CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1
STRUCTURE OF THE DISSERTATION MODULE FOR 2020-21 ...................................... 3
WHAT IS A GOOD GEOGRAPHY DISSERTATION? ........................................................... 4
THE PROCESS OF DISSERTATION TOPIC FORMULATION ........................................... 7
THE DISSERTATION TOPIC and THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL .............................. 7
RISK ASSESSMENT, ETHICAL APPROVAL and RESOURCES ....................................... 9
THE ROLE OF THE ADVISOR................................................................................................ 10
THE SUMMER RESEARCH / FIELDWORK PROGRAMME ............................................. 13
THE PROGRESS REPORT ..................................................................................................... 14
THE FIRST DRAFT ................................................................................................................... 15
CHAPTER STRUCTURE OF YOUR DISSERTATION........................................................ 16
LAYOUT OF YOUR DISSERTATION..................................................................................... 18
DISSERTATION SUBMISSION and ASSESSMENT........................................................... 20
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ....................................................................................................... 21
GRADE DESCRIPTORS .......................................................................................................... 22
TECHNICAL SUPPORT ........................................................................................................... 24
SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................. 28
DISSERTATIONS INVOLVING RESEARCH OVERSEAS ................................................. 31
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS for DISSERTATIONS ......................................................... 32
PLAGIARISM .............................................................................................................................. 36
USING THE DISSERTATION PLANNER .............................................................................. 37
DISSERTATION ADVISORS ................................................................................................... 40
TECHNICAL STAFF .................................................................................................................. 43
APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 44
Appendix A: Ethical principles for research involving human participants .................... 45
Appendix B: Ethical Approval form ...................................................................................... 48
Appendix C: Risk Assessment forms .................................................................................. 50
Template Human Geography Risk Assessment form ...................................................... 54
Template Physical Geography Risk Assessment form .................................................... 58
Template for computer-based projects Risk Assessment form ...................................... 62
Appendix D: Supervisory Progress Report form ............................................................... 65

1
 INTRODUCTION

The final stage dissertation is a vital element in both the Single Honours and Combined Honours
Geography degree. All intending honours students are required to prepare a dissertation as part
of their Stage 4 studies. You are expected to begin work on your dissertation in February 2020,
and to submit it in March 2021.

The aims of the module are to provide you with:

 The opportunity to undertake a major piece of investigative research, on a theme identified
and developed by the student;
 The chance to gain experience in the full process of research, including problem
formulation, the design and execution of the investigation, analysis of results, and the
presentation of findings in a well-written dissertation;
 Guidance such that you attain a large measure of independence in such investigative work.

At the end of the module, you will be expected to be able to:

 Select and formulate an appropriate topic for investigation, define clear research aims and
objectives, review, synthesise and evaluate contextual literature;
 Design and evaluate an appropriate methodology for data/information collection;
 Apply appropriate techniques of analysis (numerical, scientific, qualitative etc);
 Present a thorough and clear interpretation of your results or evidence, write a well-
structured, fluent, concise and effective dissertation with appropriate standards in the
quality of English and presentation;
 Demonstrate the capacity to autonomously manage to completion a major research project.

The dissertation is an enormously valuable indicator of student attainment because it is your

chance to demonstrate your individual abilities as a geographer, drawing on training received
during the degree course and your capacity for independent work. We cannot stress this enough:
the whole point of this module is for you to show us what you are capable of. It is your responsibility
to devise, manage and run your project; staff act as dissertation advisors, not project supervisors
or managers. It is extremely important that we allow you to demonstrate to us – and potential
future employers – that you have developed your skills as an independent worker. For this reason,
GGX3200 contributes 40 ‘double-weighted’ credits and therefore accounts for nearly 20 per cent
of your final degree marks. Moreover, your performance in the dissertation module is frequently
cited in written testimonials and references prepared by academic staff for graduates making
applications for employment or further study. The final-stage dissertation is thus a vital element
in your degrees. If any single item of work ‘showcases’ what you have achieved during your
degree, and your future potential, then this is likely to be it!

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This handbook is designed to answer most of the general questions that may arise as you
undertake your dissertation. It is a good idea to keep it to hand for future reference. Some
information may seem somewhat detailed and indigestible at first, but later on the advice may
prove invaluable. If you run into difficulties, then seek help quickly. Once you have had an
academic advisor allocated, this should be the person to whom you first turn. Before then,
however, or if you are in any doubt, consult the dissertation module leader.

An online copy of this handbook is available on the GGX2202 and the GGX3200 Moodle sites.
There are useful guidebooks on writing dissertations and reports in the library (shelved from
808.02 onwards) and the Geomapping Unit in Lab Plus holds copies of dissertations submitted in
recent years.

2
 STRUCTURE OF THE DISSERTATION MODULE FOR 2020-21

Stage 2/3 (2019-20)

2019

December Start reading and contacting staff members to discuss

dissertation topic
February 6 February: Submit preliminary topic via GGX2202 Moodle site
February Dissertation advisors allocated; initial meetings with advisors
February-March Meet your academic advisor to discuss project proposals
March 26th March : Submit Research Proposal plus Ethical Approval
and Risk Assessment forms, via the GGX2202 Moodle site
April - May Meet your academic advisor to discuss project development;
2020

Arrange project: Let staff know of any equipment needs, etc.

May 28 May: Submit final Ethical Approval and/or Risk Assessment
via the GGX2202 Moodle site
June-September Meet your advisor again if necessary to discuss further project
development;
Undertake project – fieldwork and/or data compilation and
preliminary analysis
Stage 4 (2020-21)
October 29 October: Submit progress report via GGX3200 Moodle site;
2020

Meet your advisor to discuss the contents of the progress report

October-December Full data analysis, write up dissertation draft
February 1 February: Date after which you can submit a draft
dissertation to your advisor via the GGX3200 Moodle site
5 February: Last date for submission of draft dissertation to
advisors for comment. Advisors will not be able to comment on
2021

work received after this date;

Meet advisor to discuss draft submission
March 25 March: Submit dissertation via GGX3200 Moodle site
June Release of dissertation marks

3
 WHAT IS A GOOD GEOGRAPHY DISSERTATION?

A dissertation is a detailed and substantial report on a chosen geographical topic. The task
of preparing a dissertation provides you with the opportunity to study, independently and
imaginatively, a geographical problem or question that interests you. The key ingredients in a
good geography dissertation are originality, breadth of thought, depth of reading, a detailed and
thorough programme of research, an ability to analyse, organise and structure material in a clear
and logical manner, and the effective communication of ideas in sustained arguments that make
your meanings and intentions clear. Because of its scope, many of the techniques, research
methods, and issues that you have covered in other modules feed into the dissertation. You
should regard the dissertation module to a large extent as the culmination of your degree
programme.

A vital element which examiners will be looking for in your dissertation is originality. Most
commonly, this requirement is achieved by undertaking a planned programme of work (which
might be fieldwork) designed to collect primary data of direct relevance to the chosen topic.
Examples of such work might include the evaluation of an urban regeneration project, a vegetation
survey of a nature reserve, the measurement of a particular river channel’s shape and form, a set
of structured interviews with a group of planning officers, or a questionnaire survey of the opinions
of a sample representing a particular community. Your research may involve work in the Plymouth
region, elsewhere in the Southwest, in your home area, or, in certain agreed cases, further afield.

Originality can also be demonstrated by using secondary data, such as a set of previously
published data, or a compilation of several different datasets from multiple publications, or
unpublished data derived from a credible source, such as an archival collection or a local planning
office. In order to satisfy the requirement of originality using secondary data, it is necessary to
demonstrate that you have performed your own (non-trivial) analysis of the source material,
resulting in a new set of data or interpretations that ‘add value’, meaning or importance to that
which would otherwise be available.

Another way in which originality may be achieved is by presenting a novel interpretation of, or
new perspective on, a certain issue, problem, or phenomenon. In all cases, however, it is essential
that your argument is well supported by the data or evidence that you present (and not simply an
exercise in speculation). Regardless of the way originality is achieved, it is important that the new
factual material is directly relevant to, and properly integrated into, the main themes and
arguments of your work.

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Choosing a Topic
For many students the process of selecting their dissertation topic is a challenging task and it is
often the single most important decision involved in completing the dissertation module. Our
general ethos is that honours students should be capable of formulating their own dissertation
topics but we provide appropriate encouragement, advice, resources, and staff support as you go
about this. Very definitely, though, the onus is on you to come up with your own research
topic, and the concept of student responsibility is extended to the entire dissertation: it is your
dissertation, not your advisor’s, nor anyone else’s.

If you are reading this for the first time then it is already time to start thinking seriously about
choosing your dissertation topic. The following paragraphs and the flowchart below should help
you with this process. Your personal tutor may be a useful ally at this time. He or she may not be
able to advise on specific technical matters but will know your academic strengths and
weaknesses and will have a good understanding of what makes a successful dissertation.

You are advised to start thinking seriously about likely topics as soon as possible . As a
first step, read relevant background literature to gain ideas about what you could do and
how you might go about it. Discuss your ideas with members of staff to ensure that what
you have in mind is worthwhile and workable. Dissertations carried out in previous years are
held in the Geomapping Unit (Davy Building, seventh floor). You should have a look at these both
to gain a better idea of what is involved and to see how other students have approached the study
of topics similar to yours. A list of possible advisors and their interests is provided later in this
handbook (the decision about which advisor is allocated to you will depend upon your choice of
topic and the number of students a member of staff is able to advise).

Decide on a problem or questions that genuinely interest you. Motivation is essential, and if you
are really interested in a particular issue or theme then you are more likely to put together a lively
and imaginative dissertation. Do not select a topic just because it appears fashionable, easy, or
because you think it might give you the opportunity to use a certain technique. The problem or
questions you decide on must also be clear, well formulated, and practicable. The place where
you intend to carry out fieldwork (the Southwest, or at home, or overseas) must also be well
defined, manageable and safe, and you need to make sure that it is feasible to do the work there.

As an example, ‘problems of slums in the Third World’ is far too vague. An examination of ‘local
government policies towards squatter settlements in a particular city in, say, India or Mexico’, is
more precise. But can you get there? Can you spend enough time there? And, will local
government officials be willing to give you the interviews, materials and introductions that you will
need? What risks are involved and can they be avoided? If you are not able travel to your

5
preferred study area, then you will need to discuss with your advisor whether it is still feasible to
undertake such a dissertation.

Although the question or problem you have decided upon, and the place where you want to do
your fieldwork, may be clear and precise, your work must not exist in isolation; it should be related
clearly to more general issues. What does your analysis tell us about the ‘wider issue’? Is
there something about the information you have assembled, or about the way you have
approached the question, or about your interpretation, that supports or throws doubt upon more
general and widely held ideas? As an example, using GIS to model flood risk for Salcombe as a
result of future sea level rise is of great interest to residents of this town, and to second home-
owners from Surrey. The critical question is what can it tell us about resilience of coastal
communities in the wider sense, or how we approach this problem? Why would a Belgian
or Australian be interested in your findings?

This connection between the particular and the general is extremely important. It is therefore
essential that you demonstrate your awareness of the wider literature in academic
geography. The best way you can do this is to identify clearly the links between your study and
the academic context within which it lies. Consider again the example of Third World squatter
settlements introduced above. The student proposing this topic is likely to have an interest in
‘problems of slums in the Third World’. They should be encouraged to draw extensively on the
existing literature on the topic, both in terms of formulating an approach for their own study of
squatter settlement policy and in relating their findings to the general literature on slums in the
Third World.

