Knitting connections: establishing and exploring research links in the discussion section of master’s dissertations using the SCE model

Authors

  • Simon Brownhill University of Bristol

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi28.1059

Keywords:

dissertation, discussion chapter, SCE model, research links

Abstract

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 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.

Author Biography

Simon Brownhill, University of Bristol

Simon Brownhill is a Senior Lecturer in Education (Teaching and Learning) at the School of Education, University of Bristol. Specialising in pedagogy, he teaches on the MSc Education programme and supervises doctoral students (EdD and PhD). His varied research and writing interests include supporting and training adult learners, self-reflection, children’s writing (fiction and non-fiction), effective behaviour management in the classroom (3-11+), men who work in the Early Years (0-8), and creativity/assessment. He is co-author of the award-winning book Men in early years settings: building a mixed gender workforce (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019).

References

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Published

24-09-2023

How to Cite

Brownhill, S. (2023) “Knitting connections: establishing and exploring research links in the discussion section of master’s dissertations using the SCE model”, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (28). doi: 10.47408/jldhe.vi28.1059.

Issue

Section

Opinion Pieces