Project Studies 1

Module title	Project Studies 1
Module code	PAM2007
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Beth McGill () Dr Hassan Fadavi ()

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	12	0	2

Number students taking module (anticipated)	51

Module description

To enable you to develop a sound understanding of research terminology, methods, and principles. This module builds on the foundation of the level 1 module PAM1016 Research and Evidence Based Practice. It is designed to enable you to understand different research designs, to evaluate the research literature and to prepare you to undertake research at undergraduate level.

Module aims - intentions of the module

By undertaking this module, you will gain an understanding and appreciation of a variety of research methods to improve your ability to critically evaluate current research. These skills will contribute to the appropriate and effective planning of your PAM3004 Project Studies 2 research project.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Explore an appropriate topic of interest for investigation relevant to clinical research;
2. Select and justify a research design that is appropriate for the topic area and project remit;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Demonstrate a clear understanding of key research concepts and methodologies including data handling relating to clinical research;
4. Demonstrate a clear understanding of ethical considerations relating to clinical research;
5. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the role and importance of service user involvement in clinical research;
6. Synthesise and evaluate appropriate in order to provide a rationale for a research topic and project design;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

7. Organise a programme of research;
8. Work collaboratively with other group members;

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

Using appropriate resources for a literature search;
Formulating a research question;
Selecting and justifying appropriate methodology;
Ethical and safety issues;
Project management;
Quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including hypothesis testing and data handling;

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
20	130	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	10	11 x 1-hour Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	6	5 x 1-hour practical data analysis sessions
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	2	2 x 1-hour Tutorial support
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	2	2 x 1-hour optional group supervision meetings
Guided independent study	10	Directed online learning activities
Guided independent study	120	Reading, private study and revision

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
60	40	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Group Project Proposal	60	2000 words	1, 2, 4, 6-8	Written
Computer Based Assessment (CBA) Examination [Online]	40	1 hr 15 minutes	3-5	iExeter and ELE

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Group Project Proposal (60%)	Project Proposal (2000 words) (60%)	1, 2, 4, 6-8	August/September assessment period
Computer Based Assessment (CBA) Examination (40%)	Computer Based Assessment (CBA) (1 hour 15 minutes) (40%)	3-5	August/September assessment period

Re-assessment notes

Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Polgar S. and Thomas S.A. (2013), Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences, (6th edition), Churchill Livingstone, ISBN: 978-0-443-07429-5

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Aveyard H. (2018), Doing a literature review in health and social care (4^th edition), Open University Press, ISBN 978-0335248001
Braun V & Clarke V (2013), Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners, Sage, ISBN 9781847875815
Day R.A (2012), How to write and publish a scientific paper (7th edition), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9781107670747
Denscombe M. (2014), The Good Research Guide: for Small-scale Social Research Projects (5^th edition), Open University Press, ISBN 978-0335264704
Field A. (2017), Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics (5^th edition), Sage, ISBN 978-1526419521
Gunn C. (2001), Using Maths in Health Sciences, Churchill Livingstone, ISBN 9780443070747
Hicks C. (2009), Research methods for clinical therapists: Applied project design and analysis (5^th edition), Churchill Livingstone, ISBN 9780702029981
Pallant J. (2016), SPSS Survival Manual (6^th edition), Open University, ISBN 978-0335261543
Salkind N.J. (2016), Statistics for People Who (Think They) Hate Statistics: Using Microsoft Excel (4^th edition), Sage, ISBN 9781483374109

Key words search

Medical Imaging; Research; Literature; Levels; Data; Project; Data analysis; Analysis; Issue; Reviews; Audit.

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	PAM1016
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/09/2004
Last revision date	18/02/2025