6
 THE PROCESS OF DISSERTATION TOPIC FORMULATION

Do you have a specific research problem/idea/question that you want to address?

Yes No

Discuss ideas with relevant staff Choose an area of Geography that

interests you, e.g. fluvial geomorphology,
urban regeneration, tourism, etc.

Discuss ideas with relevant staff

Submit Dissertation Topic Submit Dissertation Topic

by 6 February 2020 by 6 February 2020

Examine literature in chosen area of geography to identify the kinds

of theme, topic, issue that might be examined in your own research
project. NB: previous dissertations can be perused in the
Geomapping Unit (7th floor, Davy Building)

Compile list of potential questions or problems

that you could study

At this point – February 2020 – you will be allocated a Dissertation Advisor

Discuss your Dissertation Topic with your Advisor. Your agenda should include:
Are your ideas feasible? Is the proposed study sufficiently challenging?
How can I devise specific aims and objectives? Are there constraints or difficulties that you
need to address? What are the safety issues and the ethical issues?

Revise topic or approach to

your study

Submit Dissertation Proposal assignments on 26 March 2020

7
THE DISSERTATION TOPIC and THE DISSERTATION PROPOSAL

The formal process of formulating your dissertation topic comprises two stages:
1. The Dissertation Topic
2. The Dissertation Proposal

Both stages require you to complete and submit an assignment within GGX2202, but they are
also integral parts of the dissertation module, as explained below.

The Dissertation Topic

The main purpose of this task, apart from getting you started in thinking about your dissertation,
is to link each dissertation student with an appropriate advisor. You must also therefore submit
the name of a possible advisor (preferably someone you have already spoken to concerning this
topic). Your advisor will be named in February.

The topic must be submitted via the GGX2202 Moodle site by 3pm on Thursday 6 February
2020. It will not be assessed, but it is a compulsory and essential element of the GGX2202
module and the dissertation planning process. If you do not submit a topic, you will not be
allocated to an advisor and there will be no record of your dissertation topic. It is essential,
therefore, that you complete this task. Details of submission arrangements are provided in the
GGX2202 handbook.

Remember that you should avoid vague topics (see 'choosing a topic' above): try to be specific
to ensure that we match you to the most appropriate dissertation advisor.

The Dissertation Proposal

Your dissertation proposal (by this time, perhaps with a modified title) should arise out of your
own work and discussions with your advisor. As detailed in the GGX2202 handbook, it should
include an introduction to the topic and literature review, aims and objectives, proposed methods
and analysis techniques, envisaged shortcomings and a timetable, and is due by 3pm on 26
March 2020. The document should also include completed Ethical Approval and Risk Assessment
forms.

8
 RISK ASSESSMENT, ETHICAL APPROVAL and RESOURCES

As you develop your research proposal, in discussion with your advisor you will need to clarify
any possible sources of risk that might be involved in carrying out the work. This is a very
important consideration. Please refer to the ‘Safety Considerations’ section later in this handbook.
You are required to assess the risks involved in undertaking the research for your dissertation
and completing the Risk Assessment form.

There may also be ethical considerations involved in any work involving other people, for
example if they are involved as participants in a survey or as ‘facilitators’ for your access to field
sites (e.g. farmers on whose land you wish to work, forestry rangers, site managers, etc.). You
will find further guidance and an Ethical Approval form in Appendix B.

Completed Risk Assessment and Ethical Approval (if ethical approval is required) forms must be
submitted with your Research Proposal assignment on 26 March 2020. Your advisor will comment
on these and you will be required to submit revised copies to the relevant Moodle site no later
than Thursday 28 May 2020.

You will not be allowed to begin your dissertation data collection until your Ethical
Approval and Risk Assessment forms have been formally signed off by the Ethics and
Health and Safety Officers.

Finally, depending on the study that you have decided to undertake, you may need to borrow
equipment or other resources from the School. If this is the case, you should start as soon as
possible to think about what you will need to carry out your study. Discuss any possible
requirements with your academic advisor. Further details on borrowing equipment are given later
in this handbook. If you decide that you do, or might, need to borrow equipment or other
resources, as well as discussing your requirements with your academic advisor it will be
necessary to consult with technical staff as early as possible.

9
 THE ROLE OF THE ADVISOR

It is your responsibility, not that of your advisor, to ‘drive’ the dissertation. It is you who should be
initiating meetings (if the reverse is happening then there is something wrong). Remember, your
advisor could have as many as a dozen other dissertation students, but you have only one
dissertation! So, once you have been allocated an advisor it’s up to you to establish a good
working relationship with that person – the sooner the better. Make sure you know how to contact
and set up meetings with your advisor, and if necessary make arrangements to communicate with
them over the summer months when you may well be away from Plymouth. Normally during term
time you can expect five formal meetings with your advisor (see the table at the start of this
handbook), and you should be prepared to report on progress and discuss any problems. It is
good practice to record the details of discussions at these meetings, along with agreed targets for
future meetings. The Supervisory Progress Report form (Appendix D) should be used for this
purpose.

Be aware that it is not always possible to allocate an advisor who is the staff member most
knowledgeable about the subject area of your topic. The allocation of advisors is done on the
basis of suitability, but staff workloads are also taken into consideration. Inevitably there will be
some compromises. Regardless of who is (or isn’t) your advisor, you can seek the specific or
technical advice of other members of the staff if it is appropriate to do so.

Although your advisor will provide guidance, the dissertation is an opportunity for you to display
your own capacity for original investigation and analysis, so there are limits to the assistance
you will be offered. The five formal meetings with your advisor do not preclude you from seeking
advice in between times, and you should not hesitate to maintain regular contact with your
advisor. Indeed, early (even if brief) discussion of an issue that puzzles you can often prevent
errors or serious problems at a later stage. Do not sit on a problem until the next scheduled
formal meeting!

To get the best out of your meetings with your academic advisor or with members of technical
staff, you should prepare carefully. Adopt a business-like, efficient approach from the start. Keep
accurate records of the results of meetings, the titles of books and papers you consult, ideas and
suggestions that occur or are recommended to you along the way. This will help you to make the
most effective use of your meetings, and allow worthwhile discussions to take place.

After working on your dissertation for some time, you may feel that things are not developing as
they should. It is essential to clear up problems of this sort as quickly as possible. Talk to your
advisor. Do not allow problems to drag on to a last minute scramble! Very occasionally,

10
circumstances may result in your needing to change your topic after you have completed all the
forms, and possibly even after beginning work on the dissertation. In these circumstances you
must consult the advisor to whom you have been allocated, before beginning work on a different
theme.

A change of advisor might be deemed necessary but will only be contemplated in extreme
circumstances (e.g. a complete shift from a physical geography to a human geography theme, or
a member of staff leaving Plymouth University or taking sabbatical or other leave). In the event of
the departure of a member of staff, we will endeavour to find a suitable replacement advisor. If
you decide to radically change your project theme, you will be expected to find a new advisor and
obtain their written agreement to take you on (copied to the dissertation module leader). If you
are changing advisor because of a fundamental shift in project topic, you will need to complete a
new dissertation proposal – the date for submission of this will be agreed between your advisor,
yourself and the module leader – and new Risk Assessment and (if necessary) Ethical Approval
forms, which must be signed off by your new advisor. Failure to follow these procedures can result
in serious consequences, including failure of the dissertation module, where the work finally
submitted is of inadequate quality owing to failure to seek advice. We do recognise that such
situations can arise through no fault on your part, and it is perfectly possible to redeem a difficult
situation if you are sensible about it. If there is any important problem that you cannot resolve with
the help of your advisor, you should consult the dissertation module leader, by email in the first
instance.

The university provides guidance on the role of the advisor in the dissertation process, but also
on the role of the student. It is very important to be clear that that the relationship between advisor
and student is two-way, and both parties have responsibilities to uphold. Thus the advisor’s
responsibilities include :
 advising on the student’s work plan and agreeing a schedule of meetings, and ensuring that
they are available at the agreed dates / times or otherwise making suitable alternative
arrangements where possible;
 ensuring that students are aware of the role of the advisor and the anticipated extent of
support in terms of providing direction, time allocated to meetings, reading and commenting
on drafts, etc.;
 monitoring the student’s progress and providing timely, honest and constructive feedback;
 seeking to ensure that the work is being conducted within agreed protocols (including those
relating to ethics and health and safety);
 keeping a brief record of meetings and student progress;
 complying with the policy on providing feedback on draft text (see below);
 being familiar with the formal assessment procedures and criteria; and

11
  avoiding giving the student premature or potentially misleading information on marks or
grades.

At the same time, please be aware that your responsibilities include :

 reading and putting into practice the guidance in this module handbook;
 observing health and safety and ethical protocols;
 agreeing with your advisor a plan of work and a timetable meetings plan and then attending
those meetings;
 accepting that the preparation and submission of your dissertation is your responsibility (our
emphasis);
 keeping a discussion diary or log-book as a means of monitoring progress and recording
the outcomes of meetings;
 discussing progress with your advisor and responding to guidance and constructive
criticism;
 considering carefully the time commitment required by the project; and
 reflecting on your dissertation research and writing as a learning experience.

In sum, the university guidelines stress that “the system for dissertation management and
supervision must foster in students both independence and a willingness to take responsibility for
their own learning.” This could not be clearer!

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 THE SUMMER RESEARCH / FIELDWORK PROGRAMME

You may of course begin your research and, where required, your fieldwork as soon as you can
after the necessary forms have been signed off, but the bulk of your tasks will be undertaken
during the summer break between the completion of Stage 2 and the commencement of Stage
4. Provided it is well designed and discussed with your advisor, precisely how you go about your
research and fieldwork is your decision, but you must obtain approval of your methodology from
your advisor before you start. As a general rule, keep to the specific research question(s) you
have decided upon, but be prepared to encounter problems that you will need to overcome. Do
not close your mind to new ideas or questions which your work might unexpectedly engender and
which you might want to develop. This is not to suggest that you can ‘chop and change’ at will,
but to make you aware that you should try to adopt a focused yet flexible frame of mind.

The summer vacation is a critical period: failure to complete your data/evidence collection
in the summer will cause you major difficulties in Stage 4. There has been a growing
tendency in the past few years of students spending inadequate time collecting data for a
dissertation. Whilst it is not possible to set a fixed amount of time you should be spending
collecting data, the data collection stages of your dissertation should represent a
substantial period of commitment from you. It is also a good idea to begin analysing,
synthesising, and integrating your data as soon as you can. Analysing your data, whether they
are qualitative or quantitative, and bringing a sense of direction and cohesion to the analysis,
takes much longer than you might think. Unless you have already begun your analysis by the
beginning of the autumn term, you may find it difficult to complete a satisfactory Progress Report
on time.

13
 THE PROGRESS REPORT

The Progress Report, which is due on 29 October 2020, is marked as a pass/fail, and does not
contribute towards your overall dissertation mark. It remains a very important landmark through
the project, though, because it allows your advisor to make sure you are on track to complete
your dissertation successfully. Your aim is to evidence convincingly that considerable
development of the research has been achieved.

You need to submit a report that describes the progress of your dissertation in 1000 words
or fewer. This does not need to include complete draft chapters or literature reviews, but should
consist of:
 A summary of the achievements so far attained (e.g. literature reviews, a summary of your
methodologies, details of fieldwork, laboratory work and data analysis completed, whether
you have written sections or chapters in draft form, etc.). It should also include a summary of
progress made since your dissertation proposal in relation to the theoretical framework
underpinning your study (this might include reference to new papers, contacts or concepts
that have influenced what you have done); think of this as a summary of what else will go in
your literature review which was not in your proposal for GGX2202.
 A summary of preliminary results. These might be presented as a diagram, or table, or in
some other graphical summary form. Remember, to convince your advisor that you have
made progress you should provide concrete evidence of what you have done.
 A summary of the work outstanding, and a realistic timetable for the completion of this work.
This should be presented as a Gantt chart, or tabulated, as appropriate.
The progress report should be fully and correctly referenced as usual.

