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Master's Degree Dissertation

Code: 45430
Credits: 9
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Psychosocial Research and Intervention TFE 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Joan Pujol Tarres
Email :
joan.pujol@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Joel Feliu Samuel Lajeunesse
Enrique Baleriola Escudero
Alejandra Araiza Diaz
Blanca Callen Moreu
Andrea Calsamiglia Madurga
Jenny Cubells Serra
Lupicinio Iñiguez Rueda
Nagore Garcia Fernandez
Luz María Martinez Martinez
Marisela Montenegro Martinez
Joan Moya Kohler
Beatriz San Roman Sobrino
Francisco Javier Tirado Serrano
Nuria Valles Peris

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Since the TFM is the result of the knowledge and skills of the Master's, for a satisfactory development of this, at the end of the TFM, the student should have satisfactorily completed the subjects for, once delivered and defended the TFM, if this is approved, obtain the corresponding degree.

Objectives

The final master's thesis aims to enable students to integrate and apply the knowledge acquired during their master's studies. It is an original work, in the format of a scientific article, in which an empirical and theoretically based analysis of a psychosocial theme or problem will be carried out.

Learning outcomes

  • CA28 (Generate a systematised state of the art, using scientific databases or other reliable sources, in relation to a specific field of psychosocial research or intervention, including relevant and up-to-date information.) Generate a systematised state of the art, using scientific databases or other reliable sources, in relation to a specific field of psychosocial research or intervention, including relevant and up-to-date information.
  • CA29 (Explain the author's initial ethico-political position and the modifications generated by the research or intervention process.) Explain the author's initial ethico-political position and the modifications generated by the research or intervention process.
  • CA30 (Present the results and conclusions of psychosocial research clearly, effectively and ethically, while adapting the presentation to different audiences and formats.) Present the results and conclusions of psychosocial research clearly, effectively and ethically, while adapting the presentation to different audiences and formats.
  • CA31 (Reflectively discuss the interpretation of the results, the contribution of the work and the specific limitations of the research or intervention carried out.) Reflectively discuss the interpretation of the results, the contribution of the work and the specific limitations of the research or intervention carried out.
  • CA32 (Produce a scientific article, which is theoretically informed and methodologically rigorous, that summarises the process of psychosocial research or intervention, according to the specific requirements and guidelines of a scientific journal.) Produce a scientific article, which is theoretically informed and methodologically rigorous, that summarises the process of psychosocial research or intervention, according to the specific requirements and guidelines of a scientific journal.
  • KA27 (Relate the different existing psychosocial theories and perspectives applied to the different fields of psychosocial research and intervention based on the available scientific literature.) Relate the different existing psychosocial theories and perspectives applied to the different fields of psychosocial research and intervention based on the available scientific literature.
  • SA28 (Critically apply various theoretical and methodological approaches, identifying their strengths and limitations while adapting them to the specific needs and characteristics of the population or context in which the research or professional activity is carried out.) Critically apply various theoretical and methodological approaches, identifying their strengths and limitations while adapting them to the specific needs and characteristics of the population or context in which the research or professional activity is carried out.
  • SA29 (Highlight the relevant implications for psychosocial intervention of the knowledge obtained from a gender and intersectional perspective.) Highlight the relevant implications for psychosocial intervention of the knowledge obtained from a gender and intersectional perspective.

Contents

The TFM must include, at least, a description of the theoretical framework used to understand the psychosocial phenomenon they have researched or intervened in, the methodologies put into practice and the results of the research or intervention practices carried out during the master's degree, the justification of the social relevance of the phenomenon or practice analysed, an ethical reflection on these processes and an exhaustive list of the sources used and consulted.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Follow-up Tutorships 19 0.76 CA29, CA31, KA27, SA28, SA29
Developing the TFM 205 8.2 CA28, CA29, CA30, CA31, CA32, KA27, SA28, SA29
Presentation of the TFM 1 0.04 CA31, SA29

The Master's Final Project is aimed at carrying out an original research paper, in scientific article format, on a psychosocial issue or phenomena, written by each student, under the periodic supervision of a tutor of the people who participate in the teaching of the master's degree.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Oral defense of the TFM 10% 0 0 CA31, SA29
TFM binnacle 10% 0 0 CA29, CA31, KA27, SA28, SA29
Final Master Thesis 80% 0 0 CA28, CA29, CA30, CA31, CA32, KA27, SA28, SA29

Learning Outcomes

The evaluation of the Master's Thesis (TFM) is carried out by a three-person panel comprised of faculty members from the Master's program, excluding the supervisor of the evaluated thesis. This process is similar to the editorial committees of scientific journals and consists of three pieces of evidence:

