VA7021 - Preventive Conservation Dissertation

The dissertation module reflects the wider ethos of the programme in that you learn by completing research via critical thinking, reflective practice and independent learning. This places you at the centre of your learning and requires you to be pro-active in driving your research forward and encourages you to develop the life-long learning skills fundamental to professional practice.

You are provided with online sessions via the elp that are designed to help you select, implement and interpret appropriate research methodologies and present your research in a professional and timely manner. You must finalise your research question, the timeline and have secured any ethical clearances before the end of the final semester. You may submit an overview of the structure and content of the dissertation by the end of June for formative feedback

The development of your personal research is started in the Collections Care module at the start of the program. A personal development plan (PDP) supports and directs your learning through an online blog. It helps you to identify your broad research area with support from your tutor, augmented by the academic choices you make during the programme. The PDP allows your ideas to be shared across the teaching team and with the external examiner in order to provide formative support throughout the program. They will draw upon an International network of professional practitioners in the field of Preventive Conservation to ensure that your research is current and viable, which enhances the potential for publication and employability.

You will be supported in the development and delivery of your research through your PDP as well as by email, skype and telephone as appropriate. The PDP functions as an ongoing online tutorial that is there to support your research every step of the way as and when you require it. Your tutor should be considered as an academic mentor who is there to respond to your queries, provide guidance and sometimes challenge your ideas in order for you to develop and deliver a robust piece of research fulfilling both academic and professional standards.

Discussion boards are made available for you to reflect upon your research and its challenges with your student cohort, which enables you to gather peer feedback and further embed the networking skills that are critical to future professional practice.

Your tutor will provide feedback on every aspect of your research as requested including: identifying the broad area of research; refining the research to focus on the research question(s); conducting the literature search; identifying appropriate research methods; delivering the research; interpreting the outcomes in an appropriate manner; commenting on an outline of the structure, content, timeline and ethical clearances at the end of June and providing guidance on presenting your work in a robust and professional manner. However it is essential that the final work is all your own so that you can be confidant in taking credit for the critical judgement and reflective practice that you have exercised in order to deliver your dissertation.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
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1. Demonstrate understanding of the relevance of the history, materials, creation, deterioration, vulnerability as well as the physical and chemical characteristics of items/collections of movable cultural heritage to their care, preventive conservation and interpretation in the context of a dissertation;
2. Have knowledge and understanding of how to contextualise, theorise, research, synthesise knowledge, evidence and present an original research enquiry as appropriate to a written dissertation at level seven.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. The ability to use critical thinking and reflective practice in an independent pro-active manner that draws upon and synthesises a wide range of knowledge and understanding in order to develop and implement appropriate strategies for the care and preventive conservation of items/collections of movable cultural heritage;
4. Demonstrate the ability to formulate balanced judgements when considering incomplete or ambiguous data that are communicated clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences in an appropriate format for a dissertation;
5. Demonstrate the ability to take responsibility for your own learning by developing a research context with reference to existing research sources for delivery of a dissertation;
6. Develop personal research built on a self-defined research question, devise appropriate methodology for responding to it and deliver in a clear, logical and appropriate format showing demonstrable originality of thought or approach.


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
7. Demonstrate enthusiasm, curiosity, integrity, ethical and professional awareness in all aspects of work, communication and engagement with others;
8. Undertake research enquiry in an ethical manner, complying with University procedures.

You will be assessed by completing a 15000 word dissertation on a topic approved by your teaching team.

120 credits at PG Dip : for this programme VA0796 and VA0797

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This exciting module provides you with a unique opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the skills and knowledge required to conduct, develop and deliver Masters-level research. You will learn how to develop and present a critically evaluative and theoretically grounded literature review in the process of defining a research question that is relevant to professional practice. You will learn how to: use both primary and secondary research in order to challenge and interrogate your research question; select, implement and evaluate appropriate research methodologies; engage with theoretical and conceptual arguments and analysis; select appropriate strategies and methods for data collection as well as their evaluation and critical analysis. You will develop an understanding of ethical issues that can impact on professional practice as well as research. You will learn how to synthesise and present your research in a logical sequence that draws together the evidence for your final conclusions and recommendations.