If you pass, you will simply progress to continue your dissertation. If your advisor fails your
progress report, or if you do not submit a progress report by the deadline, it is up to you to
convince your advisor that there are sound reasons for allowing you to continue on the
dissertation module. If you do not do this, you will be deregistered from the dissertation module.
This has very serious implications, because without a dissertation you cannot obtain an Honours
Degree; instead you will be registered to continue on the Ordinary Degree route.

Thus, if for some reason you have made little or no progress at all on your project over summer,
do not ignore this and hope it will go away. If during the summer you realise there are problems,
do not wait until the start of term. Contact your advisor as soon as possible – and well before the
progress report is due in – and discuss the best line of action to take!

14
 THE FIRST DRAFT

Once the Progress Report is returned, you should arrange to meet with your advisor to obtain his
or her feedback and to discuss your plans for the preparations for your First Draft. Like your
Progress Report, your First Draft should arise out of the work you have already done, so it should
build upon material previously submitted.

The First Draft is not a formally assessed piece of work; rather, the idea is to provide a chance
for you to obtain further feedback from your advisor once he or she has had the opportunity to
see the dissertation in an advanced state of completion. Please hand it in via the GGX3200 DLE
submission link. In this First Draft, you should aim to include as much of the content of the final
dissertation as you can. Your advisor will read one draft (only) of your dissertation and
provide you with a set of strategic comments to help you improve your work. The more
complete the First Draft, the more comprehensive will be the comments you receive.

While predominantly orientated towards the content of the First Draft, your advisor’s comments
may also relate to your writing style and the correctness of your use of language. You should not,
though, rely on your advisor for proof-reading: if you know that this is not your strong point, you
will need to find someone with a good grasp of written English to read through your drafts. In so
doing, remember that the dissertation must be your work, and yours alone, so any help must be
limited to checking for spelling and grammatical errors. You should arrange to meet your advisor
after Christmas to discuss his or her feedback. After that discussion, you should expect to finalise
the text for typing and final submission without any further formal guidance.

You may hand your First Draft in from 1st February 2021, but the absolute deadline for submission
is 5th February 2021. The sooner you provide your advisor with a copy of your First Draft via the
DLE, the better; your advisor may recommend further analysis of your data which may represent
a significant time commitment on your part. Please be clear that advisors will not comment on
any draft text submitted to them after 5th February 2021. This will be rigidly adhered to in order
to guarantee equity among all students.

15
 CHAPTER STRUCTURE OF YOUR DISSERTATION

The earlier you begin writing your final draft, the better. If the Progress Report and First Draft have
been tackled properly, then this work, together with the comments on them by your advisor,
should form the basis of your final write-up. Allow sufficient time for proof-reading and build in a
margin of time for the ‘unexpected’ in those last few weeks before the deadline.

Your dissertation needs to be planned as a series of chapters, usually divided into sections, each
with a sub-heading. One possible structure appears below. This should not be regarded as the
only model and the exact structure you adopt should be discussed with your advisor.

Abstract
A separate, succinct synopsis of the research, methodology and key findings (350 words
max.)

Chapter 1: Introduction, Literature Review and Study Aims

Introduction: Clearly identify the research problem or research question and point out its
significance. Set out justification for investigation of problem or question.

Literature Review: Make a critical assessment of past research reported in relevant

literature on the topic and identify gaps and potential for further work. Provide a critical
assessment of relevant theories, concepts, and approaches. Show the relevance of
existing literature to the formulation of your own research question(s).

Study Aims: Provide a tightly focused and realistic aim and identify specific objectives.

Chapter 2: Study Area and Research Methodology (and Sources)

Study Area: Identify study area and, if appropriate, provide background information.
Research Methodology [and Sources]: If appropriate, describe any sources of information
upon which your study draws, and comment on their suitability and any drawbacks.
Provide a reasoned justification of the approach you have taken to collect data.
Demonstrate critical understanding and awareness of limitations. Comment on ethical
issues and demonstrate, where relevant, an awareness of the possible influence of
‘researcher positionality’.

16
Chapter 3-x: Results, Analysis, Interpretation/Discussion
One or more chapters in which the results / findings / outcomes of your study are logically
and coherently presented, analysed and interpreted in the context of your study aims and
objectives and any relevant theory and concepts. For example, you may allocate one
chapter to presenting and explaining your results and another to discussion of their
implications. Alternatively, you might structure chapters around each of your objectives,
addressing each one in a chapter, or do something similar with key themes arising from
your findings. Relationships with the findings of previous studies reported in the literature
(confirming, extending or challenging these findings) would normally form an important
part of these chapters, so that your research has clear links to and contributes to debates
in the literature on your topic.

Chapter x+1: Conclusions

Concisely summarise your key findings and relate these to your research aim and
objectives. Highlight the importance of the research findings to the area of academic study.
Comment (if appropriate) on (policy) implications of the findings. Suggest ways in which
the study could be further developed.

References
Complete A-Z list of all items of literature and (any other published sources) cited in the
dissertation, presented according to the Harvard referencing convention.

Appendices
If appropriate.

17
 LAYOUT OF YOUR DISSERTATION

You should pay strict attention to the following requirements:

Length
The ‘bare text’ of dissertation must not exceed 12,000 words in length. The bare text does not
include the title page, contents pages, abstract, acknowledgements, figures, tables, extracts from
interview transcripts, captions to figures / tables, references or appendices. The word limit for the
bare text of your dissertation will be strictly enforced for all students without exception, and excess
length will be penalised. Two separate word counts, one for the full dissertation and one for the
bare text, must be included on the title page.

Maps and Diagrams

You are urged to include your own maps, rather than simply copying from other sources.
Cartography is an important part of geography and the appropriate use of maps can be an
important element in the dissertation and its assessment.

Photographic reproductions or electronically downloaded extracts of published maps may be

included as appropriate, but remember to acknowledge the source of the map in a caption or
footnote . Maps and diagrams should normally be placed in the body of the text, close to where
a reference to them has been made. Give each map a title in a typed caption and refer to them
as figures.

Format
Although the chapter structure of your dissertation will depend on the exact nature of your topic
(see above), the front cover and the initial and final ‘inside pages’ must be laid out as
follows:

Front cover
Title of your dissertation, your name, and the year of submission in bold letters

Title page
Title, your name, date of submission, the Degree Programme for which you are registered,
the word counts, and your advisor’s name. The title page must also include the following
signed statement: “The content of this dissertation is entirely the work of the author.”

18
 Abstract
Not more than 350 words.

Contents list
Name the chapters and give the page number where each one starts.

If appropriate:
List of figures (i.e. maps, diagrams, photographs) with their page numbers;
List of tables with their page numbers;
List of appendices giving titles and page number where each starts

Non-University of Plymouth e-mail contact address

This is optional: see comment below

Acknowledgements
It is usual to acknowledge any assistance you have received from both within the School
and outside.

Up to this point pages should be numbered in lower-case Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.).
Thereafter, pages should be numbered using Arabic numerals (i.e. begin the main body of the
text at page 1, and continue with page 2, 3, 4, etc.). Throughout the dissertation your work should
be typed with at least 1.5-line spacing and the font size must be at least 11 pt.

Non-University of Plymouth e-mail contact address

We would like to keep in touch with you once you have graduated, with information and news
from the department and wider School (for example, the Geography newsletter), and on
occasions may circulate information about job opportunities that come up, or news about
scholarships for PhD positions within the Department. By volunteering a non-University of
Plymouth email you are consenting to allowing us to store your contact. THIS IS NOT
OBLIGATORY AND WILL IN NO WAY AFFECT THE MARKING OF YOUR WORK.

If you subsequently do not wish to have your contact stored (at any point in the future), at your
request we will delete your details from our records. You will be able to do this by contacting the
general enquiries email of the School.

19
 DISSERTATION SUBMISSION and ASSESSMENT

You are required to submit your dissertation by 3pm on Thursday 11 March, 2021.

Submit one electronic copy of your dissertation to the GGX3200 Moodle site

Plan your timetable carefully to allow sufficient time for word processing, checking, correcting
errors and assembling; we advise aiming to submit well in advance of the deadline, in order to
leave time for unanticipated problems!

The dissertation will be assessed by your advisor and, independently, by one other member
of the academic staff. Should the assessors disagree significantly on the mark to be awarded,
a third member of the academic staff will be asked to arbitrate. In addition, the external
examiners for the BA/BSc Geography programmes will review standards of assessment on the
dissertation module.

If you are deemed to have valid extenuating circumstances, a revised deadline date,
commensurate with the actual period of the circumstances, may be stipulated. Each case is, of
course, dealt with according to the precise circumstances.

20
 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The grade descriptors used to mark your work are given in the table overleaf. Please read these
carefully and refer to them when preparing your dissertation as the descriptors provide an
indication of the different standards and expectations attached to each grade classification.
Please note that these are intended to provide additional clarification to the general criteria in the
Student Handbook for Geography Programmes by being specifically tailored to the dissertation.
The table should be read with the following guidance in mind.

There are four key criteria that staff will take account of when marking the content of your
dissertation. These are:
1) Research design: clarity of aims and appropriateness of methodology;
2) Amount of original fieldwork or other independent research;
3) Level of critical analysis of results; and,
4) Extent of analysis and engagement with the wider literature on the topic.

Your performance against each of these criteria will be used in determining the mark for your
dissertation. This mark will be based on the balance of performance across each criterion. To
reach the highest mark classifications you need to demonstrate outstanding performance in each
of them. Where a performance is more mixed, you will be awarded a mark that recognises both
the strengths of your work and the areas that could be improved upon.

The way you present your work is important, also. Markers will take presentation into
consideration when marking your work. This will include consideration of:
a) Your use of an appropriate referencing style and bibliography;
b) The clarity of your writing and presentation; and,
c) The effectiveness of your use of illustrative material (such as figures or diagrams).

While such points may sound less important than the academic content of your work, you will
need to pay attention to them. For example, to demonstrate all of the four key criteria mentioned
above, you would have to write clearly; if we can’t make sense of what you’re trying to say, it will
be hard to ascertain the degree to which you have focused on the specific task set, what your
argument is, or what point your analysis has led you to. Similarly, if you fail to follow the approved
referencing style it will be difficult for the marker to assess the degree to which your arguments
are supported by further reading. At the same time, be aware that the most wonderful writing style
in the world will not make up for failing to engage with academic literature, a lack of data, or a
poorly designed project.

21
 GRADE DESCRIPTORS

Grade Marks Characteristics of student’s work

Class Range

1st >85%+ Outstanding work. An exemplary piece of independent research,

using exceptionally mature judgement and skillful argument.
Demonstrates:
 Comprehensive, relevant and accurate coverage of subject
area, informed by a very wide variety of appropriate
literature;
 Accomplished understanding of core and advanced
concepts;
 Significant originality in construction of its main research
aims and questions;
 Substantial original fieldwork or other independent research;
 Effective choice and use of data-gathering and analytical
approaches;
 Originality, perceptiveness and critical thinking of potentially
publishable quality;
 Exceptionally lucid and convincing style, clear structure,
outstanding presentation with highly effective use of figures /
tables.

