Dissertation: Extended Literature Review (Level 6)

Credits: 40 credits at Level 6.

Why study this subject?

Studying a dissertation module will help you top-up your current qualification to a full degree and develop your knowledge and understanding of a specialist area, relevant to your field of practice.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Led by supportive staff, on successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• demonstrate the ability to appraise and critique published research
• critically evaluate strategies for the collection and analysis of literature in the preparation of a literature review proposal
• demonstrate critical and analytical skills in a carefully designed, logically developed review of the relevant literature
• demonstrate a questioning and analytical approach to practice and critically evaluate an aspect of care where evidence needs to be addressed
• demonstrate, through the critical evaluation and analysis of the literature, the ability to develop evidence-based recommendations to enhance the delivery of care.

This module is the final module of your BSc (Hons) Professional Practice course. You can enrol if you have completed your 90 level 6 credits (having previously achieved 120 level 5 credits).

In order to complete this degree, you can automatically transfer these credits on enrolment within a six-year period, otherwise application through the CATs Committee will apply.

You must complete a minimum of 60 credits towards your BSc (Hons) Professional Practice with Buckinghamshire New University (BNU). You are also required to have completed a module with BNU within the previous three years to access the dissertation.

What will I study?

Over the 15 weeks, we will teach the following:

• development and presentation of the literature review
• evidence based practice and clinical effectiveness
• evaluation of sources of knowledge
• rationale for critique of the literature
• advanced literature searching skills
• examination of research designs:
• quantitative designs
• qualitative designs
• issues of rigour, trustworthiness, bias, usability and generalisability
• concepts of hierarchy of evidence
• analysis and presentation of data.

How will I be taught and assessed?

The module is delivered in the form of five study days, with indicated content weighted at the beginning of the module to provide you with the relevant knowledge required to undertake the extended literature review process. The teaching days will be delivered via a hybrid teaching approach, with ongoing support from a dissertation supervisor.

The summative assessment will take the form of an extended review of the literature relating to the student's chosen topic.

By successfully formulating a research question, searching for, appraising and critiquing relevant literature, identifying themes in the literature and identifying recommendations for practice as a result of this review, you can meet the learning outcomes for this module.

This course is based out of our Uxbridge campus.