In the examination of end-on Honours, Graduate Diploma, and Masters by coursework research projects, dissertation examiners will take into consideration the following points:

Introduction

• Is the literature review appropriately presented and satisfactory in terms of coverage, so that it provides a full and sound description of the background to the project?

• Are the theoretical issues clearly described, so that the rationale for the study is made clear?

• Are the experimental hypotheses precisely stated, and are the implications of any alternative results clearly described?

• Are there any logical flaws either in the arguments leading up to the generation of the experimental issues or in the description of the possible conclusions that could be drawn from the various possible patterns of results?

Methods

• Are the techniques and procedures appropriate to the project being attempted?

• Are the methods, necessary computing equipment, and the procedures clearly described?

• Is the project, the set of experiments, development of the theoretical framework, method of implementation, or algorithm's design sound?

Results

• Are the results presented clearly? Is the best possible use made of tables and figures?

• Are the results presented fairly, with no attempt to bias their interpretation in a particular direction?

• Is the empirical, theoretical, or complexity analysis appropriate to the design of the project and the results?

Discussion

• Has the student made clear the relationship between the results and the hypotheses and possible outcomes that were described in the Introduction?

• Have all of the results been taken into account and evaluated?

• Are the conclusions that the student claims to have established justified by the data, or is the case either over-stated or logically unsound?

• Have any shortcomings in the project, experiment or algorithm been recognised by the student? Have appropriate suggestions been made concerning their possible improvement in future studies?

• Does the student suggest any possible further work or highlight any open questions or "loose ends" that should be investigated? Does the student suggest ways in which these might be further investigated or resolved?

General considerations

• Is the dissertation well-presented?

• Is the dissertation well-written, written in a consistent style, person and tense, with attention paid to punctuation, spelling, and grammar?

• Is the dissertation well-structured? Have the structural conventions for scientific reports been observed?

• Are formal details such as the contents list, figures and their legends, citations and references or the bibliography, and the Appendices, all correctly presented?