The document describes five tools to support postgraduate students in their research and dissertation writing when studying at a distance: 1. A dissertation proposal form to outline the rationale, research questions, methodology and plan for their study. 2. A dissertation planning tool to track their progress and needs at different stages of research and writing. 3. A knowledge and skills audit to self-assess their understanding and confidence in key areas of research. 4. A writing progress tracking tool with timelines to plan and monitor their dissertation writing. 5. A map of essential knowledge areas and stages to guide students through the research process.

1. Postgraduate supervision at a distance:
Tools to support the research and writing process
Teaching and Learning Festival, Unisa, South Africa
7 Sept 2011
--------
Dr Palitha Edirisingha (BDRA) and
Dr Ray Randall (Psychology)
With
Dr Tracy Simmons (Media & Communication) and
Dr Chris Comber (Education)
University of Leicester, UK.
Tool 1: Dissertation proposal form
Tool 2: Dissertation research planning tool
Tool 3: Dissertation research knowledge and skills audit
Tool 4: Dissertation writing progress tracking and diagnostic tool
Tool 5: A map of essential knowledge areas and stages in a postgraduate
research study

2. Tool 1: Dissertation Proposal Form
<course / programme title>
Dissertation Proposal Form
Please complete this form and send it to your tutor.
Deadline for Submission of Proposal [date as relevant]
This must be accompanied by the Ethical Approval Form
Rationale for the study
Personal professional: (Why
is this area of study
important/relevant to you?)
Educational: (What is the
nature and importance of the
educational problem/issue
that you wish to investigate?)
Academic: (What is the ‘gap
in the literature’ that the
study seeks to fill?)
Provisional Research
Questions: (normally three
or four)
Key educational concepts
on which your assignment
will draw
Key texts to be used
Key educational
theories/concepts on
which your dissertation
will draw

3. Proposed Methodology
(provide brief rationale for
each choice)
Methodological framework
(paradigm)
Methodology (e.g. case
study, action research..etc)
Sample/Participants
Method(s) of data collection
Proposed method(s) of
data analysis
Location (where is the study
to take place?)
A risk analysis
(a list of major risks and
steps that you have taken /
you will take to minimise
them
*For Office Use Only*
Tutor’s comments
Approval
Date: Approved by Tutor’s signature
(Courtesy of Dr Chris Comber, University of Leicester, UK).

4. Tool 2 – dissertation planning document
My current level
of..
Stage of Under- Confi- My needs:
completion standin dence What I need/need to do in order to be able to
(1-5) * g*** *** move forward
CONDUCTING THE RESEARCH
Dissertation proposal: Develop proposal for research & receive
approval
Arrangements for research site access
Steps taken to ensure that you have access to the research site
Instrument development & piloting: Design, develop & pilot
instruments
Data collection: Collection of data through research instruments
Data preparation: Data entry (quant data) &/or transcription
(interviews) etc
Data analysis: Analysis of quantitative &/or qualitative data
WRITING YOUR DISSERTATION
Introduction/Background: Background, rationale, statement of
research problem
Literature review: Critical discussion of research literature relevant
to topic
Research question(s): Main & subsidiary research questions
Methodological framework: Description/defence of chosen
paradigm
Theoretical/conceptual framework: Key theories/concepts which
underpin your study
Methodology: Description & defence of chosen research approach
Method(s): Description/ defence of chosen instruments
Procedure: Description of the way you conducted the study
Validity & Reliability/Trustworthiness: Steps taken to ensure
trustworthiness of study
Ethics: Steps taken to ensure ethical research
Findings: Summary of the main findings emerging from analyses

5. Analysis: Account of the procedures adopted for analysing the data
Discussion: Discussion of findings in relation to research
questions(s)
Discussion: Discussion of the findings in relation to literature
Conclusion : Implications of study for policy, practice, further
research
References: List of references used in the texts
Appendices: Collection of appendices relevant to the study
* Stage of completion: Rate as: 0= I haven’t started this yet; 2= I have made a start on this; 3= I am about halfway through this; 4= I am close to completing
this; 5= I think I have finished this
** Understanding: ‘I know what needs to be done’ - Rate as 1=strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree
*** Confidence: ‘I have confidence in being able to do it’ - Rate as 1=strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree
(Courtesy of Dr Chris Comber, University of Leicester, UK).

6. Tool 3: Dissertation research knowledge and skills audit
I have I haven’t I have made I haven’t I haven’t
complete finished this, a start on made a start made a
d this but I feel this but on this but I start on
confident that have got am now this, I
I know what I stuck and worried about need
want to say need some it now! help!
and how to help
write it
Introduction and background to my research
(Background to the study)
Literature review
(Critical discussion of research literature relevant to
my topic)
Research questions
(Main and subsidiary research questions)
Theoretical / conceptual framework
(Key theories and concepts which will underpin my
study)
Methodological framework
(The research paradigm that underpin my study,
qualitative / quantitative strategies)
Design / Methodology
(Description and defense of chosen research
approach (cross-sectional study/ survey, case
study, other)
Methods
(data-collection instruments)
Procedure
(Description of the way I conducted the study)
Validity, reliability, trustworthiness
(Account of steps taken to ensure the above in
your study)
Ethics
(Account of the steps taken to ensure the research
followed ethical guidelines)
Findings
(A summary of the main findings emerging from the
analyses)
Analysis
(Account of the procedures adopted for analysing
the data)
Discussion
(Discussion of the findings in relation to a). my
research questions, and existing research (as
discussed in the literature review)
Conclusions
(Discussion of the implications of the study for
policy, practice and further research)
References
(List of references used in the text)
Appendices
(Collection of appendices relevant to the study)
(Courtesy of Dr Chris Comber, University of Leicester, UK).

7. Tool 4: Dissertation writing plan (a writing progress tracking and diagnostic tool)
TIME (WEEKS /MONTHS)
1). Introduction and background to my research
(Background to the study)
2). Literature review
(Critical discussion of research literature relevant to my topic)
Research questions
(Main and subsidiary research questions)
Theoretical / conceptual framework
(Key theories and concepts which will underpin my study)
3). Methodological framework
(The research paradigm that underpin my study, qualitative / quantitative
strategies)
Design / Methodology
(Description and defense of chosen research approach (cross-sectional
study/ survey, case study, other)
Methods
(data-collection instruments)
Procedure
(Description of the way I conducted the study)
Validity, reliability, trustworthiness
(Account of steps taken to ensure the above in your study)
Ethics
(Account of the steps taken to ensure the research followed ethical
guidelines)
4). Findings
(A summary of the main findings emerging from the analyses)
Analysis
(Account of the procedures adopted for analysing the data)
5). Discussion
(Discussion of the findings in relation to a). my research questions, and
existing research (as discussed in the literature review)
6). Conclusions
(Discussion of the implications of the study for policy, practice and further
research)
7). References (List of references used in the text)
8). Appendices (Collection of appendices relevant to the
study)
(Courtesy of Dr Chris Comber, University of Leicester, UK).

8. Tool 5: A map of essential knowledge areas and stages in a postgraduate research study