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 research project in collaboration with the supervisory team. The module is designed to provide firsthand experience of planning, designing and preparing research 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.

The module will be delivered in a one day ‘setting the scene’ session of face-to-face learning followed by individual and small group work with a specific assigned tutor/mentor. The mentor will facilitate development of a research idea applicable to the student's personal research goals and career aspirations. The student will be led by their mentor through the process of formulating a research proposal and obtaining all the necessary approvals for execution of an ethical and scientifically robust clinical research project. The proposal will be submitted and reviewed by a panel who will provide feedback. The student will be required to present details of their research proposal at the final day of the module where summative/formative assessment will be provided during small group sessions.

Outline Of Syllabus

i.       Developing a research idea;
ii.       Preparing a research protocol;
iii.       Obtaining the approvals necessary to carry out your research idea;
iv.       Disseminating your idea to colleagues.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This will be a mainly self-directed module supported by a series of tutorials and one-to-one sessions with supervisors. Students will learn fundamental principles of research governance and good clinical practice as they apply to current clinical research. Tutorials will also be designed as a formative feedback session on the assessment of research applications.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In this module students will develop their own research protocol. 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 research project i.e. all appropriate approvals will be in place.

Students will write a number of applications for approval of their own research 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 research proposal, IRAS form, information and consent forms and R & D approval as well as the oral presentation and defence of the research proposal. The oral presentation and defence of the research proposal allows the practice and assessment of interpersonal communication in both a verbal and computer based (power point) format in addition to the skills above. Students practice computer skills, adaptability and initiative throughout the module and in preparation for the assessments.