Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To allow students to undertake a general training in research design, methods, management and reporting.

Outline Of Syllabus

Students will undertake a single research project in the field of the degree programme studied. Projects will offer experiences in research techniques and methods across the range of Research activities in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Dental Sciences and if appropriate in the HASS or SAGE Faculties of Newcastle University.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the importance of time management and setting priorities within their research project
2. Discuss how research projects are designed, implemented, adjusted and managed
3. Discuss the outcomes from their research project including methods and how they are prepared and presented to research community
4. Discuss how their project relates to the current literature

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Define research project based on their own dental specialty
2. Select an appropriate variety of research methods applicable to their project
3. Critically discuss the research aims of their project
4. Maintain a record of their research project
5. Manage time appropriately for their project
6. Demonstrate personal skills when working in a research environment
7. Manage and analyse data specific to their project
8. Critically evaluate their own findings and those of others (from current literature)
9. Produce a dissertation

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The students will develop a range of professional and key skills and will be trained and empowered to engage in research at an advanced level in higher education or in a senior professional capacity in other fields of employment. Students will be fully engaged in the project selection and development through a dialogue with their project supervisors. They will gain hands-on experience of a range of techniques used in research (appropriate to their own project) and will be required to maintain detailed records of their work and produce a short dissertation. Students will also prepare a lay summary, an oral presentation and an E-poster. This module will involve a significant amount of private study, including research-based fieldwork and practical experience of a range of clinical research techniques. The number of hours spent on practical work, fieldwork and private study will vary with the individual project but should be approximately as stated above.

Given the wide variety of project types, and professional situations that students find themselves in, there is no fixed timeline within the module - students determine their own planning and time management with advice.

As each dissertation project is unique and chosen by the student there are no set class activities.

This maps to IKOs 1-4 and ISOs 1-9.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

First-hand knowledge of how research programmes are designed, implemented, adjusted and managed will be obtained and the outcomes reflected. The knowledge and practical skills generated are evaluated in all of the above assessments. Research outcomes are appropriately expressed in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international meetings.

The assessment of this module reflects real-world of medical research and trains the students in the necessary skills required to write and submit: a lay summary, a short report or dissertation, and to present their project in an oral format. The lay summary tests the student’s ability to communicate their own work to a wider lay audience, a recognised and required skill in healthcare research. The dissertation tests the student’s ability to report and critically evaluate their own data and compare their own findings with the published literature, as well as their ability to present and analyse data and discuss their own work in a written format. The oral examination assesses the student’s ability to prepare and deliver a short summary of their project using appropriate software in clear way to an audience of peers in a time-limited and space-limited fashion. Interpersonal communication; planning & organising; initiative and adaptability are all qualities that contribute to the production of these outputs as on this course the entire research process from initial idea to final dissertation is the responsibility of the student, they do not just work an established project supplied by a supervisor. Computer literacy is assessed in the dissertation and oral presentation.

This maps to IKOs 1-4 and ISOs 1-9.

In order to pass this module students must obtain a mark of 50 or above for each summative assessment.

General Notes

N/A