module specification

The Health Sciences Research Project provides the students with the experience of planning and executing a major piece of individual work at post-graduate level in their chosen field of academic study (e.g, Sport and Exercise Science, Food Science.

This module aims to encourage students to reflect and build upon their subject knowledge and expertise by means of a specific investigation requiring significant research. During the course of the module they will develop the skills necessary to plan, carry out, analyse and report upon the results of an experimental or analytical programme on a scientific topic. The module gives students the opportunity to attain achievement of a high level of personal development by working independently with the minimum necessary supervision. This module aims to provide students with the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring: the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility; decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts; and, the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.

Students are supported by their supervisor with whom they are encouraged to facilitate regular contact. Students prepare an interim report, for which feedback is provided. Summative feedback is also provided on completion of the dissertation via assessment of the report, poster presentation, viva, and supervisors mark for process.

The research programme will be carried out in consultation with a supervisor who will normally be an academic staff member of the School of Human Sciences.

ST7004

Students will reflect upon their scientific background and intended academic outcome in choosing the subject for their dissertation. Students carry out an experimental project, preceded by an appropriate directed literature survey, within an area of staff expertise in the School of Human Sciences. Students are expected to work independently throughout the project. LO 1, 2, 5, 8

Application of scientific knowledge and experimental skills to the design and execution of a subject-based practical project. LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Analysis, appraisal and presentation of the results. LO 3, 5, 6, 7, 8,9

Work will be communicated both as a fully documented scientific paper, conference poster and in an oral presentation. LO 9, 10

Progress report writing including ability to plan and develop ideas LO 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9

This module will require the student to self-direct and manage his/her own independent learning experience. The area of research will be matched, as far as is possible with the research interest, expertise and existing research projects of the supervisor.  The supervisor may be a member of academic teaching or research staff within the University, or from outside in 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.

Upon arrangement by the student, the project supervisor will initially assist in the following processes:
1. clarifying the terms of the research project,
2. establishing a timetable for the research and dates for subsequent student/supervisor meetings,
3. directed background reading, and
4. study design, methodology, ethical approval (where necessary) and statistical analysis.

Supervisory support will form a key part of the teaching method, but ultimately, most of the learning will be student-centred. Supervisor meetings will continue periodically through the Project. A typical amount of contact time the student can expect is between ten to fifteen hours with the supervisor.

Each meeting will be logged and a summary of the outcome should be signed by both parties using the appropriate proforma. Comments on the draft of the dissertation can be expected. Records of the meetings will be used as a basis for the Supervisor's mark for process accounting for 10% of the total.

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 for students working within the University. In such cases, an additional external supervisor will be appointed to oversee the research project at the student's place of work.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Critically appreciate research methodologies through the submission of a protocol and in the design and/or execution and completion of a research project.
2. Critically appraise and review a body of relevant scientific literature.
3. Carry out a plan of work, modifying it as necessary in response to analysis of results.
4. Work safely with due regard to the School’s Codes of Practice (practical work only).
5. Evaluate and critically appraise original data.
6. Interpret findings in the context of current knowledge and literature.
7. Reflect on the design, execution, results and outcomes of the research project in order to make recommendations for improvement/to further clarify the area.
8. Evaluate the impact or relevance of the research/audit on current professional practice.
9. Present the research study in an appropriate scientific manner, defending the work undertaken, demonstrating appropriate presentation skills, written, and verbal.
10. Demonstrate personal development by demonstrating an ability to plan, develop and reflect upon ideas as well as attend, and be well prepared for, supervisor meetings.

Ethical Approval – Pass/Fail (0%) - includes completion of participant information/screening form, risk assessment, ethics submission, COSHH forms. Ethical approval must be granted before data collection can commence. (LO 1, 3, 4)

Interim Report (1000 words) (10%) – Provides a formal update on progress to date and challenges encountered.

Final Dissertation (20,000 words (60%) – To include a report written in the style of a peer-reviewed scientific journal publication.  Requires the learner to conduct a research study or audit and write up their research project in the standard format of a journal publication (i.e. abstract, background, methods, results, discussion, conclusion). Supporting chapters to provide additional documentation for the project, for instance, more in-depth literature review/systematic review, detailed reliability study, and procedures, data analysis, detailed discussion of limitations, etc. In awarding a mark the examiner takes into account the achievement of the student in terms of the results obtained, the clarity of presentation and layout, and the standard of the discussion including the student’s consideration of the wider context of the investigation. (LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Poster presentation (10%) - the poster presentation will be to two members of the teaching team not including the research supervisor(s).  This will in effect be a dry run of a poster conference where the student is expected to present their poster to other researchers, not necessarily in their direct field of study and be able to communicate the research. (LO 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Viva (20%) - This will be carried out by the student in front of their research supervisor plus one other examiner. It will assess the student’s ability to give a verbal account of his/her work, to think and reflect critically on the work, and to communicate effectively. The viva will not only relate to the written dissertation, but will act to examine the student’s ability to conduct research in their chosen field. (LO 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Core texts:
• Field, A. (2018) Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics, 5th edn, London: Sage.
• Swetman, D. and 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: 978-185703662.
• Thomas, J.R., Nelson, J.K., and Silverman, S.J. (2015) Research Methods in Physical Activity, 7th edn. Leeds: Human Kinetics.

Other texts:
• Cochran, W. G. & Cox, G. M. (2005) Experimental designs. 2nd edn. New York, London: Wiley. ISBN: 978-0471162032
• Dawson, C. (2009) Introduction to Research Methods: A Practical Guide for Anyone Undertaking a Research Project. 4th edn. Oxford: How To Books Ltd. ISBN: 978-1845283674
• Locke, L. F., Silverman, S. J., Spirduso, W. W. (2004) Reading and Understanding Research, 2nd edn. CA: Sage Publications.
• Walliman, N. (2005) Your Research Project: a step by step guide for the first-time researcher. 2nd  edn. London: Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN: 978-1412901321

WebSites (Sport):
• Academic Search Complete
• The Cochrane Library
• PEDro Physiotherapy Evidence Database
• PsycARTICLES
• PsycINFO
• US National Library of Medicine / National Institute of Health (PubMed)
• Science Direct
• SPORT Discus
• Web of Science
• Wiley Online library

Websites (Food):
• Academic Search Complete
• American Chemical Society online journal and archive
• American Society for Microbiology
• The Cochrane Library
• PsycARTICLES
• PsycINFO
• US National Library of Medicine / National Institute of Health (PubMed)
• Science Direct
• TRIP
• Web of Science
• Wiley Online library