Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To develop experience in executing a research project. Students should develop both general (e.g. literature review and synthesis and report writing) and specialist research skills. To develop students' confidence to undertake an individual investigation and report their findings and interpretations to others. The project should be an original scientific investigation, undertaken by the student with guidance from a specialist supervisor.

Outline Of Syllabus

The objective of the module is to give students exposure to research. Students will undertake a Masters level research project, based on research within the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. The research project introduces the student to biological research work under the close supervision of a member of staff and requires that the student learn to think and work independently both in the in the laboratory/field/desk-based scenario and in the writing up of the results in the style described in the project guide.
     
Each project will vary in how it is undertaken and the student and supervisor should work together to decide upon an appropriate plan of action. Each project will contain elements of: literature review and synthesis, data collection or collation, time management, health and safety assessment, data management, analysing data, presentation of results. Due to the nature of some subject areas, some projects may require data gathering during the vacation preceding stage 4 and this will be organised in consultation with the supervisor. Students will be required to take responsibility for the project including organising equipment and time management. An introductory session will outline the module and the principles of constructing a project proposal. Students will be expected to arrange a regular programme of meetings with their supervisor.

Students write up the results of their project in a project dissertation and make a poster presentation of their work at the end of the module. They are also assessed on their professionalism and competence with respect to their project work

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module, the student will have:

- gained up to date knowledge of the background literature relating to their research topic up to current
research level

- developed an understanding of research approaches and of techniques appropriate to their project

- gained specialist knowledge of a chosen area within a broad context within the biological sciences

Intended Skill Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:

- work independently and to exercise personal responsibility and initiative
- direct their own work programme; acting autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional
level
- prepare a comprehensive report that both provides a detailed description of methodologies and findings, and
also a summary of the results that have been interpreted and discussed in the light of the relevant research
literature
- organise their findings and present them in poster format to others having identified the key features of
their work

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Independent execution of a project is achieved through directed work, via regular meeting with the supervisor. Students will be required to take responsibility for the project including organising equipment, travel, health and safety aspects and time management. Students will divide their time between practical work (in the laboratory, field or computer-based), reading relevant literature, data analysis and writing, in consultation with their project supervisor.
Reading relevant literature develops information literacy skills and knowledge and understanding of background literature relating to research topic.
Writing project dissertation and poster presentation develops competence in presentation of scientific information in written format in both scientific writing and summary formats.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The final report should be written in the style of a peer reviewed scientific article. This report assesses knowledge and understanding of the background literature relating to the research topic, written communication of scientific information, numeracy, knowledge and understanding of research approaches and techniques, computer literacy and the ability to devise and test hypotheses. More specifically, the written dissertation evaluates the ability to analyse and interpret data in the light of a knowledge of the subject.

The poster presentation assesses the presentation skills of the students in a format that is often used in the professional environment.

General Notes

N/A