Comparison of economic development between China and Britain

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DISSERTATION MODULE DESCRIPTION 2019/2020

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The dissertation aims to enable students to demonstrate that they can identify research issue(s) or

problem(s), understand different research approaches, apply relevant research methods and analytical

techniques and write an academic report.

Students choose a dissertation topic from the list of available topics provided by the academic

staff. However, once the allocation of students to supervisors is done, there is also freedom for staff

and students to mutually agree on a topic that a student might have a very keen interest in, and which

is consistent with the research strengths of staff. There has been a continuing high demand for

supervision of dissertations in the economics, banking, and finance subject areas. Therefore, we have

had to employ highly qualified and experienced academic colleagues from other universities to

provide some supervision.

Empirical drop-in sessions will be provided during the summer period run by Postgraduate Research

Students to assist students with the empirical part of their dissertation. The PGHub is responsible for

informing students about the availability and timing of these workshops

The timing of activities related to the dissertation module:

- After Easter: MSc Econ Dissertation: Do’s and Don’ts! Available on the 21st April 2020. - Topics and supervisors are available to view from Tuesday the 21st April 2020 until 27th of

April.

- Choose your topic via Learning Central (under CARBS MSc IEBF&FE Dissertation) from Tuesday the 28th April 2020 (9.00 am) until

- The selection closes 5th May, 5pm (UK time) - June-September:

o Working on dissertation o Empirical drop-in sessions using Eviews and Stata (time and venues TBC)

- Friday 11th September 2020 (time TBC): Submission Deadline

Resit Examinations: Monday 17/8/2020- Friday 28/8/2020. Dissertation submission deadline is the

11th December 2020 (time TBC)

2. SUPERVISION: You will be contacted to arrange the first meeting with your supervisor. You are expected to meet

(or have direct contact) with your supervisor at least 4 times during the dissertation process (these

can either e-mail exchanges, phone or Skype calls, etc.). Supervisors will keep records of these contact

times.

You should bear in mind that your dissertation is your responsibility. It is a test of your ability to

carry out an independent in-depth study of a topic. Your supervisor’s role is to provide advice and

comment, but not to do any part of your dissertation. Please note that it is not their role to correct

any poor English.

The most important meeting is the first one. At the first meeting with your supervisor you should

introduce yourself and ask for advice on issues, such as: discussing the specific topic and a title for

your dissertation; the main research question or questions; literature references; the research methods

to be used and how to find relevant data. You and your supervisor must then schedule dates for further

meetings and contacts. At these contact points, your supervisor will comment and advise on your

progress, discuss any issues and agree with you as to any further work to be done.

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Please note that you are expected to contact your supervisor by email as soon as possible if you

encounter a major problem, i.e. do not wait for the next meeting. It is your responsibility to find out

when your supervisor will be available during the summer vacation, and to arrange meetings at times

your supervisor is available.

3. OTHER GENERAL COMMENTS TO ALL STUDENTS

The main requirements for your dissertation: Your dissertation should satisfy the following

requirements:

- Cover sheet for the dissertation: A completed cover sheet should be placed at the front of each copy of your dissertation before it is bound. If you have any doubt about where this

sheet should be placed, please speak to the PGHub before you bind your dissertation.

- Originality and independence: Your dissertation should be original and independent, i.e. it should make some distinctive and original contribution to the literature. It should be more

than just a report of findings from elsewhere. You have to do empirical and/or analytical

work.

- Comprehensibility: Your dissertation should be written in good English. The examiners may fail a dissertation if it is incomprehensible.

- Submission: you must upload an electronic version of your dissertation.

- Penalty for late submission: A dissertation submitted after the deadline will automatically get a mark of zero, unless an extension has been granted or there is a satisfactory reason for

the late submission, which must be supported by medical evidence.

- Plagiarism Form: The University takes a very serious view of plagiarism. You should not quote existing work without using quotation marks and appropriate referencing. Plagiarism

may lead to your dissertation being given a mark of zero or more serious penalties being

incurred.

- Ethics Form: You need to complete and sign the MSc dissertation ethics form. If you agree with your supervisor to use secondary data then you can use the Ethics 0, this form is signed

off by the Director of the IEBF and FE programmes.

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4. Indicative dissertation grading criteria

Grade Introduction Literature Review Methodology Data presentation Analysis Conclusions

Distinction

An introduction

that provides

excellent

motivation and

objective(s) for

the dissertation,

excellent

explanation of the

relevance and

context of this

research and states

the arrangement

of the rest of the

dissertation.

A literature review

that is relevant and

comprehensive in

scope and depth to

show:

- excellent

understanding of the

appropriate conceptual

framework and a

sound application of

the framework to a

research problem;

- directly supports the

research problem;

- identifies a testable

hypothesis/hypotheses;

and

- uses appropriate

sources of

information.