1st 70 – 85% Excellent work. An excellent piece of independent research,

establishing a clear and coherent agenda using critical analysis.
Demonstrates:
 Extensive, relevant and accurate coverage, clearly informed
by appropriate literature;
 Excellent understanding of core concepts, with some
understanding of advanced concepts;
 Some originality in the construction of main research aims
and questions;
 Substantial original fieldwork or some other independent
research;
 Effective choice and use of data-gathering and analytical
approaches;
 Originality, perceptiveness and critical thinking;
 Fluent, coherent and convincing style, clear structure,
excellent presentation with very effective use of figures /
tables.

2:1 60 – 69% Very good work. A very good piece of independent research,
establishing a clear agenda. Demonstrates:
 Detailed, relevant and accurate coverage, drawing
effectively from the wider literature;
 Very good understanding of key concepts and some
engagement with advanced concepts;
 Clear statement of research aims and questions;
 Significant original fieldwork or other independent research;
 Effective use of data-gathering and analytical approaches;
 Considerable evidence of perceptiveness and critical
thinking;
 Fluent and coherent style, clear structure, very good
presentation and use of figures and tables.
22
2:2 50-59% Satisfactory – Good work. A satisfactory piece of independent
research but insufficient critical analysis. Demonstrates:
 Reasonable understanding and coverage of subject area;
 Limited citation of literature;
 Good understanding of core concepts;
 Simple statement of research aims and questions;
 Adequate original fieldwork or some other independent
research;
 Some evidence of critical thought but dissertation is mainly
descriptive;
 Data-gathering and analytical methods that are applied with
reasonable accuracy but uncritically;
 Reasonably fluent style, with some weaknesses in structure
and presentation.

3 40-49% Pass. Generally a weak dissertation that just meets the learning
outcomes of the module. Demonstrates:
 Some understanding of subject area but the material may be
incomplete, inaccurate or irrelevant in some areas;
 Confused or vague research aims or questions;
 Limited original fieldwork or other independent research;
 Minimal reference to literature;
 Data-gathering and analytical methods that are applied
adequately but uncritically and with some errors in
application;
 Some understanding of basic concepts;
 Deficiencies in clarity, structure, and / or presentation.

Fail 30 – 39% Unsatisfactory work that does not meet the learning outcomes of
the dissertation module, but which could be compensated for by
strength elsewhere. Demonstrates:
 Very limited understanding of the subject area and the
coverage is incomplete, inaccurate, and / or irrelevant;
 Inadequate understanding of basic concepts;
 Insufficient evidence of original fieldwork or other
independent research to merit a pass;
 Confusion over techniques and / or analysis of results;
 Findings that may be insignificant for the level of an
undergraduate dissertation;
 Insufficient use of the wider literature;
 Poor structure, clarity, and / or presentation.

Fail <29% Very unsatisfactory work that is well below the standards needed
to meet the learning outcomes of the dissertation module.
Demonstrates:
 Work that is extremely poor for an undergraduate
dissertation;
 Some vague knowledge of subject but likely to be irrelevant
or confused;
 No evidence of original fieldwork or other independent
research;
 No appropriate analysis and work may be unacceptably
short;
 Inappropriate structure for a dissertation that is poorly
written.

23
 TECHNICAL SUPPORT

The School has an excellent range of equipment as well as more specialised facilities that can be
made available if required. As already noted, depending on your topic, you may need to talk to
our technical staff to help you decide the feasibility of your proposed research, and to help you
plan your fieldwork or laboratory work. Having said this, School funds are strictly limited and you
must assume that you will have to meet most of your own costs .

It may be possible to apply for external grants, which are advertised from time to time to support
undergraduate dissertations. For example, it is always worth investigating whether there are
opportunities for securing support for your dissertation work from bodies such as the Royal
Geographical Society and Natural England.

Maps
The School may provide copies of published maps for dissertation research in cases where they
are considered to be essential by the dissertation advisor. It is also possible that the Geomapping
Unit holds a copy of the map you need in its collection; in which case, it may be loaned. Map
loans are made on the strict understanding that the maps are returned, undamaged, for further
use in the map collection. Damage includes wear due to folding, and cutting or marking in any
way. Borrowed maps should be returned no later than the end of the dissertation programme. If
you need or elect to buy your own maps, advice can be obtained from the Geomapping Unit.

For students studying locations within Great Britain the Digimap service provides a wide range of
free mapping that is suitable for viewing online, downloading for use in reports and printing.
(https://digimap.edina.ac.uk/). Outside of Great Britain, openstreetmap provides completely free
mapping for much of the planet (https://www.openstreetmap.org/).

Published maps are protected by the law of copyright, and so when scanning or downloading
maps for use in your dissertation, ensure that you are familiar with copyright regulations. In any
event you should always acknowledge the source of any maps you use. The purpose of copyright
is to control the reproduction of copies of material belonging to an artist or company. In the UK,
this control is achieved by the Copyright Act of 1956. Particularly important are the laws laid down
to protect the Ordnance Survey (OS). The University holds a licence to reproduce OS maps for
teaching purposes and this prescribes various conditions. You should be aware of two points:

 Scans must be no more than 700cm 2 of maps at a scale of 1:25,000 and smaller; and
1,250cm 2 of maps at a scale larger than 1:25,000, but:
 This does not apply to copies of redrawn or substantially altered maps.

24
Please ensure that you do not copy more than copyright allows you to (advice is available from
the Geomapping Unit). If in the course of dissertation work you use OS maps, the correct
acknowledgement is shown below:

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
Reproduced from the ... [1]... Ordnance Survey ... [2] ... Map with the permission of the
Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, Crown Copyright Reserved.
Licence No: ED 100017993
_______________________
where: 1 = Year of publication; 2 = Scale of the map.

Computing
Specialist geography applications, e.g. for GIS or data modelling, are available, along with a range
of standard software for word processing, presentation graphics, statistical analysis, etc. The
computer analysis of your data may well take longer than you expect, as you will have to enter
and check your own data, and this can be very time consuming. Allow plenty of time! Ask your
advisor and technical staff about the relevance and value of any computer analysis of your data
before you start.

The Geomapping Unit support the use of two GIS applications, ArcGIS and QGis, and you are
welcome to install them on your own computer. Installation files for both of thes e programs can
be found on the Geomapping library guide - http://plymouth.libguides.com/c.php?g=48957
Neither of these programs are particularly intuitive, you might find it helpful to visit the Labplus
DLE’s GIS and Mapping section: https://dle.plymouth.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=20287
In addition to these desktop applications, the University provides premium access to ArcGIS
online https://plymunigis.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html. This is a simple online GIS which
can create maps and analyses within an internet browser.

You are also strongly advised to back up all your work regularly onto your personal file space
and to an external drive. Work by the maxim ‘work that isn’t backed up doesn’t exist’ and you
should be fine. Losing your work because you have failed to back it up is not accepted as a valid
reason for granting extenuating circumstances.

Booking the physical geography laboratories

All laboratory work must be booked in advance . See the appropriate technician to make a
booking. Try booking the laboratories during June to the end of July and then again in September;
the facilities are available in the summer out of the busy term-time period, though with an

25
anticipated restricted access/staff coverage in August. When you make a booking to use the
laboratory equipment please keep to the appointment, as technicians will have spent time
preparing instruments for you and other students will be waiting to use these facilities.

Hardware / chemicals for physical geography work

Some materials and chemicals can be provided or purchased for students undertaking laboratory
analysis or carrying out experiments. First obtain the approval of your dissertation advisor and
then see the School Technical Manager (seventh floor, Davy Building), giving a month’s notice of
your intention to use the necessary materials and / or chemicals (they may need to be ordered).

Deciding on size and number of samples for physical geography work

See your advisor and the appropriate technician to agree on the number, size and type of sample
you need for analysis, before you start sampling! Advisors and technical staff will have analysis
guidelines to help you plan your laboratory work. Some examples are:

Recommendation Guideline Maximum

Up to 2 water chemistry determinants 70 samples
3 or more water chemistry determinants 50 samples
Soils chemical analysis 40 samples
Soils and sediment mech. analysis 30 samples
Clean sediment particles 100 samples
Pollen 32 samples
Foraminifera - simple prep 100 samples
Foraminifera - definitive chemistry 50 samples

Borrowing Equipment
If you need to borrow equipment for dissertation work, it is essential to give technical staff plenty
of advance notice. We normally provide equipment for Stage 4 fieldwork modules in the summer
and therefore have to plan any loans for dissertation work very carefully. Equipment must
usually be returned by mid-September at the latest. Please note that some items of equipment
may be limited in number and, if required by others, would necessitate and earlier return or are
of a nature that supervision is required or field work can only be conducted in the southwest.

The procedure for borrowing equipment is as follows.

 As previously noted, begin by discussing any anticipated equipment needs with your
academic advisor and then speak to technical staff. Draw up a preliminary list of your
requirements for your summer work/fieldwork before the 2020 Easter Vacation.
 In April/May discuss final details of equipment needs with your academic advisor and

26
 technical staff.
 See Martha Hall (Rm 703 Davy, martha.hall@plymouth.ac.uk) or Richard Hartley (Rm703
Davy, Richard.Hartley@plymouth.ac.uk) regarding the availability of the equipment you
need and complete the dissertation loans form, which they will give you.
 Allow at least one week’s notice for the equipment to be assembled for you, after which
time Martha will inform you when and from where the equipment can be collected.
 When you collect your equipment, you must sign the dissertation loans form and this will
hold you to an agreed return date. You will be given a copy of the form. Bring your University
ID card for our reference. You will need to arrange proof of insurance cover for expensive
equipment (e.g. a microscope) where the value exceeds £1,000, and provide us with a
photocopy of the insurance document. Please see technical staff if you need a letter to your
insurers confirming loan details. Do not lend items you have borrowed to anyone else!
You are responsible for their safe return. If you lose or damage equipment, you will be
required to reimburse the School.
 All equipment borrowed must be returned in a clean state to technical staff by the date
specified on the loans form. You will only be able to extend the loan period by contacting
technical staff (see above) and agreeing a new return date. Ensure you are given a receipt
for the equipment you return.
 No dissertation-related equipment may be borrowed after the beginning of 2021.

27
 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Above all we want you to be safe as you are conducting the research for your dissertation. This
section outlines only key points and thus must be read with reference to your copy of School
Safety Procedures (which can be found on the Programme page on Moodle) and the Plymouth
University Safety Policy Code of Practice for Off-site Activities and Fieldwork
(https://intranet.plymouth.ac.uk/intrsafe/), which between them will cover in detail the processes
in place and the responsibilities you have when working ‘in the field’. Please also be sure to read
the Plymouth University Code of Practice for Driver and Vehicle Safety
(https://intranet.plymouth.ac.uk/intrsafe/) if you need to drive a vehicle to access your field site.
All of the activities you undertake in relation to your dissertation research must be
compliant with the information contained within these documents.

Assessment of any potential dangers

Before commencing any fieldwork, you must make your own assessment of any potential dangers
of hazards and decide upon a suitable method of working. It may be necessary to revise your
assessment of dangers or hazards as your fieldwork progresses. Template Risk Assessment
forms and guidelines for filling your own form out are included in Appendix C. You should
discuss any foreseeable risks with your advisor and complete the form, and then both of you
should sign it. A draft copy needs to be attached to your Research Proposal assignment, and a
final copy, submitted by 28 May, 2020.

