ERIC Number: EJ1447440
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-1759-667X
Knitting Connections: Establishing and Exploring Research Links in the Discussion Section of Master's Dissertations Using the SCE Model
Simon Brownhill
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, n28 2023
The supervision of master's students at the dissertation stage of their taught programme is generally considered to be one of the privileges of an academic in higher education (Bacwayo, Nampala and Oteyo, 2017). Of concern to those who are less experienced or new to the supervisory role is knowing the best way to effectively support their supervisees, particularly at the write-up stage. This opinion piece focuses its attention on the 'discussion', an important chapter which typically provokes 'fear, uncertainty and doubt' (Mewburn, 2016) in the minds of taught master's students as they wrestle with its construction. I argue that supervisors can alleviate some of their supervisees' anxieties by introducing them to the SCE model -- Support, Challenge and Extend -- which I have developed and have shared with taught master's students in England for a number of years. Designed to purposefully target key chapter content, I aim to show readers how this simple yet useful model effectively encourages taught master's students to establish and knit connections between their review of literature chapter and findings chapter, 'comparing and contrasting the study results with those of other relevant studies' (Bavdekar, 2015, p.40) with reasoning. Extracts from taught master's dissertations (from the academic discipline of education) are offered by way of illustrating the value of the SCE model for supervisors to help their students avoid making common mistakes in their writing, thus generating a stimulating discussion about what is known (literature) and what is now known (findings) in the supervisee's chosen area of study. The applicability of the SCE model to dissertations at all levels of higher education study is also recognised.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Masters Degrees, Masters Theses, Faculty Advisers, Writing Strategies, Academic Advising, Student Motivation, Difficulty Level, Supervisor Supervisee Relationship, Supervisory Methods, Research Skills
Association for Learning Development in Higher Education. 33 Lower Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 9NB, UK. e-mail: admin@aldinhe.ac.uk; Web site: https://jldhe.aldinhe.ac.uk/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A