module specification

Students undertake an extended research project that develops their abilities to plan and execute an advanced piece of research, analyse the results, present them in a dissertation that includes a review of previous research and sets their work in context with critically argued discussion. The research project is intended to build upon the taught modules of the award and is underpinned by the NF7053 Scientific Research Methodology module.

Progress report. LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7

Dissertation Content
The required length of the dissertation is typically 9,000 words exclusive of title page, contents, figures, tables, references and appendices. The content should be of sufficient depth to be considered appropriate for a Masters level award, but broad enough to demonstrate an informed overview of the subject area.

Dissertation Structure
The exact structure of the dissertation may depend upon the nature of the research, however the following rules will normally apply:
There should be a Title page that gives the title of the research, the student name ID number and course name;
There should be an Abstract or Summary at the start;
There should be an introduction section which includes a full literature review on different aspects of the project, justification (rationale) for the project and aim (s) and objectives
If the dissertation is laboratory based research, there should be a detailed experimental section describing the materials and the methods used;
If the dissertation is a literature review based research,  the scope of the review must be identified and there must be an extensive discussion based on the literature being reviewed;
If the dissertation is an industry based project, the problem (s) should be clearly defined and the approach to to tackle the problem should be explained e.g. experimental, literature survey, questionnaire or other form of data collections.
In laboratory-based project, the Results section should present the results in the form of tables, figures and/or other forms. Such results should be accompanied by a brief description of the important results.
The Discussion section must draw together the results, interpret them and set them in context of published work; it is permitted to have a combined Results and Discussion section.
The industry-based project ideally should be able to analyse the problem and come up with recommendations for the industry.
All dissertations must be fully referenced in the text and have a complete Reference section at the end. References must be in Harvard style following the guidelines published by the course team;
Appendices may include supporting work and information.

This module will require the student to self-direct and manage his/her own independent learning. The area of research will be matched, as far as possible with the research interest, expertise and current research topics of a member of staff. Each student will be paired with an appropriate supervisor.

Research topics will be presented to students and discussed during NF7053 module.  The balance and timing of the research project and topics will be facilitated through discussions between the students, the module convenor and a supervisor who has suitable research interests. Students will have an opportunity to explore project management and lab techniques in NF7053 Scientific Research Methodology. This module is taken in the Spring semester and it prepares students for research project.  

The supervisor may be a member of academic teaching or research staff on the Course Team, which can be jointly supervised with academic or research staff within the University or in partnership with appropriate organisations where the supervisor is of sufficient academic standing. Topics will be chosen that give the opportunity for high-level research that advances the boundaries of current knowledge but gives the student a realistic opportunity of completion. In scientific research, all projects have to go through a formal proposal procedure so similarly here: each student has to make a satisfactory proposal for their research. This is a skill that has to be learnt and students must demonstrate that they can do it.

Upon arrangement by the student, the project supervisor will initially assist in the following processes:
∙ clarifying the terms of the research project
∙ establishing a timetable for the research and dates for subsequent student/supervisor meetings
∙ directed background reading
∙ study design, methodology, COSHH and Risk assessment, ethical approval (where necessary) and statistical analysis
Individual supervisory support will form a key part of the teaching method, but ultimately, most of the learning will be student-centred. Comments of the draft of the dissertation and formative assessment can be expected.

Where a student carries out the majority of their research in an institution other than the University, the Module Convenor will ensure that supervision arrangements are in place that gives appropriate support to the student equivalent to that given to students working within the University. In such cases, an industrial supervisor will be appointed to oversee the research project at the student’s place of work (where possible). It will be this person’s responsibility to ensure that the supervisory procedures are carried out to the standard expected by the University.

The Learning Outcomes form a coherent set that the student can be expected to achieve and that will enable them to undertake advanced research projects in their future careers or in a research degree.

The first three assessed elements are designed to allow assessment of those Learning Outcomes.
In the actual research, supervisors will be assessing the student’s ability to undertake this at a level appropriate to the course. The student will be expected to carry background research, plan and execute their work and interpret their findings. Most research is carried out within a team which is led by an experienced researcher and members of the team have to be able to discuss their progress, plans and results. Thus, the amount of support and guidance and the interaction with the supervisor will be assessed in the fourth component of the module.