AT NO POINT SHOULD YOU GO INTO A DANGEROUS OR HAZARDOUS LOCATION, OR

UNDERTAKE DANGEROUS TASKS. These terms are defined as follows: Hazardous –
locations where potential dangers may arise frequently; Dangerous – locations where dangers
are always present.

Preparation for dissertation fieldwork

Before starting your fieldwork, you must leave information about your intended programme
and itinerary with a parent or another responsible person. You should leave a record of:
 Date and time of departure and your mobile phone number
 Method of travel to the field location, and around the site once you are there
 Proposed itinerary (give OS grid references whenever possible)
 Any potentially hazardous technique or operation to be used and where you will use it
 Expected time of leaving the field location and estimated time of arrival home. Make sure
you inform the responsible person of your arrival once you have returned home.
Make sure also if you are driving to / around your field site, your own private vehicle insurance
covers you for this purpose .

28
Clothing and equipment
You should always ensure in advance that you have suitable clothing and equipment for the
proposed fieldwork.
 Clothing suitable for the work and the time of year should be worn. Extra clothing should
be carried in climatically unpredictable areas where there is risk of exposure. In hot weather,
bear the risk of sun-burn in mind. Wear good walking boots. A safety helmet (conforming to
British Standard [BS] 5240) must be worn when undertaking work near cliff bottoms or
quarry faces, or other places where there is a risk of falling material. Safety goggles
(conforming to BS 2092) must be worn where there is a risk from rock or other fragments.
 Equipment when working in remote areas should include a fully charged mobile phone with
appropriate coverage where possible. Ideally an outdoor GPS handheld device should be
carried and you should know how to use it. At the very least, carry a map and compass
(and know how to take a bearing). Also carry a whistle, a watch, a torch, a first-aid kit and,
in potentially cold environments, an emergency survival blanket. A supply of food and drink
should be carried if you are working in the field for a lengthy period, unless these are easily
available nearby. If you borrow any School equipment make sure you know how to use it
properly – ask a technician for guidance if you need it.

Working alone
Although we recognise that many of you will undertake fieldwork alone during the summer
vacation, wherever possible it is preferable to go with another person. In the event of an accident
befalling a field worker operating in a relatively remote location, groups of three or four enable
one or two to go for help, while another remains with the injured person. Taking others with you
is especially important when planning fieldwork in remote locations, but even when working on
surveys such as questionnaires, observations, etc., it is the School’s clear advice to find someone
else to join you. In any case, you should avoid putting yourself at risk by working in locations or
situations that could be hostile or threatening, and such considerations must be taken into account
on the risk assessment form.

International distress signals

 Mountains and other terrestrial locations: give six long flashes / blasts / shouts / waves
in succession. Repeat at one-minute intervals.
 At sea: always inform the coastguards of your activities before commencing work. In the
event of an emergency, using a whistle or a torch, send the Morse code SOS signal: three
short blasts / flashes, three long, three short. Pause, then repeat. Alternatively, use red
flares or orange smoke, or outstretched arms, raised and lowered slowly and repeatedly, or
an oar, with a cloth tied to it, waved slowly from side to side.

29
Disease immunisation
If you are intending to work with plant material, soils, or near farm animals, you must ensure that
your tetanus immunisation is up-to-date. Bear in mind that agricultural areas may harbour
disease. Also, remember that some plants and animals native to the UK are poisonous. In some
overseas locations, this risk can be greater. Freshwater may be a source of pollution and contain
bacteria. If in any doubt about a potentially poisonous substance, take advice from the National
Poisons Information Service. Any samples collected should be clearly labelled with the origins of
the sample and with your name. You will need to register your sample with a member of the
technical staff when you take them into the geography laboratories.

Fieldwork locations where special care should be exercised

Be sure to take particular care in the following types of location: remote mountainous terrain,
remote moorland, cliffs, caves, quarries, tunnels, pot-holes, spoil heaps, tips, land-fill, sludge
lagoons, freshwater lakes and pools, rivers, reed beds, bogs and marshes, sea-shores. Of course,
this is not to say that potential hazards will not exist anywhere you go and in relation to whatever
kind of work you are doing: questionnaire surveys, for example, can also involve risks and should
be undertaken only after an evaluation of whether door-to-door calling can be undertaken safely
in the context of the aims and objectives of your project. ‘One-to-one’ interviews are situations
which can sometimes involve an element of risk. If you have any doubts, ask someone to
accompany you, and always leave clear information about your whereabouts and expected time
of return. Make sure the person with whom you leave this information knows that you have
returned. Ensure that such considerations are included on your risk assessment form.

30
 DISSERTATIONS INVOLVING RESEARCH OVERSEAS

If you are thinking of undertaking research for your dissertation in an overseas location, you
should discuss this with your advisor. If you then decide this is definitely a course of action you
want to adopt, you must inform your advisor fully about the nature of their work and the likely risks
and hazards that might be encountered, and of course your Risk Assessment form needs to be
signed off. Your advisor will wish to be assured that you are competent to undertake the work,
that the work is sufficiently low risk, and that the School’s safety requirements have been met
(see School Safety Procedures and the Code of Practice for Off-site Activities and Fieldwork)
mentioned above. You will also want to obtain appropriate visas for overseas dissertation
research, seek medical advice (regarding inoculations, etc.), personal insurance cover and official
advice regarding travel safety from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk/) well
in advance of departure.

31
 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DISSERTATIONS

Thinking about ethical issues

In addition to your Risk Assessment forms, you must also submit the Ethical Approval form.
The form is included at the back of this handbook, together with some more detailed notes to help
you think about the issues (Appendices A and B). Read the notes, and discuss the ethical
approval form with your advisor. Where relevant, you must discuss in your methodology chapter,
precisely how you dealt with any ethical issues that were raised by your work. Below are some
simple guidelines to help you fulfil your obligation to behave ethically when carrying out your
dissertation work.

 Generally speaking (your advisor will help you identify exceptions), people should be taking
part in your research on a voluntary basis. Participants must be informed of their right to
withdraw at any time, and you must not put pressure on participants in an attempt to prevent
their withdrawal.
 The purpose of the dissertation must be explained to each participant at the outset and he
or she must not be misled.
 The dissertation student should carry identification including information that allows a
potential participant to contact the School if he or she wishes, in order to ensure that the
work is bona fide.
 Participants normally must be assured at the outset that any information that they provide
will be used in a manner that protects their confidentiality (complete anonymity may not be
possible because in some cases you will know who they are). This involves protecting their
identity throughout the dissertation process, including the production of the final text; at no
stage should it be possible to link information with an individual participant. In some
circumstances (which should be determined with your advisor), participants may be asked
to give consent for their confidentiality to be waived so that, for example, quotations may
be linked to a particular individual or position in a company, organisation or community. In
such cases, the agreement of the individual(s) concerned must always be sought and
obtained.
 Personal and/or sensitive questions should not be asked unless they are directly necessary
for the conduct of the research.
 No data may be stored electronically in a way that allows individuals and their information
to be identified. Names and addresses should not, therefore, be stored.
 Dissertations involving observations of behaviour without interaction with the people
observed (e.g. counting the number of people using a particular road crossing) obviously
cannot obtain the consent of all those observed. Still, such observations could cause
suspicion or distress if the work is unexplained. You should think very carefully about your

32
 observation site and, if possible, explain and seek consent from someone in authority for
that area.
 Participants must be informed that they may inspect a copy of your dissertation once it is
finished.

Guidelines for completing your ethical approval form

Aims and objectives of the research. Please also state the method(s) of data collection that will
be used in the study (e.g. questionnaire, semi-structured interviews).

Participants: please state whether the participants are non-vulnerable adults or vulnerable adults
or minors/ children. If your study includes vulnerable adults or minors/children then you must state
this on the form and discuss the additional ethical considerations arising with your supervisor and
the School ethics lead.

Please state any sources of risk or distress to participants (either physical or psychological). If
there is a danger of distress to participants it is important to have procedures in place in the event
that harm does occur (such as pointing them to follow-up advice or support). Note that physical
risks should be minimised through your risk assessment.

Ethical protocol guidelines.

1. Informed consent. You should obtain written consent, especially for interviews. An example
information and consent form is included below.
2. Openness and honesty. All participants should be informed about the nature of the
research and how their data will be used before they take part in the research. This
information is usually stated on an information sheet or in an introductory paragraph at the
start of a questionnaire. It is good practice to give participants your university email
address in case they wish to contact you.
3. Right to withdraw. You can state on the information and consent form that participation in
the research is voluntary and participants have the right to withdraw from the research.
4. Protection from harm. You need to protect participants from any unnecessary physical or
psychological risk by having suitable measures in place.
5. Confidentiality: any primary data should be anonymised and stored securely (e.g. on a
password-protected laptop). Any data held on mobile devices must be encrypted.

33
Dissertations involving minors (e.g. school children) or vulnerable adults
If your dissertation involves minors or children (participants under 18), or vulnerable adults
(defined as a person 18 or over who lacks the mental capacity to give informed consent) then
you will have additional ethical considerations. For example, you need to gain additional
consent before carrying out the research. It is essential that you discuss your project with your
supervisor and contact the School ethics lead for advice (currently Olivia Wilson). You will be
required to obtain DBS clearance if the research topic involves working with vulnerable adults,
minors or children. You will be required to obtain your DBS clearance before ethical approval
can be given. Please allow extra time to gain ethical approval.

It is absolutely essential that any information collected without prior approval by the Geography
Dissertation Coordinator or Faculty Ethics Committee will not be allowed to be used in the
dissertation and the research results will be considered invalid. Failure to follow the guidelines
may also result in disciplinary action.

Access to land and property

You must not attempt to conduct investigations on private land / property without the permission
of its owner(s). This applies to land and all other types of property (e.g. shops, leisure services,
public transport vehicles). If the property / land is publicly owned, permission must be obtained
from the relevant authority/management. If requested to do so, you must leave the land / property
immediately and without protest.

34
Example Information and Consent form for an Interview (a shorter version could be used for a
questionnaire; for example, the information about the investigator, title of research, purpose and
anonymity).

PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH PROJECT / PRACTICAL STUDY

Name and email of Principal Investigator:

______________________________________________________________
Title of Research:
______________________________________________________________
Brief statement of purpose of work:
______________________________________________________________

The objectives of this research have been explained to me.

I understand that I am free to withdraw from the research, and ask for my data to be destroyed if
I wish.

I understand that my anonymity is guaranteed, unless I expressly state otherwise. All material
from the interview will be treated confidentially by the investigator.

I understand that the Principal Investigator of this work will have attempted, as far as possible,
to avoid any risks, and that safety and health risks will have been separately assessed by
appropriate authorities.

Under these circumstances, I agree to participate in the research.

Name: ……………………………………….

Signature: .....................................……………..

Date: ………………………………………..

35
 PLAGIARISM

It is very important to restate previous warnings (see, for example the Student Handbook for
Geography Programmes) about plagiarism. In writing your dissertation, you are of course
expected to use material drawn from many and various sources, but even if the number of sources
you employ is small you must not simply copy out large chunks of someone else’s work.
The text should be in your own words. Any direct quotations taken from another author’s work
should appear within quotation marks (‘...’) and must be properly attributed and acknowledged as
per the Harvard referencing convention. Please also note that you must not auto-plagiarise , i.e.
replicate coursework submitted for another module in the degree course.

You are required to include a signed statement on the title page of the dissertation stating
that it is entirely your own work. If plagiarism is proven, the dissertation will normally be
recommended for failure.

