• Offered for Year: 2023/24

• Module Leader(s): Professor Mark Pearce
• Lecturer: Mrs Rebecca Maier, Dr Thomas Chadwick, Dr Emma Slack
• Deputy Module Leader: Dr Fergus Campbell

• Owning School: FMS Graduate School
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Aims

To give students the opportunity to apply the understanding and methods from the taught course to the investigation of a relevant problem, in the form of a substantial piece of research written up into a dissertation. In doing this, students will further develop skills in problem analysis, literature review, data handling, data analysis, interpretation and in project management. To explain the principles of research project management and to outline both practical and regulatory issues related to the conduct of research within the NHS.

Outline Of Syllabus

The purpose of this module is for students to see a research project in health sciences and social care settings through from conception to completion in the form of writing the project up into a dissertation in accordance with academic conventions and standards. In the end, students will have gained first hand knowledge of how research projects are designed, implemented, adjusted and managed including negotiating ethics and research governance. The content of the module will depend on the specifics of the project that the individual student chooses.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students will undertake a substantial empirical project during their MSc academic year. This project will provide individual students with hands on experience of at least one research method using one or more techniques thus deepening students’ experience of research. Together with the development of a range of professional and key skills, the students will be trained and empowered to engage in teaching and/or research in higher education or in a professional capacity in the health service or other fields of employment. Students are normally allocated 2 supervisors. Students will discuss their projects with their assigned supervisors and will gain additional insights about current research, research methods, problems and their solutions by temporary membership of their supervisor’s research group. While conducting their project students will be required to maintain a research diary as a record of their work. The summation of learning will be expressed in the form of a dissertation reflecting the practicalities of conducting the project as well as the conclusions that may be drawn from it.

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.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Formative Assessments

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The methods of assessment have been chosen purposefully to extend the students important transferable (written and oral communication) skills which they will require if pursuing research to advanced level in higher education (e.g. PhD) or in a professional capacity in other fields of employment (e.g. Public Health, Research Management). Planning and organising skills are assessed by the project management appendix.

The project protocol will not count towards the dissertation mark but must be passed in order for the student to progress to the project.

Reading Lists

• HSC8099's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• HSC8099's Timetable