The main assessment for the project is the written dissertation and this is the culmination of the project in which the student will demonstrate a rounded ability to set their research in the scientific context, interpret the results, recognise their significance and appreciate limitations.
The viva voce gives the student the opportunity to demonstrate that the work really is theirs, that they are fully conversant with all aspects of it, that they can justify their conclusions and can consider extensions to it. Many of these aspects are central to the development of professional skills and will be invaluable to the students after graduation when they start their careers.

On completing this module students should be able to:
1. plan and execute, using independent judgement, a piece of original research relevant   to food  science;
2. demonstrate innovation and originality of thought with respect to basic and applied research;
3. select, execute and interpret appropriate data analysis at an advanced level of capability, where appropriate using statistical software at an advanced level of competency;
4. demonstrate an ability for self-managed time in the area of research;
5. critically interpret and place their own research within the wider context of nutrition/food science  research;    
6. write a detailed project dissertation in a rigorous scientific manner with correct use of English and  defend it;
7. demonstrate knowledge of the role of research in the academic and professional development of the discipline, the philosophy of research and the function of learned societies and professional bodies.

The dissertation will be assessed on the basis of both content and structure and on evidence of the following assessment components:

Coursework 1 Progress report 10% (1,250 words )
Initial development of the following learning objectives that will be further evidenced in the final thesis:
1. Extensive literature review with evidence of an advanced critical evaluation of earlier related research (LO 5)
2. clarity of hypothesis formulation and outline of research proposal (LO 1)
3. design or adoption of relevant research methodology to the problem to be addressed, including its critical evaluation (LO 1, LO 2)
4. clear management of practical laboratory work or fieldwork (LO 4)

Coursework 2 Dissertation (9,000 words) (60%)
Final dissertation thesis should meet the following learning objectives:
1. Extensive literature review with evidence of an advanced critical evaluation of earlier related research (LO 5)
2. clarity of hypothesis formulation and outline of research proposal (LO 1)
3. design or adoption of relevant research methodology to the problem to be addressed, including its critical evaluation (LO 1, LO 2)
4. clear management of practical laboratory work or fieldwork (LO 4)
5. rigorous demonstration of research findings together with a comprehensive statistical analysis and interpretation (LO 2, LO 3)
6. appropriate discussion of results and relevant and accurate conclusions (LO 2, LO 5)
7. evidence of policy and/or practical implications of findings and the context of the research in general (LO 7)
8. correct use of English, clarity of presentation and appropriate formatting

Coursework 3 Viva voce (20 minutes) (20%)
Students should be  able to discuss how they planned and carried out their research, interpret these and undertake an  appropriate discussion of results and  reach appropriate conclusions (LO 2, LO 3, LO 5)
Students should also be able to discuss the implications of findings and the context of the research in general and  (LO 6)

Other Supervisors mark for process (10%)
This component will be assessed by the supervisor and based on lab and meeting attendance,
communications, general behaviour in the lab and student approach to research and handling problems.

Cochran, W G & Cox, G M (2005) Experimental designs. 2nd edition (pbk). New York, London: Wiley. ISBN: 978-0471162032

Dawson, C (2009) Introduction to Research Methods: A Practical Guide for Anyone Undertaking a Research Project. 4th edition. Oxford: How To Books Ltd. ISBN: 978-1845283674 (CORE)

Everitt, B & Hothorn, T (2011). An Introduction to Applied Multivariate Analysis with R (Use R). New York: Springer. ISBN: 978-1441996497

Swetman, D & Swetman, R (2000) Writing Your Dissertation: The Bestselling Guide to Planning, Preparing and Presenting First-Class Work (The How to Series). Revised 2009. Oxford: How To Books Ltd. ISBN: 978-1857036626 (CORE)

Walliman, N (2005) Your Research Project: a step by step guide for the first-time researcher. 2nd edition. London: Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN: 978-1412901321