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The course guide is provisional.
The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.
Master’s Degree Dissertation
Code: 45827Credits: 12
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science | TFE | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Daniel Edmiston
- Email :
- daniel.edmiston@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
To enrol in the Master Thesis module students must participate in Research Design in Political Science and Quantitative and Qualitative Methods of Data Collection and Analysis in Semester 1.
Objectives
The purpose of the module is to help students to produce a Master Thesis. The Master's Thesis (MT) is a substantial piece of academic work that proves the student's competence to carry out research autonomously at a Masters level. In the MT students should be able to present:
- a research question related to any of the topics dealt with in the substantive modules of the master,
- a well structured theoretical framework that proves good knowledge of the literature and the debates involved in the research question,
- a suitable research strategy involving methods learned in the methodological modules of the master.
The MT must show that the student is capable to carrying out sound and rigorous academic research and has the ability to evaluate research conducted by others.
Learning outcomes
- CA33 (Write academic papers clearly, with a logical structure, using specialist language.) Write academic papers clearly, with a logical structure, using specialist language.
- CA34 (Communicate academic results accurately and without discriminatory bias.) Communicate academic results accurately and without discriminatory bias.
- CA35 (Evaluate one’s own and others’ research in group workshops, offering constructive criticism.) Evaluate one’s own and others’ research in group workshops, offering constructive criticism.
- CA36 (Conduct empirical research with methodological rigour, drawing on the literature and formulating sound research questions.) Conduct empirical research with methodological rigour, drawing on the literature and formulating sound research questions.
- CA37 (Present and defend the findings of your master’s degree final project both verbally and in writing, while justifying analytical decisions.) Present and defend the findings of your master’s degree final project both verbally and in writing, while justifying analytical decisions.
- SA26 (Implement appropriate methodologies, identify limitations and evaluate methodological debates to justify the chosen design.) Implement appropriate methodologies, identify limitations and evaluate methodological debates to justify the chosen design.
- SA27 (Write your paper in a clear and concise style, with a logical structure, using specialist terminology.) Write your paper in a clear and concise style, with a logical structure, using specialist terminology.
- SA28 (Manage the research process independently and apply ethical principles at every stage.) Manage the research process independently and apply ethical principles at every stage.
- SA29 (Interpret the complexity of contemporary political and social processes in terms of the formulation of problems and outcomes.) Interpret the complexity of contemporary political and social processes in terms of the formulation of problems and outcomes.
Contents
The Master's Thesis (TFM) is a compulsory project that demonstrates students’ ability to independently conduct academic research in the field of Political Science. The TFM must formulate a research question related to the content covered in the Master's programme courses, support it with a solid theoretical framework, and apply an appropriate methodological strategy — qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods — for its analysis.
Students are encouraged to include an original empirical contribution in their TFM, although a theoretical approach or the use of secondary data is also accepted. The thesis should be between 8,000 and 12,000 words in length (including appendices and bibliography). The TFM may be written in Spanish, Catalan, or English.
Each student will be assigned a supervisor from the UAB teaching staff who will guide them throughout the preparation process. In addition, during the second semester, collective sessions will be organised to discuss the progress of the projects and support students in their development.
These sessions, together with individual supervision meetings with the assigned supervisor, will provide students with the opportunity to present their work, receive constructive feedback from their peers, and obtain additional guidance from other members of the Master's programme teaching staff.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collective Tutorials | 15 | 0.6 | CA33, CA34, CA35, CA36, CA37, SA26, SA27, SA28, SA29 |
| Independent study | 225 | 9 | CA33, CA34, CA35, CA36, CA37, SA26, SA27, SA28, SA29 |
| Supervision | 60 | 2.4 | CA33, CA34, CA35, CA36, CA37, SA26, SA27, SA28, SA29 |
The Master's Thesis (TFM) is an original and individual academic research project developed by the student under the supervision of a tutor from the Master's programme teaching staff. Its purpose is to demonstrate students’ ability to formulate relevant research questions, apply appropriate theoretical frameworks, design a coherent methodological strategy, and develop a rigorous empirical analysis, making an original contribution to the analysis of a political phenomenon in dialogue with the existing scientific literature.
