Newcastle University

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 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 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.