MCR8006 : Designing a Research Proposal

  • Offered for Year: 2013/14
  • Module Leader(s): Prof. Julia Newton
  • Owning School: FMS Graduate School
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 5
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
Semester 3 Credit Value: 5
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

This module, 'Designing a Research Proposal' (MCR8006), is part of the Clinical Research programme and is designed to allow students to put into practice the information that they have acquired. Students will be required to design and establish approval for their own project in collaboration with the supervisory team. The module is designed to provide first hand experience of planning, designing and preparing a project by allowing students to put into practice specific knowledge gained in the programme to-date helping them to develop a better understanding of clinical research and allowing them to utilise the portfolio of skills accrued so far.

Outline Of Syllabus

i.       Developing a research idea;
ii.       Preparing a research proposal;
iii.       Obtaining the approvals necessary to carry out your research idea;
iv.       Communicating and disseminating your idea to colleagues.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture23:307:00Lecturers by experts in the field, covering project type, scope and developing and focusing an idea.
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion180:0080:00Preparation and completion of approval forms for proposed project.
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading14:004:00Works with academic supervisor to develop research idea and proposal.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical17:007:00Facilitated presentation of project proposal to peers and assessors.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops23:307:00Group workshop to develop research idea with peers (session 1) and mock ethics committee (session 2)
Guided Independent StudyProject work741:0074:00Read relevant literature and develop research proposal.
Guided Independent StudyReflective learning activity121:0021:00Reflect on project design options.
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will have 3 teaching days for this module. One session at the beginning of the module which will include lectures to help students gain an understanding of appropriate type and scope of project and to start and develop an idea, the next to offer academic and peer support and the final session to present their project proposal to their peers and assessors.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Presentation303M20PowerPoint presentation of a research proposal (10mins) & defence of project (10mins) & up to 10 mins questions.
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise2M30Written Project Proposal: 1500 words.
Written exercise2M5R&D Approval form- students not required to obtain full ethical approval. Mock ethical approval panel at which will defend own work.
Written exercise2M15Patient Information Sheet and Consent form (standard length forms).
Written exercise2M30IRAS Form (Standard Length Form).
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In this module students will develop their own research proposal. They will be assessed on an individual student by student basis according to the nature of their project and the specific approvals necessary for the project's execution. At the end of the module students will be in a position to perform the project i.e. all appropriate approvals will be in place.

Students will write a number of applications for approval of their own project proposal based on current ethical committee approval and R & D approval forms. These will be assessed and formative feedback given in the tutorial. The ability to correctly identify the prerequisites within the current forms will indicate a student's knowledge and understanding of the module as taught.

Written communication, planning and organisation and information literacy are all practiced and assessed in the written project proposal, IRAS form, information and consent forms and R & D approval as well as the oral presentation and defence of the project proposal. The oral presentation and defence of the project proposal allows the practice and assessment of interpersonal communication in both a verbal and computer based (PowerPoint) format in addition to the skills above. Students practice computer skills, adaptability and initiative throughout the module and in preparation for the assessments.

Reading Lists

Timetable

Disclaimer: The University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver modules in accordance with the descriptions set out in this catalogue. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, however, the University reserves the right to introduce changes to the information given including the addition, withdrawal or restructuring of modules if it considers such action to be necessary.

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