Excellent description

of the method of

analysis used is

provided;

- excellent description,

and justification, of the

variables and

technique(s) of

analysis used; and

- excellent

understanding of the

method/techniques

Excellent description

of

- the source(s) of

data used;

- the study period

used and the

justification for using

the period;

- how the data was

collected;

- how the study

sample was selected;

and

-summary statistics

of the sample (if

relevant).

Excellent graphical

representation of key

data and discussions

about the data

limitations

-A comprehensive

and focussed analysis

and

-Excellent

presentation,

interpretation and

discussion of the

results obtained from

the test(s) of the

hypothesis/hypotheses

-A comprehensive set of

coherent, logically-

derived conclusions

supported by, and drawn

directly from, the results

of the undertaken

analysis;

- excellent policy

recommendations based

on the analysed results;

- excellent explanation

of the relationship of the

conclusions to the

literature;

- a comprehensive

reflection on the

limitation of the study

- excellent

recommendations for

future research

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Grade Introduction Literature Review Methodology Data presentation Analysis Conclusions

Merit An introduction

that provides good

motivation and

objective(s) for

the dissertation,

good explanation

of the relevance

and context of this

research and states

the arrangement of

the rest of the

dissertation.

A literature review

that is relevant and

comprehensive in

scope and depth to

show

- good understanding

of the appropriate

conceptual framework

and a sound

application of the

framework to a

research problem;

- directly supports the

research problem;

- identifies a testable

hypothesis/hypotheses;

and

- uses appropriate

sources of

information.

Good description of

the method of analysis

used is provided;

- good description, and

justification, of the

variables and

technique(s) of

analysis used; and

- good understanding

of the

method/techniques

Good description of

- the source(s) of data

used;

- the study period

used and the

justification for using

the period;

- how the data was

collected;

- how the study

sample was selected;

- summary statistics

of the sample (if

relevant).

Good graphical

representation of key

data and discussions

about the data

limitations

A good analysis is

presented and related

to the objective(s) of

the dissertation; and

a good presentation,

interpretation and

discussion of the

results obtained from

the test(s) of the

hypothesis/hypotheses

is provided.

A good set of logically-

derived conclusions

drawn from the results of

the analysis undertaken;

and

- good policy

recommendations based

on the analysed results

- a good explanation of the relationship of the

conclusions to the

literature

- good recommendations

for future work and

- some reflection on the limitations of the study.

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Grade Introduction Literature Review Methodology Data presentation Analysis Conclusions

Pass An introduction

that provides a

satisfactory

motivation for the

dissertation and

explanation of the

research context

and/or contains the

objective(s) and

plan of the rest of

the dissertation.

A literature review

that shows a

satisfactory

understanding of the

relevant literature and

also does some of the

following:

- identifies appropriate

conceptual framework

and attempts to apply

the framework to a

research problem;

- supports the research

problem;

-identifies a testable

hypothesis/hypotheses;

and

- uses appropriate

sources of

information.

Adequate description

of the method of

analysis used is

provided;

- adequate description

of the variables and

techniques of analysis

used is also provided;

and/or

- adequate

understanding of the

method (and

technique(s), where

appropriate) is

demonstrated.

Adequate description

of the following is

provided:

- the source(s) of data

used; and/or

- the study period

used and the

justification for using

the period; and/or

- how the data used

was collected; and/or

- how the study

sample was selected;

and/or

- the summary

statistics of the

sample.

A satisfactory

analysis is provided

and related to the

objective(s) of the

dissertation; and

satisfactory

presentation,

interpretation and/or

discussion of the

results obtained from

the tests of the

hypothesis/hypotheses

is provided.

Adequate effort made to

draw and justify

conclusions from the

analysis undertaken and

to recommend further

research.

Little or no reflection on

the limitations of the

study and/or of any

recommendations for

future work.

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Grade Introduction Literature Review Methodology Data presentation Analysis Conclusions

Fail An introduction

that does not

provide a clear

motivation or state

the objective(s) of

the dissertation.

A literature review

that:

- fails to identify the

appropriate conceptual

framework or uses an

inappropriate

conceptual framework;

- is narrow or shallow;

- is largely irrelevant;

- lacks a testable

hypothesis or uses an

unsuitable

hypothesis/hypotheses;

and/or

- has inadequate

referencing of the

sources used.

Lack of a clear

methodology,

or application of an

inappropriate

methodology or test

technique(s) ;

or inadequate

description of the

variables or

technique(s) of

analysis used.

Lack of a clear or

inadequate

description of the

data used and their

sources

Failure to analyse the

data well;

or failure to present,

interpret or discuss

the results of tests

well;

or a weak or heavily

biased analysis of

data, presentation,

interpretation or

discussion of test

results;

or failure to relate test

results to the

hypothesis/hypotheses

tested.

Failure to draw

conclusions from the

results;

or a lack of

recommendations;

or failure to link

recommendations to the

conclusions drawn;

no discussion of

limitations of the study

and/or no

recommendations for

future work.