module specification

This module allows students to use self-reflection to determine the best choice of project/dissertation for their chosen subject or career. This is linked to studying the processes that will maximise their employability.

ST4001 ST4002 ST4003 ST4004

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Educations Qualifications. This module aims to allow students to reflect on their chosen course, personal development, employability and their possible future career. Students will select their project within the context of the course and possible future career. Students will consider and carry out the preparation necessary for a scientific dissertation proposal. In so doing, students will gain experience in devising dissertations by taking into account experimental design, feasibility in terms of costs and resources, and aspects of ethics and safety. 

Professional career considerations: an awareness of professional requirements within a student's chosen subject or anticipated career; an awareness of the variety of career options available for graduates within his or her subject.
Development of Careers Management Skills: development of self-awareness in the context of career decision making, knowledge of overall career opportunities; skills to make effective applications.
Literature retrieval: use of established resources such as ScienceDirect, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed; awareness of generic library resources.
Experimental design: consideration of laboratory organisation, resource needs and costing, safety and ethical matters. Understanding of time management and personal responsibility, the use of controls and replicates, and the proper recording of results.
Statistical analysis: an appreciation of the scope of statistical analysis, an understanding of the statistical design appropriate for the chosen project. Application of statistics to the analysis of experimental data, to include; correlation, regression, confidence levels, standard errors, t-test, F-test, analysis of variance.
 

Students will be provided with the opportunity to acquire knowledge of the subject material through teacher-led activities in the form of lectures and tutorials (30 hours) and practicals (30 hours). Students' ability to seek, handle and interpret information will be encouraged through directed reading, access to the Careers Advisory Service, access to the websites of professional bodies, and other learning resources. Students will work in groups on aspects of experimental design and as individuals on the project proposal. Students’ study responsibilities are articulated in the FLS Staff/Student Agreement which is available via the Faculty Web site.

Reflective learning and PDP are built into the practical sessions on a weekly basis. Students produce an up-to-date CV and covering letter for an advertised job.

Students’ study responsibilities are articulated in the FLS Staff/Student Agreement which is available via the Faculty Web site.
 

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1.  Demonstrate an ability to creatively design a scientific dissertation, taking into account experimental  design (including appropriate statistical frameworks), resources, ethics and safety.
2. Use the CV preparation as a vehicle to reflect on their employability and personal  development.
3. Research the background information to their dissertation using appropriate primary sources.
 

The module will be assessed by means of two coursework components (100% of the overall mark) The first component (20% of the overall mark, 500 words) consists of an updated curriculum vitae and a covering letter (LO2). This coursework component will be used a) to provide formative feedback and b) to provide further material for the personal development portfolio. The second component (80% of the overall mark, 2000 words) will consist of a written project proposal that will include a literature survey alongside resource, ethical and safety considerations (LO1 and LO3). To pass the module students need to achieve a minimum aggregate mark of 40%. There is an attendance requirement for the practical sessions.

Text books
• Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K. and Silverman, S. J. (2010) Research methods in physical activity 6th ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Coolican, H. (2004) An introduction to research methods and statistics in psychology 4th ed. Abingdon UK: Bookpoint.
• Kinnear, P. R. and Gray, C. D. (2007) SPSS for windows made simple: release 15. Hove, UK: Psychology Press.

Conventions of report writing and referencing are based on the Harvard system: The guide followed by SHS at London Met. is available at: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/fms/MRSite/psd/ls/general/Harvard%20Referencing%20guide.pdf

There are many useful web sites for statistics: the first two URLs are highly recommended electronic textbooks.
http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/index.html
http://sportsci.org/resource/stats/index.html