The TFM must include: (1) a research question linked to the contents of the Master's programme, (2) a well-structured and theoretically grounded framework, (3) an appropriate methodological design (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), and (4) an empirical analysis —either based on original research or secondary data— that responds to the proposed research question. The total length of the thesis should be between 8,000 and 12,000 words (including appendices and bibliography), and it may be written in Spanish, Catalan, or English.
The thesis is completed individually and combines personalised sessions with the tutor (between February and June) with compulsory collective sessions during the second semester. In these sessions, students present preliminary versions of their projects and discuss the work of their peers, thereby strengthening their critical thinking and communication skills.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written submission | 50% | 0 | 0 | CA33, CA34, CA35, CA36, CA37, SA26, SA27, SA28, SA29 |
| Collective Tutorials | 20% | 0 | 0 | CA33, CA34, CA35, CA36, CA37, SA26, SA27, SA28, SA29 |
| The oral defence before an assessment panel | 30% | 0 | 0 | CA33, CA34, CA35, CA36, CA37, SA26, SA27, SA28, SA29 |
The assessment of the Master's Thesis (TFM) is structured around three components: the written thesis (50%), participation in collective seminars (20%), and the oral defence before an assessment panel (30%).
The written thesis must demonstrate the student's ability to define a relevant research question, construct a solid theoretical framework, design a coherent methodology, and develop a rigorous empirical analysis. The assessment panel will also evaluate the clarity of presentation, analytical rigour, theoretical and methodological coherence, the quality and ethical use of sources, and the originality of the approach adopted.
The oral defence of the TFM, which takes place in a public session, consists of a 15-minute presentation followed by a question-and-answer period with the assessment panel. This stage evaluates the student's ability to synthesise, argue, communicate, and provide a reasoned defence of their work, placing significant emphasis on their capacity to situate their findings within the relevant theoretical and empirical framework.
Participation in collective seminars is compulsory and forms part of the module’s educational process. During the second semester, students present preliminary versions of their projects and comment on those of their peers. Their participation is assessed based on their critical engagement, analytical capacity, and constructive contribution to collective discussion. Theses are assessed by a panel composed of three members of the department’s teaching staff, with the aim of ensuring plurality and objectivity in the evaluation process. The panel applies common criteria and rubrics based on the following minimum aspects:
- Originality and relevance of the research topic.
- Coherence between the research question, theoretical framework, and methodology.
- Rigour and robustness of the empirical analysis.
- Clarity and formal correctness of the written text.
- Capacity for synthesis, argumentation, and communication during the defence.
Final grades are expressed according to the official grading scale from 0 to 10 established by Royal Decree 1125/2003 and UAB regulations:
- Outstanding (9–10)
- Very good (7–8.9)
- Pass (5–6.9)
- Fail (<5)
The assessment panel may award the distinction of Matrícula de Honor (with honours) to theses that achieve the highest grade and stand out for their academic excellence, originality, and research rigour.
Any breach of assessment rules — including academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI (unless such use is explicitly authorised in the module handbook) — that may significantly affect the grade, will result in that assessment activity being awarded a mark of 0.
Bibliography
Della Porta, Dontallea y Michael Keating 2008, Approaches and methodologies in the social sciences, Cambridge: CUP
Hanké, Bob 2009, Intelligent Research Design, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Hay, Collin 2002, Political Analysis: A critical introduction, Houndmills: Palgrave
Isernia, Pierángelo 2001, Introduzione alla Riceca Politica e Sociale, Bolonia: Il Mulino.
Johnson, J. and R. 1995 Joslyn Political Science Research Methods, Washington: CQ Press, 3rd ed.
Katzer, J. 1998, Evaluating Information. A Guide for Users of Social Science Research, Boston: MacGraw Hill
King, G., R. O. Keohane and S. Verba 1999, Designing Social Enquiry¸ Princeton: Princeton University Press
Manheim, Jarol B. y Richard C. Rich 1988, Análisis Político Empírico, Madrid: Alianza.
Pollock, P. 2009 The essentials of political analysis, Washington: CQ Press, 3rd ed.
Software
- Autonomous Study
- TFM Supervision Meetings
- Collective Tutorials/Seminars: 15 hours
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