Research Project
| Module title | Research Project |
|---|---|
| Module code | BIOM4009 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 90 |
| Module staff | Dr Andy McGowan (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 70 |
|---|
Module description
Learning to conduct original scientific research is essential for your scientific training, employability potential and future career. In this module, you will gain hands-on experience of conducting cutting-edge scientific research under the guidance of professional researchers. This involves conducting an independent research project on a subject of your choice related to conservation biology, ecology, evolution or behavioural ecology. You will be responsible for designing, planning and implementing the study, as well as analysing the data and writing it up for a world class peer-reviewed academic journal. As such, this project provides valuable experience of managing an original scientific research project, from its inception through to completion.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aims of this module are:
- To familiarise you with the existing scientific literature in their study area, and teach you to assimilate this knowledge in a succinct and critical manner.
- To give you experience in undertaking a substantial research project in a research-led environment, deal with real world problems and put into practice the knowledge you have acquired from the taught elements of the programme. In some cases you will conduct your research project alongside scientists in collaborating governmental and non-governmental organisations. In all cases you will be supervised by a member of academic staff from the University of Exeter.
By the end of the module, you will have reviewed and assimilated a substantial portion of the existing literature on an aspect of conservation biology, ecology, evolution or behavioural ecology, and carried out a piece of original research (or research which extends our knowledge on a topic), analysed the results using appropriate methods and learned how to disseminate the results in an appropriate manner. Please note that parts of this programme may be conducted in the field or in remote locations. You should therefore consider the physical and monetary demands of certain projects before committing to them in this module.
The skills you gain from lectures and seminars will develop or enhance your employability. Transferable skills to other sectors include: problem solving (linking theory to practice, responding to novel and unfamiliar problems, data handling), time management (managing time effectively individually and within a group), collaboration (taking initiative and leading others, supporting others in their work), self and peer review (taking responsibility for own learning, using feedback from multiple sources) and audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively in multiple formats).
The module will expose you to some of the latest developments in the fields of conservation biology, ecology, evolution or behavioural ecology, and ultimately pave the way into a deeper understanding of evidence-based scientific enquiry.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Undertake critical and self-motivated exploration of topics of relevance to your research community and/or governmental/non-governmental organisations, which qualify you to be knowledgeable experts in the subject matter of their chosen topic.
- 2. Critically and independently assess the field in which your research project will be conducted.
- 3. Independently design and present a means of dealing with a critical research issue.
- 4. Follow systematically and consistently the phases of a research project i.e. experimental design, data collection, data analysis and report writing using methods and techniques agreed by the supervisor.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Discuss ideas and construct coherent arguments based on your independent and critical assessment of the discipline.
- 6. Independently prepare scientific journal articles (a short-format review and a research paper) based on individually motivated research and work.
- 7. Apply sophisticated and appropriate analysis and development techniques to a research project.
- 8. Critically assess the scientific presentation of your own and others research.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Professionally present new ideas and results.
- 10. Prioritise, generate, and summarise data relevant to the testing of rational hypotheses.
- 11. Present written reports in a clear, concise, and logical manner.
- 12. Think critically, and critically appraise and logically solve problems.
Syllabus plan
Overview of arrangements:
You will be allocated a supervisor from the College of Life and Environmental Sciences (either from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation or the Environment and Sustainability Institute) who will be the primary source of guidance on the project. Depending on the project, you may also work closely with individuals from another sector of the University or from a collaborating governmental or non-governmental organisation.
Content:
You will receive introductory sessions in different modules on how to prepare for your projects (scientific paper writing, oral presentations, experimental design and statistics). A list of projects and potential supervisors will be distributed in October, and project allocation will be completed by early November. You may also choose to generate your own project, in consultation with an appropriate supervisor. You will then work with your supervisor to design your project.
Stages of the project:
- You are required to submit a literature review (in the format of an article in the journal TREE) on your project subject in February, before beginning data collection.
- You are required to submit a Risk Assessment and an ethical application for research as part of the research project process.
- You are required to make a short formal presentation of your proposed project to staff and students, before beginning data collection.
- You are required to submit your final project report, in the form of a paper to a specific journal, at the end of July.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 880 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 20 | Meetings with the project supervisor. |
| Guided independent study | 880 | Additional reading, research and preparation of a literature review. Experimental design, data collection, data analysis and preparation for the final paper assessment. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer questions during meeting with the project supervisor | Ongoing throughout the module | All | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | 20 | 2000 words | 1-3, 5, 8-12 | Written |
| Project Report | 80 | 8000 words | All | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literature review | Literature review | 1-3, 5, 8-12 | September |
| Project report | Project report | All | September |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to re-submit the project report. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the mark and will be capped at 50%.
Re-assessment of the contribution element is not possible. If your failure in the project report is as a result of a flawed or incomplete data collection such that a re-submission of the project report would not be possible, you may required to retake the module completely, in which case both the project report and the contribution elements would be re-assessed from the outset.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
As agreed between student and project supervisors. Reference will be made to the most recent articles and reports in the field and will focus on the primary literature.
Also of use when planning and writing up the project will be:
- Ruxton, G.D. and Colegrave, N. (2006) Experimental Design for the Life Sciences. OUP. ISBN 01992 52327
- Barass, R (2002) Scientists Must Write: A Guide to Better Writing for Scientists, Engineers and Students
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 90 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 45 |
| Module pre-requisites | BIOM4025 Statistical Modelling |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2009 |
| Last revision date | 20/03/2020 |