Working together in the field

In some instances it is acceptable and, at times, desirable for two (or perhaps more) students to
help each other with fieldwork. It is, though, essential that each student collects data solely for
the purpose of his or her own dissertation and that these data are not shared. Sharing data may
be construed as academic dishonesty, which if proven will normally result in the dissertation
being recommended for failure. If you are in any doubt about any collaboration that you plan,
consult with your advisor.

36
 USING THE DISSERTATION PLANNER

The dissertation planner on the next page illustrates the key stages of the dissertation ‘life cycle’
and their timing. This planner allows you to see at-a-glance the tasks you should be working on,
and when they need attention; the idea is to encourage you to devise an achievable and realistic
timetable for your dissertation work. An electronic copy of the planner will be available in both the
GGX2202 and the GGX3200 portal folders. It could be useful; please feel free to download a
copy, complete it and save it!

 Key Periods: in this column you should mark the significant times of the year – vacations,
tests, fieldwork, etc. It is up to you how much you do in vacations, but be realistic in your
planning. Block out holiday times, and employment, etc. If you count the number of weeks
left available for dissertation work, it may make the time to the deadline seem very short.

 Deadlines and other work: mark in all other coursework deadlines. Perhaps use thick
vertical lines to indicate periods when you will be working on particular jobs.

 Aims, methodology, design, staff advice: Block in periods when you should be actively
working on designing or re-designing parts of your dissertation, and indicate when you think
you ought to see your academic advisor.

 Use each of the remaining columns to indicate the weeks when the various activities will
dominate or be a lower priority, or be finished. It is a good idea to use a thick vertical line to
show when a task is a top priority and a ‘dashed’ line for tasks that are lower priorities.

37
 Week Key Periods Deadlines & other Aims, Methodology, Lit. & Data / Data/ Evidence Writing Graphics
Beginning work Design, Staff Advice, Sources Evidence Analysis &
Discussions with Collection Interpretation
Advisor

3 Feb Dissertation
Topic

Feb - Advisors allocated

March Check Em ail and
Moodle

9 March

16 March

23 March Research
proposal

30 March

6 April Easter
vacation
13 April

20 April
Year 2 Field
27 April
trips and
4 May analysis

11 May

18 May

25 May Revised Risk

Assessment &
Ethical Approval
form s

1 June

8 June

15 June

22 June

29 June

6 July

13 July

20 July

27 July

3 Aug

10 Aug

17 Aug

24 Aug

31 Aug

7 Sept

14 Sept

21 Sept Induction Return all kit

38
28 Sep Term starts

5 Oct

12 Oct

19 Oct

26 Oct Progress Report

2 Nov

9 Nov

16 Nov

23 Nov

30 Nov

7 Dec

14 Dec

Christm as
21 Dec
Vacation
28 Dec

4 Jan

11 Jan

18 Jan

25 Jan

1 Feb First Draft can be

submitted from 1
Feb to 5 Feb

8 Feb

15 Feb

22 Feb

1 Mar

8 Mar

DISSERTATION SUMBISSION DEADLINE

3pm THURSDAY 25 MARCH 2020

39
 DISSERTATION ADVISORS

Prof. Ian Bailey (email: i.bailey@plymouth.ac.uk)

Environmental policy and practice; national and local climate and energy policy (renewable
energy, shale gas); human dimensions of sustainability issues; waste

Prof. Will Blake (email: william.blake@plymouth.ac.uk)

Catchment hydrology - catchment (river/lake) response to human and natural impacts – sediment
budgets (source, transport & storage) - sediment/water quality (heavy metals, nutrients)

Dr Caroline Clason (email: caroline.clason@plymouth.ac.uk)

Glacial hydrology; glacier-fed water security; glacier dynamics and retreat; glacier-climate
interactions; reconstructing glacier extent from geomorphology; glacier-related hazards;
environmental change in polar and mountain regions; gender equality in STEM

Dr Tim Daley (email: tim.daley@plymouth.ac.uk)

Past climate change and palaeoecology, climate-carbon cycle interactions, climate change
adaptation

Dr Stephen Essex (email: s.essex@plymouth.ac.uk)

Urban geography and planning, impact of mega-events, post-war reconstruction, tourism and
recreation studies, rural tourism

Prof Ralph Fyfe (email: ralph.fyfe@plymouth.ac.uk)

Environmental archaeology and archaeology, geoarchaeology, palaeoecological analyses

(including pollen), biogeography, wetland conservation, Geographical Information Systems,
spatial analysis of geographical data

Prof. David Gilvear (email: david.gilvear@plymouth.ac.uk)

Fluvial geomorphology, river rehabilitation projects, quantifying and mapping river ecosystem
services, remote sensing of river heterogeneity, channel change and wetland hydrology

40
Dr Nichola Harmer (email: nichola.harmer@plymouth.ac.uk)

Political Geography; statehood and sovereignty; power; national and regional identities; island
studies; working with literary texts.

Dr Mark Holton (email: mark.holton@plymouth.ac.uk)

Social and cultural geographies, geographies of students and education, geographies of the
home, film and literature studies, urban studies and ‘sense of place’.

Prof Anne Mather (email: a.mather@plymouth.ac.uk)

Hydrogeomorphology, fluvial landform development, physical geography of Mediterranean

regions, hazards, tectonic geomorphology, desert landslides

Dr Matthew Rech (email: matthew.rech@plymouth.ac.uk)

Political, cultural and military geographies, with specific interest in popular culture, representation,
visuality and materiality, critical geopolitics and everyday militarism.

Prof. Jon Shaw (email: jon.shaw@plymouth.ac.uk)

Transport geography, mobility, accessibility, transport policy and practice, the American West

Dr Paul Simpson (email: paul.simpson@plymouth.ac.uk)

Social and cultural geographies of landscape, identity, place, performance, virtual geographies,
everyday life, public space, and experiences of mobility; the history and philosophy of geography;
ethnographic and visual methods.

Dr Alan Smith (email: alan.smith@plymouth.ac.uk)

Geospatial analysis and GIS, spatiotemporal population modelling, population vulnerability, risk
and exposure to natural hazards, population mapping, census data analysis, quantitative human
geography.

Dr Matt Telfer (email: matt.telfer@plymouth.ac.uk)

Dryland geomorphology, Quaternary environmental change (esp. drylands and British Isles),
geochronology (esp. luminescence dating), sand dunes, complexity in earth systems

41
Dr Kim Ward (email: kim.ward@plymouth.ac.uk)

Nature-society relations, biosecurity and the socio-politics of infectious disease, geographies of

food, rural life and poverty.

Dr Ruth Weaver (email: r.weaver@plymouth.ac.uk)

Biogeography and ecology, conservation, vegetation mapping / quantification, management and

impact studies.

Dr Olivia Wilson (email: olivia.wilson@plymouth.ac.uk)

Spatial planning, green space and biodiversity within planning, planning and climate change,
urban geography

Prof. Richard Yarwood (email: r.yarwood@plymouth.ac.uk)

Rural geography; social geography; military geographies; volunteering; citizenship; crime and
policing; animal geographies.

ASSOCIATE STAFF WHO MAY ACT AS DISSERTATION ADVISORS

Dr Gillian Glegg (email: G.Glegg@plymouth.ac.uk)

Links between science and policy in the management of marine and coastal waters, regulation
and control of marine pollution, integrated coastal zone management, marine spatial planning

Prof. Gerd Masselink (email: gmasselink@plymouth.ac.uk)

Beach processes and morphology, sand and gravel barriers, coastal dune development,
nearshore hydrodynamics and sediment transport, shore platform morphology, cliff erosion,
estuarine processes and stratigraphy, sea-level rise, coastal evolution

Prof. Paul Russell (email: p.russell@plymouth.ac.uk)

Beach processes, coastal hydrodynamics and sediment transport, coastal erosion, surf science

Dr Andrew Seedhouse (andrew.seedhouse@plymouth.ac.uk)

Transport, public transport, partnerships, governance, intelligent transport systems and policy

42
 TECHNICAL STAFF

You may consult technical staff for advice about equipment and laboratory or field techniques employed in
carrying out dissertation research.

School Technical Manager: Anita Young (Davy 703) anita.young@plymouth.ac.uk

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Seventh floor, eighth floor (north), Davy Building

Dr Martha Hall (email: martha.hall@plymouth.ac.uk)

Vertebrate palaeontology, bio-geosciences

Mr Richard Hartley (email: r.hartley@plymouth.ac.uk)

Hydro-Geomorphology, sediment analysis, environmental monitoring, surveying, survey GPS

CARTOGRAPHY
Geomapping Unit, seventh floor, Davy Building

Mr Tim Absalom (email: t.absalom@plymouth.ac.uk) – only available for advice until July 2020
Graphics, maps, cartography, GIS

Mr Shaun Lewin (email: shaun.lewin@plymouth.ac.uk)

GIS, drone data and photogrammetry, graphics, maps, cartography

Mr Jamie Quinn (email: james.quinn@plymouth.ac.uk)

Photography, graphics, maps, cartography, GIS

43
 APPENDICES

A Ethical principles: further notes

B Ethical Approval form

C Risk Assessment form

D Supervisory Progress Report form

44
 Appendix A: Ethical principles for research involving human participants

Any geography dissertation research project might involve you in contacts with members of the
public. Perhaps you have to ask a farmer for permission to establish a testing site on a piece of
land; maybe you want to carry out an ‘in-depth’ interview with a factory manager about a firm’s
contribution to the local economy; or you might be involved in carrying out survey work, delivering
questionnaires or carrying out street surveys. In all these cases, your project may impact on other
people’s activities. It is your responsibility to be sure that you act ethically with regard to any
impact that your work may exert.

The University has a set of guidelines regarding ethical principles or protocols for all research
involving human subjects; they are outlined in the Ethical Approval form, which all students
undertaking a dissertation must complete.

These notes are designed to give you clear advice about what the School expects of you in
carrying out your geography dissertation research, and how you should go about making
decisions concerning what is ethical in research. Remember: you will need to report in your
methodology chapter precisely how you have addressed any ethical issues that were raised by
the work that you have undertaken.

Courtesy and Consideration

In the main, geography dissertation research should not raise particularly complex ethical issues,
but a straightforward commitment to courtesy and consideration in all dealings with people
involved in your research is absolutely essential. In particular this means:
 always seeking permission for access to, or use of, property;
 considering the possible effects on people and their activities of the research you are
conducting and, where necessary, explaining what you are doing to people who might
otherwise have cause for concern (e.g. if you are carrying out a street survey and are
remaining in one location for an unusually long period, it might be appropriate to tell nearby
shopkeepers what you are doing);
 remembering that the ‘right to withdraw’ from participation in a piece of research includes
the right to refuse you access to property.

45
Confidentiality
In survey research, you should be able to assure respondents that their individual identity will not
be disclosed in the final report. Generally, this will entail not taking names or addresses of
respondents. If your project demands that you need to identify groups of respondents from a
particular location (street, ward of the city or whatever), you would normally use a numeric code
on the survey sheet which would allow you to locate the response in a general sense for the
purpose of analysis, but would not be identifiable by anyone else, nor be used by you except for
your analysis.

In-depth interviews with individuals (e.g. planners, managers, long-term residents etc.) pose
rather different problems. Anonymity and confidentiality here often cannot be as complete as in a
questionnaire survey. You should think very carefully BEFORE you carry out the interview about
how you expect to use what is said by your respondent. Normally, you would not report verbatim
everything that the respondent says if the person can be identified from what he or she said. If it
is reasonable from the point of view of accuracy, it will generally be better to describe the
respondent by role: 'the planning officer said ...'; or ‘a local farmer explained that ...’ At the same
time, it is in the nature of geographical research that we deal with particular places, and need
therefore to be able to identify the people in those places, so such anonymity does not give the
individual much confidentiality. Anyone familiar with the area will know who ‘the planning officer’
was at the time you did your research. You should therefore explain to your respondent how you
intend to use what they say and, if this is likely to include direct quotation, you must tell them so.
You can then go on to say that, if there is anything your interviewee does not want quoted verbatim
in the report, they should tell you. You should assure them of their right to end the interview at
any time, or to refuse to answer particular questions.

