DISSERTATION - 2023/4

Module Overview

The module includes two aspects: literature review; and dissertation & presentation. The literature review is intended to give you experience in writing a literature review on a technical topic, the feedback on which will assist in writing the dissertation. In addition, it will give you an opportunity to learn in detail about a specialised area not normally covered in the remainder of the programme. The dissertation is the culmination of the technical component of the programme, and will give you an opportunity to conduct research in a subject of your choosing related to audio engineering to a depth not possible during other parts of the programme. The presentation gives you an opportunity to present this to the rest of the year so that fellow students can learn from your findings.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

DE SENA Enzo (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 45

ECTS Credits: 22.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

• TON1023 Audio Signal Analysis
• TON1024 Computer Systems
• TON1027 Acoustics and Psychoacoustics
• TON1028 Audio Engineering and Recording Techniques
• TON1029 Audio Electronics 1
• TON2023 Audio Engineering and Electronics 2

Module content

 Indicative content includes:

• An initial plenary session in which the purpose of the module will be outlined and advice given on planning and suitable topics.


• A plenary session where the content of the Literature Review will be agreed between you and the lecturer during Semester 1.


• Lectures on academic research, writing style, structuring reports, presentation skills, listening test design, and statistical analysis.


• The content of the Dissertation will be agreed between you and the module co-ordinator during Semester 1.


• Regular tutorials with your dissertation supervisor.

 The following topics will be covered in lectures:

• Research methods


• Technical writing skills


• Presentation skills


• Listening test design


• Statistical analysis

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate research skills in the form of a literature review, and technical writing and presentation skills in the form of a detailed dissertation.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Literature Review on a subject of your choosing (addresses learning outcomes 1,2,5,6,7).


• Dissertation. A research-based dissertation on a different topic from that of your Literature Review (addresses learning outcomes 1,2,4-12).


• Presentation on the topic of the Dissertation and will be delivered to the class during Semester 2 (addresses learning outcome 3).

These assessments are designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of your chosen specialist subject. 

Formative  assessment

Formative feedback will  be given for  a Dissertation  progress  report  submitted  in  Semester  1 (with a word limit of 2,000 words). This must include:

• A summary of the motivation for the dissertation


• A list of research questions with appropriate justification


• A brief summary of the literature review (answering some of the research questions)


• An outline experiment plan (including an explanation of how it will answer the remaining research questions)


• A time plan for the remainder of the dissertation


• An outline of the chapter and section layout of the final dissertation

Formative feedback will also be given to you as noted below.

Feedback

You will receive written feedback on your Literature Review and verbal feedback from tutors and fellow students on your presentation. Verbal and/or written feedback will also be given through tutorial supervision throughout the year.

Module aims

• Introduce methods of academic research
• Increase knowledge of a specialised area of engineering
• increase skills in academic writing
• Develop confidence in presenting ideas to other people
• Enable research on a technical topic of your choosing

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: foster your independent technical and research skills across both semesters. By separating the content of the literature review and the dissertation, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in two different topic areas. You will be supported in your independent work through structured guidance in research, technical writing and presentations, as well as one-on-one tutorials. You will learn from each other’s presentations and the subsequent question and answer sessions, delivered during seminars inSemester 2.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Five two-hour lectures


• Two three-house workshops


• Four days of seminars


• Tutorial supervision of on average ½ hour per fortnight


• Coursework assignments and feedback

 


 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: TON3017

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.