Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

Module can also have been studied in previous academic years.

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims to develop the knowledge and skills required to allow students to undertake a research project of relevance to their unit/workplace/profession through research, service evaluation, audit or other relevant methods. It also aims to develop a range of professional and key skills, which will enable them to engage in research at an advanced level in the NHS, higher education or in a senior professional capacity in other fields of employment.

Outline Of Syllabus

1) Learn how to conduct a research project within the workplace environment.

2) Learn how to manage a project from inception to completion.

3) Learn how the various forms of communication are used to communicate research findings and how they relate to each other.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students will have to:

1) Demonstrate knowledge of how research projects are conducted in the workplace.

2) Appreciate the importance of time management and setting priorities within a project to ensure that the aims of a project are met.

3) Demonstrate knowledge of how research programmes are designed, implemented, adjusted and managed and how plans relate to outcomes.

4) Demonstrate knowledge of how the governance and ethical aspects of research programmes are navigated.

5) Demonstrate knowledge of the various outcomes from research programmes and the different methods by which findings are prepared and presented to the professional community.

6) Understand how outcomes of research projects relate to a wider professional community and to a wider field of knowledge.

7) Critically evaluate their own findings and those of others and relate their findings to their original objectives and to a wider field of knowledge.

8) Understand the importance of personal skills when working in a research environment

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able to:

1) Manage time and record resources appropriately for their project.

2) Comply with the governance and ethical requirements specific to their research project.

3) Manage and analyse data specific to their project in their chosen discipline.

4) Apply scientific writing skills to a professional level in the production of a scientific paper, a poster and a submissions abstract of the research findings.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module will involve a significant amount of private study, including research-based fieldwork and practical experience of a range of clinical research techniques. Such activities will take place in the workplace and are supported by the VLE.

As each student project is unique with individual limitations/constraints of timeframe and workplace facilities, self-directed study with mentoring/pedagogic support from the course teachers is the relevant teaching and learning method.

The amount of hours spent on practical, fieldwork and private study will vary with the individual project but should be approximately as stated above.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The knowledge and practical skills generated are tested in all the assessment activities.

The assessment of this module reflects the real world of medical research and trains the students in the necessary skills required to write and submit: an abstract, a short dissertation in the format of a scientific paper appropriate for publication, and to present their findings in a poster format.

The short abstract (as used in an application to a conference or a professional body) tests the student’s ability to condense their own work highlighting major points for presentation.

The dissertation tests the student’s ability to 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 poster assesses the student’s ability to prepare a short summary of their findings using appropriate software in clear way to an audience of peers in a space-limited fashion, as would be appropriate for a poster at a conference.

Interpersonal communication, teamwork, planning, organising, initiative, and adaptability are all assessed in the mark given for professional skills and computer literacy is assessed in the poster, abstract and dissertation.

The ethics and governance form summarises which approvals (or indicates none if that is the case) the project required, and is submitted by the student prior to initiating the project with evidence that the necessary approvals have been obtained. This provides assurance that the governance needs of the project have been met.

General Notes

Assessment methods – completion of project
Most institutions have requirements for notifying the completion of projects. Although these requirements could form an additional measure of professional conduct by which students could be measured we do not propose to do so:

-As some projects may continue beyond the students' involvement.
-As institutions may not act equally in this respect.

All assessments must be completed and submitted by the deadline stated in the Programme Handbook. For the written elements these must be submitted via the VLE electronically.

Progression
Workplace student projects are unique to each student, as are the opportunities, workplace pressures and time and resource constraints. Given these issues, it is expected that students successfully completing the dissertation part 1 portfolio of tasks may, with the permission of the module leader, workplace mentor and course director, progress to dissertation part 2 tasks before the end of the stage 2 session and before the start of the stage 3 session. This is to take account of individual project demands such as availability of facilities, equipment, supervision or experimental samples.