  • Ev1. A binnacle of the TFM process (10%). The binnacle documents the learning process, recording the tutoring sessions, the reflections that arose, and their practical implications for the development of the thesis.
  • Ev2. The Master's Thesis (80%). Submission of a research paper in the format of a scientific article, following the publication standards of an academic journal.
  • Ev3. The oral defense of the TFM (10%). The student must thoughtfully respond to the observations and comments received on the TFM in a public presentation before the panel, demonstrating critical thinking and argumentation skills supporting their contributions. The written work (Ev1 and Ev2) must be submitted at least twenty days before the defense session, on the dates specified in the master's program calendar. Once evaluated, the student will receive a report with the provisional grade obtained in Ev1 and Ev2. The report will include observations, questions, suggestions, and comments.

The scientific quality of the Master's Thesis (Ev2) will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Not publishable: Fail (3-4).
  • Not of sufficient quality for publication in this journal and should be submitted to a lower-quality journal: Pass (range 5-6).
  • Returned, but it is recommended that it be re-evaluated in the future: Good (range 7).
  • It would be publishable with major revisions: Good (range 8).
  • Publishable with minor revisions: Excellent (range 9).
  • The article is publishable as it is: Excellent (10)

The oral defense (Ev3) will take place on the dates specified by the Master's program at the beginning of the course and will last approximately 20 minutes. Following the defense, the final grades for the three assignments will be published.

Qualifications

  • Passed: having obtained a minimum of 5 points in the weighted average of the three evidences and a minimum of 4 points in Ev2.
  • Not Assessable: The subject will be considered non-assessable if the three learning evidences are not submitted.
  • Honors: The awarding of the distinction of "Matrícula de Honor" (Honors) will be carried out in accordance with Article 266 of the Academic Regulations of the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
  • Plagiarism: In the event of detecting plagiarism or any similar practice, both the person supervising the work and the student will be formally notified. As a result, the defense will be suspended, and the three learning evidences will be negatively graded.

Bibliography

American Psychological Association. (2020). APA style manual: The official digital guide to APA Style. American Psychological Association.

Becker, H. (2022). Manual de escritura para científicos sociales: Cómo empezar y terminar una tesis, un libro o un artículo. Siglo XXI Editores.

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & FitzGerald, W. T. (2024). The Craft of Research, Fifth Edition. University of Chicago Press.

Boyle, J., & Ramsay, S. (2023). Writing for Science Students. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Cargill, M., & O’Connor, P. D. T. (2021). Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps. John Wiley & Sons.

Castelló, M., & Castells, N. (2022). Escribir en la Universidad española: Entre la realidad y el deseo. Ediciones Octaedro.

Falabella, A., Andueza, A., Figueroa, J., & Romero, C. (2023). Sacar la voz: Manual de escritura académica en Ciencias Sociales desde una perspectiva crítica. Ediciones Universidad Alberto Hurtado.

Feliu i Samuel-Lajeunesse, J., Verdaguer, M., Penelo Werner, E., & Gil-Juárez, A. (2021). Escriure Psicologia a la Universitat. https://ddd.uab.cat/record/250152

Gastel, B., & Day, R. A. (2022). How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.

Gómez Carrasco, G., & Martí Pallarés, Á. (2024). Publica o perece: Manual de instrucciones para escribir y publicar artículos en Ciencias de la Salud. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Harvey, L. (2025). Critical Social Research. Taylor & Francis.

Krone, M. L. C. (2026). Navigating the Dissertation Writing Process: Finding Your Path from First Drafts to Submission. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.

Miller, S. A. (2022). Writing in Psychology. Routledge.

Neale, B. (2021). The Craft of Qualitative Longitudinal Research: The Craft of Researching Lives Through Time. SAGE.

Richard, P., & Helen, K. (2021). Creative Writing for Social Research: A Practical Guide. Policy Press.

Siochrú, C. Ó. (2022). A Student Guide to Writing Research Reports, Papers, Theses and Dissertations. Taylor & Francis.

Software

The UAB statutes' article 2 lists the following as guiding principles of action:

  • f) To promote open science, the social transfer of knowledge and values ​​related to cooperation.
  • g) To publish digital documentation in open formats and promote the use of these formats to guarantee universal accessibility to documentation and facilitate its historical record.

For this reason, although there is no mandatory software, we recommend using free software.

If generative artificial intelligence is used, it must be clearly identified in which parts it has been used, the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency in the use of AI may lead to a partial or total penalty in the activity's grade or greater sanctions in serious cases.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TFMm) Treball de fi de màster 1 Catalan/Spanish annual morning-mixed