You should offer your respondent the opportunity to see a copy of your final dissertation; and, in
certain circumstances, you might want to go back to them to check the accuracy of what you have
said about their response. If you say that you will send them a copy of your dissertation or a
summary report, make sure you actually do so! It will normally be a good idea to ask your advisor
to check the summary report before you send it. This does not have to happen before you submit
the dissertation, but you should aim to do so as soon as possible after its completion.

You should note that, if necessary, it is possible for a dissertation to be kept on a ‘restricted loan’
basis in the School’s collection after you complete it, so that it can only be read in the School, and
not borrowed. In a very limited number of cases, this might be worth considering either because
by assuring the respondent that this is so they may be more willing to take part in your research
or because you decide that the work would be better kept on restricted loan. It is your responsibility
to inform the School if you wish this to happen, and to explain why, in writing.

46
Acknowledgements
Where you have received particular help with your research, you should say so in the
acknowledgements at the front of the dissertation, and it would normally be a welcome gesture
to send such people a copy of the title page, abstract and acknowledgements. In some
circumstances, you may feel that a respondent has been so vital to your work that you would want
to send them a copy of the full dissertation.

Deception
It will not normally be considered appropriate for any geography dissertation research to entail
deception of respondents. Indeed, the more transparent and open you are about your research
and its purposes, the better. Unless it compromises the point of the research, respondents should
be aware of the aims and objectives of your research, and how their responses will be used.

Ethical approval forms

In general, geography dissertation research will be assumed to be conducted according to the
ethical principles just described. To ensure that this is so, everyone taking GGX3200 must
complete an Ethical Approval form (Appendix B) (an electronic version of the form is also
available on the GGX2202 Moodle site), which must be submitted with your Dissertation
Proposal and Risk Assessment form on 26 March 2020.

This copy of the form will be checked by your advisor, who will tell you of any ethical problem they
can see in the work, and either ask you for further details, or instruct you of any specific
requirement they expect you to fulfil. Once signed off by your advisor, your form will be sent to
the School Ethics Lead for comment and final approval. You will be informed if further adjustment
to your proposed research is necessary before the end of the summer term. This process is
designed to protect both yourself and the potential participants in your study, and should not be
seen as a threat, but rather as an offer of help and support in thinking through your plan of work.

47
 Appendix B: Ethical Approval form

Name of Student ....................................... Registration Number ................

Name of Advisor ..........................................
Dissertation Title ................................................................................................
Brief outline of aims and objectives of rese arch
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Location(s) in which the research is to be conducted

................................................................................................................................

Who are the participants in the study, and how will they be involved? Give details of all possible
participants (e.g. the target group of questionnaire respondents or individuals to be approached for
opinions or information)
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Is there any intention to involve young people under 18 years of age in the work? YES/NO
N.B. If ‘YES’ you will be subject to check s by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Permission for
studies of this k ind will be granted only in exceptional circumstances. If the work is to involve children or
young people, which authority will be approached for permission? (e.g. Head of School, Youth Club leader,
parent)
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Specify any possible sources of risk or distress to participants

................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Describe any actions that will be taken if participants experience distress or concern as a result of
participating in the study (e.g. provision of contact points for information or advice)
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

48
Ethical protocol
Please circle YES or NO, or write a sentence showing how you will ensure that the research conforms with
each clause of the University of Plymouth principles for research involving human participants:

(1) Informed Consent: Will it be necessary for all participants to provide written consent? (This is not
generally necessary in questionnaire work. Sensitive topics may require written c onsent, check with your
tutor) YES / NO

(2) Openness and Honesty: How will you ensure openness and honesty in explaining and conducting
your project?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

(3) Right to withdraw: How will you ensure that participants are aware of their right to withdraw from the
study?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

(4) Protection from harm: Will it be necessary to take particular steps to ensure that participants are
protected from harm as a result of taking part in your study? YES / NO
If ‘Yes’, what steps will you take?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

(5) Confidentiality: Can you guarantee confidentiality and anonymity for all respondent s ?
YES / NO
If ‘No’, what steps will you take to minimise any risk to participants arising from lack of complete anonymity
or confidentiality?
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Signature ...................................................... Date ..............................................

49
 Appendix C: Risk Assessment forms

GUIDANCE FOR COMPLETION OF RISK ASSESSMENT FORMS

A template risk assessment form has been provided for use in dissertation planning on the DLE.
The overall structure of the form MUST NOT be edited other than completion of detail into the
boxes. This is important to ensure consistency in detail, which is essential in the management
of risk.

The form has two main components:

1. the description of the activity and contact details (both for the field team and a ‘home contact’
or emergency contact); and

2. the specific risks and how they are mitigated and minimised.

The responsibilities of the field worker

It is your responsibility, as leader of your activity, to ensure that all the appropriate risks have
been identified and appropriate actions taken to reduce these risks before the activity can
commence . Your advisor (and the Geography field work safety coordinator) are required to
sign-off your form, and will not do so until they are satisfied that this has been undertaken
appropriately.

Whilst undertaking the activity, it is your responsibility to brief any others that are with you on
the risks that have been identified, and the control measures that are in place, and to abide by
those control measures. You should ensure that every member of a field team has received the
briefing, and that you have a copy of the risk assessment form with you in the field (and as
necessary, that members of the field team also have access to that copy, or a copy of their own:
see below).

The home (or emergency) contact

The risk assessment form requires you to nominate a ‘home contact’, here referred to as an
‘emergency contact’. This is someone who you can contact in the event of an incident during
the activity. They should be a suitable responsible adult (parent, friend etc).

You should ensure that your ‘emergency contact’ is aware that you are undertaking the activity,
and have details of what you are doing and where you are doing it. Think what they will need in
50
the worst-case scenario, such as a significant injury for which they will need to contact the
emergency services on your behalf.

The importance of briefing the whole field team, and providing access to the risk assessment
form, is extremely important. It is no use having your emergency contact on ‘speed dial’ on your
(locked) smart phone if you are incapacitated and relying on another member of your team to
reach the emergency contact!

Depending on the nature of the activity, it may be appropriate to leave an itinerary with the
emergency contact, and arrange for ‘check-in’ communication at staged times (e.g. at the end of
each day in a remote field location).

Completing the description of activity and contact details section

Each box is described here for clarity.

Date: date during which you complete the form

Assessed by: name of the person completing the form (you!)

Description of activity/location: provide a short summary of what will be done and where.

Number and persons involved in activity: you should detail how many people will be involved
within the activity (and thus potentially exposed to any of the risks), and where
possible provide names. Please note that whilst lone working can be
undertaken as part of your project, the risks associated with this must be clearly
identified and appropriate mitigation measures put in place. Usually the easiest
way to mitigate these risks is to have a second person in the field. Include
yourself. Where names of field assistants are not yet known, put ‘unnamed
field assistant(s)’.

Fieldwork contact number(s): include a telephone number that can be used to reach you in
the field

Date of activities: indicate when the activities will take place. Be as specific as possible, but in
the absence of firm details “August 2018” will do.

UoP advisor (and contact details): name your advisor and provide his/her contact details (e-

51
 mail address and office phone number there are on the University web pages).

Emergency contact for fieldworkers: Name a responsible person who will be able to act as a
‘home contact’ for you during your activities, and provide their contact details
(phone number on which they can be reached). See comments above about
the role of this person, and what they will need to know.

Completing the hazard and risk ratings section

There are 10 blank rows in the hazards table, and if you need more, then add more. Delete any
rows you do not need. Ten rows should be sufficient to cover the risks, and you may be able to
‘collapse’ some risks together (e.g. risk of exposure to cold/wet and risk of heatstroke can be
grouped to risk of extremes of weather conditions).

You MUST NOT change or edit any of the layout of the form. Do not delete columns, or
add columns, or edit the headers of columns.

Exemplars of hazards and risks for human geography, physical geography and computing-
based projects are included below. Do not forget risks associated with travel to and from the
activity, or predictable risks such as tides etc (for projects at the coast). In general, think about:

hazards surrounding mobility (getting to and moving around the location of the activity);
hazards surrounding the environment (weather, fauna and flora including biting insects,
other humans etc);
hazards surrounding particular tasks in the activity (use of particular equipment or
sampling methods).

For each hazard you are required to use the drop-down boxes to identify a likelihood and
severity score. Use the table at the foot of the risk assessment form to help understand this.

The LIKELIHOOD SCORE is an assessment of whether the particular risk is

likely to occur, rated on a scale of 1-5, where 1=Not Likely, 2=Possible; 3=Likely;
4=Very Likely; and 5=Probable.

The SEVERITY SCORE is an assessment of the impact of the particular risk

should it occur, rated on a scale of 1-5, where 1=very low; 2=low; 3=medium;
4=high; and 5=extreme. Extreme can be taken to infer risk to life or limb, whilst
low might imply a twisted ankle on rough terrain, or verbal abuse whilst

52
undertaking questionnaire surveys.

The RISK RATING is calculated by multiplying the LIKELIHOOD SCORE by the

SEVERITY SCORE. In all cases control measures to manage risk must be
clearly explained. Activities that include RISK RATINGS between 5 - 9 must be
considered carefully and control measures clearly enforced. Activities that
incur RISK RATINGS of 10 and above (RED in the table) must be avoided
and alternative measures for the activity put in place.

53
 Template Human Geography Risk Assessment form
01/12/2017 J Shaw Description of Description of the activity and where it is, e.g.
Assessed interviews and observation of passenger behaviours on
Date: Activity and
by: GWR trains to and from London, etc
Location
Number 1 07890 246810 July 14-16th 2018; Sept 21-22nd 2018
Fieldworker
and
contact
persons Date of activities
numbers
involved in
(mobile)
activity
UoP
advisor Emergency contact for
Dr A.S. Taff (01752 567898)
(name and fieldworkers (name Mrs A Shaw +44 1626 123456 OR +44 7897 444555
(a.s.taff@plymouth.ac.uk)
contact and contact details)
details)

UoP Security (24/7): +44 (0)1752 588400; SoGEES Office (office hours only) +44 (0) 1752 584709. UK and European Police: 999 / 112

Any LONE WORKING in fieldwork should be assessed and appropriate control measures put in place to minimise risk.

Fieldworkers should lodge plans of their fieldwork with a responsible person (the emergency contact for field workers), such as a family member or friend, in
advance of field work. This should include location, return times, agreed contingency measures, contact details.

A copy of this form should be taken in the field and appropriate briefing given to all members of the field party prior to st arting activities.

