Dr. Yally Avrahampour

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This course is not available as an outside option.

The dissertation gives an opportunity to deepen, apply and/or integrate the knowledge, insights and skills that the students have learned in the master's programme, by selecting one of two dissertation tracks: 1) an academic dissertation in which students develop a novel theoretical contribution to better understand an important empirical phenomenon in the domain of social innovation and enterprise, or 2) an applied capstone project, applying the knowledge, insights and skills students have learned in the programme to analyse – and develop compelling recommendations regarding a real world social problem for an existing organization or enterprise or through the design of a new social enterprise.  Each track will be anchored in theory and methodology/evidence to meet academic standards.

6 hours of seminars in the WT. 6 hours of workshops in the ST.

• 3 hours of interactive lecture in the WT: Introduction, the two types of theses/tracks; the role of theory & academic literature in thesis development
• 3 hours of interactive lecture in the WT: Core methodological insights for thesis development

For each of the two tracks: A dissertation workshop (mandatory for all participants of the track,) at the start of the Spring Term; 6 hours (maximum) depending on the number of theses in the track.

In total, students will be expected to attend around 12 hrs of classes for the dissertation module.

Projects will be guided by a pool of dedicated supervisors for these dissertations.

In its Ethics Code, LSE upholds a commitment to intellectual freedom. This means we will protect the freedom of expression of our students and staff and the right to engage in healthy debate in the classroom.

Students will be expected to produce – before the dissertation workshop – a dissertation proposal outlining the core question of the thesis (with sub-questions), a review/synthesis of relevant academic literature, the methodology for the study (qualitative or quantitative, sample selection, type of analysis, etc.).  This proposal will be presented and discussed during the workshop. It will also serve as formative course work.

Core reading: Skovdal, M. & Cornish, F. Qualitative research for Development (currently the students already study several chapters of this book as part of MG4G1). Additional readings will be announced before the start of the Winter term.

Dissertation (100%, 10000 words) in August.