proof-reading the contents. Microsoft Word provides a series of tools that check and format documents please use them. Although the grammar check available in Word is not always totally effective, by using it you will at least be focusing upon the suitability and correctness of your language use.

In research, as in any academic document, you have to deal with concepts, theories, ideas and explanations that may require terminology not used

in everyday language. Consider Lockes (1993, p.8) point:

...the language we use in everyday lives is common language. We acquired our common language vocabulary and grammar by a process that was gradual, unsystematic, and mostly unconscious. Our everyday language serves us well, at least as long as the inevitable differences in word meanings assigned by different people do not produce serious failures of communication.

Although you may have to use some complex terminology, aim to write simply, clearly and concisely. Please be cognisant with unbridled circumlocution and periphrasis encumbering rather than expediting your cogent ruminations. Althoughcircumventing the vernacular and colloquial is meritorious, plethoric peregrinations and commodious dialectic will result in a pleonastic approach that will perplex, exasperate and detract the reader as much as the last few lines have you. If it can be written simply, write it simply. If it cannot, then write it carefully. The assessor expects a carefully written, clear and proof-read document.

A common reason for a dissertation not achieving what it had the potential to achieve is the improper and ineffective use of the English language. This tends to be more pronounced in native English speakers; those for whom English is a second language have often learnt the complexities of grammar and syntax. Further, possibly because it is their second language, overseas students often pay moreattention totheir use and presentation of English; they often spend more time checking and re-checking what they have written. Whilst we often find that students, for whom English is their first language, simply assume they can write fluently and correctly, their evidence rarely confirm this.

This document was drafted five times before a final, sixth draft was proof-read by several people - be prepared to draft each section you write several times before it begins to take shape. We cannot emphasise enough the difference an hour or two checking through your document will make. See below for a checklist that may help in the final stages of your dissertation.

399288697991Is your dissertation clearly structured?

Does your abstract accurately reflect the content of the dissertation and does it have impact?

Does your introduction introduce the whole work or just key terms?

Has your literature review been related to your later sections, such as your discussion and conclusions?

Does your methodology include your procedure/approach?

Where have you described, where have you analysed and where have you evaluated?

Is there a suitable use of headings and sub-headings to guide the reader?

Are all conclusions clear, concise and related to your main sections?

Have you included recommendations for further research?

Are all references included and presented correctly in a references list?

Is all appendices material relevant and referred to?

Are you happy that the writing is clear, simple and direct?

Has your dissertation been proof-read?

399288697991How your project and presentation will be marked

Your project will be marked by your supervisor using an adapted version of the Grade Criteria for Level 7 (Masters) and will represent 100% of the dissertation and a copy of this marking sheet will be available via the dissertation site. Before the marking of projects begins, a standardization meeting will take place for supervisors to agree marking parameters in order to establish that marking is fair and consistent.

Your project will be awarded a mark that remains provisional until it has been ratified by the Board of Examiners. A representative sample of all project submissions will be scrutinized as part of the university moderation process to ensure that, as above, marking has been fair and consistent and that the basis on which marks have been awarded is transparent. At the same time, the process seeks to ensure that feedback is both sufficient, constructive and reflective of the marks awarded.

Importance of Word Countsand Presentation Timings Assignment word counts and presentation timings should always be observed. Ignoring a word count

increases significantly the risk of your work losing marks because it lacked structure, flow, focus and clarity.Timings must be observed for

assessed presentations for the same reasons.

E-submission https://blackboard.richmond.ac.uk/ultra/courses/_4288_1/cl/outlineLate Submission https://www.richmond.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Late-Submission-of-Coursework-Policy.pdfGrading Policy https://3d50fu3mup51tmdxz3zef8dq-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp- content/uploads/2018/08/Grading-Policy-Postgraduate.pdfSupport for students

with additional needs https://www.richmond.ac.uk/study-abroad-at-richmond/students- with-additional-needs/Academic Policies

(Postgrad) https://www.richmond.ac.uk/policies/#toggle-id-4Mitigating Circumstances https://3d50fu3mup51tmdxz3zef8dq-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp- content/uploads/2018/08/Mitigating-Circumstances-Guidance.pdf