No. at Likeli- RISK Responsible

Hazard Controls in Place at Present Severity
Risk hood RATING Person
Travel to and from field location 1 If in a private car, conform to Plymouth 3 2 6 JS
University Code of Practice for Vehicle
and Driver safety. Personal business
insurance is needed for travel to and from
field location as it is not provided by the
54

Traffic related hazards
Weather - Exposure, hypothermia,
sunstroke
Terrain – slips, trips and falls
Infections – Disease from livestock,
parasites and streams
Friction with local people. E.g.
upsetting field survey respondents,
landowners
University. Speed limits and the highway
code will be obeyed at all times. If using
public transport, reasonable precautions
will be taken and conditions of carriage /
safety notices will be obeyed at all times.
1 Take precautions when crossing roads. 2 4 8 JS
Be aware of surroundings and direction of
traffic and use official crossings when
available. Walk on pavements when
available.
1 Appropriate clothing will be worn and 2 2 4 JS
carried, including waterproofs,
appropriate coat, hat and gloves.
Sunscreen / sunhat to be worn or carried
during hot / sunny weather. Drink plenty of
water to avoid dehydration. The weather
will be consulted daily before setting out.
1 Suitable footwear will be worn. Care will 2 1 2 JS
be taken when walking on uneven ground.
1 Tetanus is up to date. Cuts should be 1 2 2 JS
treated immediately. Long trousers will be
worn to protect from midges or ticks, and
checks will be made on return for bites
and ticks.
1 Maintain a respectful, professional and 2 2 4 JS
sensitive attitude to local residents at all
times. Exercise caution and common
sense when in contact with local people
and be polite at all times. Permission will
55
 be sought and secured from landowners
where necessary.
Undertaking interviews or focus 1 Undertake in visible public spaces, carry 2 2 4 JS
groups a mobile phone, check in and out with a
responsible adult/home contact
Undertaking questionnaires 1 Undertake questionnaires in visible, 2 2 4 JS
public spaces. Carry mobile phone; check
in and out with a responsible adult.
Ensure the safety of the public being
questioned e.g. do not cause
obstructions, work where there is traffic,
block pavements etc. Do not conduct
questionnaires in private spaces (e.g.
shopping malls) without permission of
landlord.
‘Exotic’ hazard 1 Landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, 1 4 4 JS
wildfires, etc. when working in areas
prone to such events.
General wellbeing 1 Act in accordance with published 2 2 4 JS
SoGEES School Safety Procedures and
the University Safety Policy Code of
Practice for Off-site Activities and
Fieldwork.

56
Advisor’s Click or tap here to enter text. Severity
provisional
approval Very
Click or tap here to enter text. Low Medium High Extreme
Low
DATE
1 2 3 4 5
Safety Click or tap to enter a date.
Officer’s final Probable 5 5 10 15 20 25
approval
Click or tap to enter a date.
DATE Very Likely 4 4 8 12 16 20

Likelihood
Likely 3 3 6 9 12 15

Note: Risk Assessment to be completed in conjunction with Code Possible 2 2 4 6 8 10

of Practice. Full guidance on completing the form can be found
on the GGX3200 Moodle site. Please note: driving will be
undertaken according to the Plymouth University Code of Not Likely 1 1 2 3 4 5
Practice

57
 Template Physical Geography Risk Assessment form
01/12/2017 A. Mather Description of Field work description, e.g. sampling river water for
Assessed (AM) water quality project on the upper Zambezi
Date: Activity and
by:
Location
Number 3 07890 123456 August 2018
Fieldworker
and
contact
persons Date of activities
numbers
involved in
(mobile)
activity
UoP
advisor Emergency contact for
A.S. Taff, +44 1752 567891,
(name and a.s.taff@plymouth.ac.uk fieldworkers (name Mr Mather, +44 7891 234567
contact and contact details)
details)

UoP Security (24/7): +44 (0)1752 588400; SoGEES Office (office hours only) +44 (0) 1752 584709. UK and European Police: 999 / 112

Any LONE WORKING in fieldwork should be assessed and appropriate control measures put in place to minimise risk.

Fieldworkers should lodge plans of their fieldwork with a responsible person (the emergency contact for field workers), such as a family member or friend, in
advance of field work. This should include location, return times, agreed contingency measures, contact details.

A copy of this form should be taken in the field and appropriate briefing given to all members of the field party prior to starting activities.

No. at Likeli- RISK Responsible

Hazard Controls in Place at Present Severity
Risk hood RATING Person
Travel to and from field location 1 If in a private car, conform to Plymouth 3 2 6 AM
University Code of Practice for Vehicle
and Driver safety. Personal business
insurance is needed for travel to and from
field location as it is not provided by the
University. Speed limits and the highway

58

Traffic related hazards
Weather - Exposure, hypothermia,
sunstroke
Getting lost
Terrain – slips, trips and falls
Hazardous water bodies – Falling
into lakes, rivers and coastal pools.
Soaking, submergence and
drowning
code will be obeyed at all times. If using
public transport, reasonable precautions
will be taken and conditions of carriage /
safety notices will be obeyed at all times.
1 Take precautions when crossing roads. 2 4 8 AM
Be aware of surroundings and direction of
traffic and use official crossings when
available. Walk on pavements when
available.
1 Appropriate clothing will be worn and 2 2 4 AM
carried, including waterproofs,
appropriate coat, hat and gloves.
Sunscreen / sunhat to be worn or carried
during hot / sunny weather. Drink plenty of
water to avoid dehydration. The weather
will be consulted daily before setting out.
1 Map and GPS will be carried. Extra care 2 1 2 AM
will be taken when reaching high ground
in mist / fog. Routes / plans will be
changed in bad weather
1 Suitable footwear will be worn. Care will 2 1 2 AM
be taken when walking on uneven ground.
Care will be taken to avoid steep and wet
slopes. Bogs will be crossed with care.
1 Care to be taken around all water bodies. 2 3 6 AM
River and streams to be crossed with care
and at proper crossing / bridging points.
Consideration to be given to current water
levels and recent / current weather.
59
Hazardous slopes - Falling from cliff-
top, being hit by loose rock from cliff
faces and unstable exposures
resulting in head injury
Hazardous wet lands - Getting stuck
in quicksand and bogs, soaking and
chilling.
Hazardous coasts - Being cut off by
the tide and risk of soaking and
hypothermia, submergence and
drowning.
Infections – Disease from livestock,
parasites and streams
Hazardous animals – farm livestock,
including horses and dogs. Risks of
crushing, trampling, butting and
biting.
Friction with local people, e.g.
upsetting field survey respondents,
landowners
1 Avoid standing on the edge of cliffs, or 2 4 8 AM
under precarious overhangs. Use hard
hats if vertical sections must be
approached. Keep to defined paths and
marked access points
1 Avoid soft ground in hollows, and if 2 3 6 AM
crossing a bog, stick to defined paths,
Probe with a suitable stick or pole if
unsure.
1 Tide heights and times to be known 2 4 8 AM
before venturing onto the coast, and only
access site when safe to do so.
1 Tetanus is up to date. Cuts should be 1 2 2 AM
treated immediately. Long trousers will be
worn to protect from midges or ticks, and
checks will be made on return for bites
and ticks.
1 Move past all livestock with caution, and 2 3 6 AM
be aware of the dangers of crossing fields
with free-running stock in them, especially
bulls and cows with calves. Do not block
animals if encountered on paths, and do
not wander into fenced pens and
farmyards containing animals.
1 Maintain a respectful, professional and 2 2 4 AM
sensitive attitude to local residents at all
times. Exercise caution and common
sense when in contact with local people
60
 and be polite at all times. Permission will
be sought and secured from landowners
where necessary.
‘Exotic’ hazard 1 Landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, 1 4 4 AM
wildfires, etc. when working in areas
prone to such events.
General wellbeing 1 Act in accordance with published 2 2 4 AM
SoGEES School Safety Procedures and
the University Safety Policy Code of
Practice for Off-site Activities and
Fieldwork.

Advisor’s Click or tap here to enter text. Severity

provisional
approval Very
Click or tap here to enter text. Low Medium High Extreme
Low
DATE
1 2 3 4 5
Safety Click or tap to enter a date.
Officer’s final Probable 5 5 10 15 20 25
approval
Click or tap to enter a date.
DATE Very Likely 4 4 8 12 16 20

Likelihood
Likely 3 3 6 9 12 15

Note: Risk Assessment to be completed in conjunction with Code Possible 2 2 4 6 8 10

of Practice. Full guidance on completing the form can be found
on the GGX3200 Moodle site. Please note: driving will be
undertaken according to the Plymouth University Code of Not Likely 1 1 2 3 4 5
Practice
61
 Template for computer-based projects Risk Assessment form
01/12/2017 A Smith Description of Description of the activity and where it is, e.g. Analysis
Assessed of NASA datasets from Pluto, undertaken at University,
Date: Activity and
by: or data mining from Twitter, based an home.
Location
Number 1 07890 246810 August 2018
Fieldworker
and
contact
persons Date of activities
numbers
involved in
(mobile)
activity
UoP
advisor Emergency contact for
Dr A.S. Taff (01752 567898)
(name and fieldworkers (name Mrs A Smith +44 1626 123456 OR +44 7897 444555
(a.s.taff@plymouth.ac.uk)
contact and contact details)
details)

UoP Security (24/7): +44 (0)1752 588400; SoGEES Office (office hours only) +44 (0) 1752 584709. UK and European Police: 999 / 112

Any LONE WORKING in fieldwork should be assessed and appropriate control measures put in place to minimise risk.

Fieldworkers should lodge plans of their fieldwork with a responsible person (the emergency contact for field workers), such as a family member or friend, in
advance of field work. This should include location, return times, agreed contingency measures, contact details.

A copy of this form should be taken in the field and appropriate briefing given to all members of the field party prior to st arting activities.

No. at Likeli- RISK Responsible

Hazard Controls in Place at Present Severity
Risk hood RATING Person
Upper limb disorders 1 Ensure that the position for operating the 2 2 6 AS
computer is appropriate to keep the arms
and hands in the right position to operate
keyboards; let upper arms hang naturally
from the shoulders.
62
Back ache 1 Maintain good posture and hold the body 2 3 6 AS
upright, avoid hunching or leaning
towards the screen.
Fatigue and stress 1 Take regular breaks (5-10 minutes) every 2 3 6 AS
hour to reduce the intense concentration
that frequently accompanies screen work.
Temporary eye strain (not damage) 1 Take regular breaks (5-10 minutes) every 2 2 4 AS
and headaches hour, and undertake an activity that is
away from screens (including mobile
phones or other electronic devices);
regularly (every few minutes) look into the
distance to change focal length; position
screen to avoid glare.
General wellbeing 1 Act in accordance with published 2 2 4 AS
SoGEES School Safety Procedures and
the University Safety Policy Code of
Practice for Off-site Activities and
Fieldwork.; be familiar with HSE guidance
on Working with Display Screen
Equipment (DSE).

63
Advisor’s Click or tap here to enter text. Severity
provisional
approval Very
Click or tap here to enter text. Low Medium High Extreme
Low
DATE
1 2 3 4 5
Safety Click or tap to enter a date.
Officer’s final Probable 5 5 10 15 20 25
approval
Click or tap to enter a date.
DATE Very Likely 4 4 8 12 16 20

Likelihood
Likely 3 3 6 9 12 15

Note: Risk Assessment to be completed in conjunction with Code Possible 2 2 4 6 8 10

of Practice. Full guidance on completing the form can be found
on the GGX3200 Moodle site. Please note: driving will be
undertaken according to the Plymouth University Code of Not Likely 1 1 2 3 4 5
Practice

64
 Appendix D: Supervisory Progress Report form

Date of meeting:
................................................................................................................................

Student's name:
................................................................................................................................

Advisor's name:

................................................................................................................................

Title of dissertation:

................................................................................................................................

Work completed since proposal deadline / last session:

................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Work to be completed by and presented at next session:

................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Date of next session:

...............................................................................................................................

Advisor's comments:
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................

Student signature:
................................................................................................................................

Staff signature:

................................................................................................................................

65