MSc Dementia graduate Helen Metcalfe shares her dissertation journey on exergaming in dementia care, offering tips and insights for future students.
Helen Metcalfe, a Hull Online MSc Dementia graduate and Admiral Nurse, recently had her dissertation accepted for publication in the Home and Health Management journal.
In this blog post, she shares her journey from choosing a topic to producing research that aims to make a real-world impact.
Helen reflects on how her interest in cognitive theory led her to explore exergaming in dementia long-term care settings.
She offers practical advice and insights for students starting their own dissertation journey, highlighting the importance of choosing a topic that inspires you and being open to where the research may lead.
Writing a dissertation is both an exciting and daunting endeavour. A dissertation gives you the unique opportunity to explore a specific topic, which you’ll find you become an expert in. I found that my topic became a significant part of my life, and it made its way into everyday conversations with family, friends and colleagues.
My advice to you would be, to choose a topic that really interests and inspires you.
For me, deciding on a topic was a process of discovery. Throughout my master's, I had various ideas about what would make a good dissertation topic. I made sure that I had a dedicated place to take note of these ideas, as in the midst of assignments, learning and deadline, these can easily slip your mind.
I wanted my topic to be relevant to the present day, and I wanted it to demonstrate real-world application. Ultimately, I wanted to research a topic and develop a dissertation which could make a positive difference and improve lives.
Something that sparked my interest was cognitive theory. In short, this concept suggests that individuals develop a cognitive reserve which can be used to protect against brain aging and damage. I did my background research, became invested and even purchased the best academic textbook on the market.
Unfortunately, when conducting an initial literature search, I found the research was far too broad and difficult to navigate. When you feel the pressure of a dissertation it can be difficult to come to terms with an obstacle, but just remind yourself that writing a dissertation is a process and an academic journey, rather than a clear-cut path.
I reset and re-evaluated my focus and continued my journey of dissertation discovery. I started thinking about how cognitive reserve is developed, which led me consider the current trend of digital gaming and specifically the problem solving and interactive elements of this.
I then stumbled upon the term ‘exergaming’, which is not something I’d come across before, and is defined as a combination of exercise and digital gaming. I was surprised to uncover a plethora of research exploring exergaming in various healthcare and work-related settings.
If you find your topic to be too broad, it’s worth considering specific settings, population groups, or locations, to condense and focus your research and search strategy.
Due to my master's being in dementia and in view of the current health and social care landscape, I wanted to research exergaming in dementia long-term care settings.
From my professional and academic experience, long-term care settings are currently facing various challenges and difficulties but are also in a period of growth and improvement and are open to innovative ideas. I wanted my dissertation to be a part of this and contribute to positive change.
I started reviewing literature relating to exergaming and dementia long-term care settings and making a note of any reoccurring themes within the research, which would later assist me in thematic analysis and the structure of my findings and discussion.
When identifying themes, I would recommend making a list of the key points in your chosen literature and then comparing these for similarities.
I used coloured highlighters to track these similarities and found that the emerging themes in my dissertation included: physical, cognitive, emotional and social impacts; and person-centred and real-world considerations.
I also made a note of any unique findings or exclusive themes which led to an interesting reflection about the positive impacts of exergaming on staff wellbeing within my discussion. I wrote about the benefits and challenges of exergaming and how these were comparable across my chosen literature.
Due to the exercise component of exergaming there were clear positive impacts of physical health, such as improved mobility and strength. Unfortunately, the impacts on cognitive abilities were found to be inconclusive, however this is an interesting consideration for further research due to the cognitive changes associated with dementia.
The emotional impacts were largely positive, and it was suggested that exergaming could alleviate negative emotions and provide a meaningful experience. Exergaming was also found to provide the foundation for increased social interaction and positive communication.
I was surprised by how interested the participants were in the technological-based intervention and fascinated by the adaptable nature of exergaming. I found that acceptability and usability of exergaming was fundamentally reliant on how person-centred the interventions were. I used this to discuss the feasibility of exergaming and critically consider real-world application.
I must say I was initially sceptical about exergaming, but the findings of my research were largely positive and feasible, and I feel that my dissertation will make a positive difference. It challenged my perspective on the use of technological-based interventions, and I hope it can do the same for others.
Remember writing a dissertation is not a clear-cut path, it's a journey of discovery and exploration, and it is normal to face obstacles and setbacks.
It's important that you are inspired and interested by your topic, as this will make the process of developing a dissertation enjoyable and meaningful.
For students thinking about writing a dissertation or starting your dissertation journey, I hope that you enjoy every moment of this unique and fulfilling experience.
If you’re inspired by Helen’s journey and are ready to take the next step in your own academic and professional development, explore our Hull Online MSc in Dementia. Designed for busy professionals, this part-time programme equips you with the knowledge and skills to make a real impact in dementia care.