DTC3002 : Dissertation
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Oliver Shannon
- Lecturer: Professor Bernard Corfe, Dr Andrea Fairley
- Other Staff: Dr Ryan Kenny, Dr Katie Thomson, Miss Akvile Stoniute, Ms Aimee Watson-Cook, Miss Louise Dickie, Miss Patience Kunonga, Dr Aalya Al-Assaf
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 15.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module will focus on developing students as researchers. The aim of this module is to provide all students with a grounding in systematic review methodology, which is applied through undertaking their own first systematic review.
Combining lectures, workshops and self-directed learning, this module seeks to provide the first time systematic reviewer with a sound grounding in the principles of systematic reviewing, including framing the question, identifying and critically appraising relevant studies, synthesising results, and interpreting and disseminating conclusions. This module will equip all students with an understanding and skills to actively participate in the planning and conduct of a systematic review.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will cover the following topics:
• An introduction to systematic reviewing and epistemology
• How to design a research question
• Data management
• Developing a search strategy databases and data sifting, including a practical session
• Critical appraisal
• Quantitative review methods – including introduction to meta-analysis
• Qualitative review methods
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 53:00 | 53:00 | Preparation of systematic literature review |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | Non-sync online - To impart theoretical knowledge. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 12:00 | 12:00 | Preparation and delivery of oral presentation of protocol |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | PiP - To impart theoretical knowledge |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | Additional reading around the subject |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Sync Online- Group meetings with supervisor |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Sync Online - Interactive Workshop |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Sync Online - Interactive workshop |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Sync Online - Interactive workshop |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | PiP- Interactive workshop |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 2:00 | 8:00 | PIP - Interactive workshops |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 8:00 | 8:00 | Conference attendance |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Group work- Developing skills to conduct a systematic review |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Sync Online- Support Sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 150:00 | 150:00 | Self-directed study/independent research |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 1 | 5:00 | 5:00 | PIP or Sync Online - Additional supervisory support |
| Total | 300:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
In order to ensure that all students are at a similar level of comprehension, students will be asked to read and prepare prior to the face- to- face lectures and practical sessions.
The face- to- face teaching is designed to introduce systematic reviewing and critical appraisal and will equip students with the skills to carry out a systematic review. There will be a mixture of lectures and workshops during which students will be encouraged to interact with one another and develop their skills in the different elements of conducting a systematic review.
Students will be allocated a topic to conduct a systematic review, which will be as part of a research team with other students. The students will provide a group presentation of their systematic review protocol. The final dissertation will be completed individually with each student producing their own systematic literature reviews at the end of the module. Students will discuss their project with their assigned supervisor and other team members.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 15 | 1 | A | 40 | Oral presentation of research protocol (15 mins) - PIP |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 2 | M | 60 | Dissertation systematic literature review (max 3500 words) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The methods of assessment have been chosen purposefully to extend the students important transferable (oral and written communication) skills which they will require when pursuing research further in higher education or in a professional capacity in other fields of employment.
MDiet candidates must obtain an overall mark of 40 or above to pass the module, however, if the module has more than one assessment students must also achieve a mark of at least 35 in each component of the assessment to pass the module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- DTC3002's Timetable