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Study information

Medical Sciences Research Project

Module titleMedical Sciences Research Project
Module codeCSC3029
Academic year2021/2
Credits45
Module staff

Dr Jess Tyrrell ()

Professor Rob Anderson (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

12

12

1

Number students taking module (anticipated)

100

Module description

This is the final year research project module builds on the skills you have learnt in the previous years. It will stimulate your interest and knowledge in biomedical and/or clinical science with the main component of the module being an independent research project. Your research will take the form of one, 20-week research-based project.  These independent research projects will give you an insight into the world of research in biomedical/clinical science. Research could include obtaining and/or analysing data in a laboratory or clinical research setting; bioinformatic analysis of unpublished or published data or performing a systematic literature review. The module will consolidate your developing skills in collection, interpretation, formulation and presentation of evidence; and enhance your leadership and personal reflective behaviours and employment skills. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module seeks to develop your ability to conduct and report scientific research within the Biomedical/Clinical Science discipline and report the results in writing and verbally. It also aims to consolidate student reflective behaviours and employment skills. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

  • 1. Demonstrate competence in key biomedical and/or clinical science techniques.
  • 2. Apply skills of critical thinking, problem-formulation, problem-solving, and rigorous scientific data /information analysis to biomedical and/or clinical science practice.
  • 3. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of essential facts and theory in a research discipline related to biomedical and/or clinical science.
  • 4. Describe and critically evaluate aspects of current research in biomedical and/or clinical science with reference to research articles.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

  • 5. Demonstrate professional competence in communicating effectively with academic staff and/or healthcare professionals
  • 6. Understand the expected performance standards in relation to scientific probity, multidisciplinary team-based practice and recognise personal levels of professional scientific competence.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

  • 7. Manage time, workload, ambiguity, change and stress effectively and demonstrate effective personal development planning, based on self-awareness and reflection
  • 8. Understand and apply key skills of effective project management and leadership
  • 9. Use employability skills to improve competitiveness in future job applications

Syllabus plan

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

Preliminary planning for the project takes place in Year 2 or the Professional Training Year (PTY), whichever appropriate. In the final year, project work will normally be undertaken in the Autumn and Spring terms and the written final reports are normally due in either the Spring term (Research Project) or in Autumn and Spring terms (Dissertation). 

Supervisory meetings are held by arrangement, with students entitled to at least 30 minutes of supervisory time per week. Three formal, documented meetings of project student and supervisor take place. 

Career development and employability skills will be discussed (e.g. CV consolidation and interview techniques) with Personal Tutor. 

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
22428

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2Lectures PE either short pre-recorded videos live via Teams/Zoom if the can not occur face to face.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching10Project work: Supervisor meetings for guidance on project development, implementation, data analysis and interpretation. PE- meetings for training and support to be done via Teams/Zoom if the can not occur face to face.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching8Workshops PE to be delivered by short pre-recorded videos as pre-learning; or synchronous workshops via Teams/Zoom if they can not occur face to face.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2Academic tutor meetings: PE meetings to be done via Teams/Zoom if the can not occur face to face.:To discuss the Academic, Personal & Professional Learning Evaluation (APPLE) Form development of skills required for successful completion of final year • To discuss the E-portfolio • To discuss employment/future study
Guided Independent Study420Other project-related work including: Formative project proposal writing, project report writing, data collection and analysis, literature research, preparation for supervisor meetings, oral presentation preparation, preparation of the E-Portfolio and other guided independent study.
Guided Independent Study8Keeping E-Portfolio and APPLE form up to date.

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Written Preliminary Project proposalProject proposal 500 words (within first 4 weeks of project)1-5Written and verbal
Personal and key skills feedback from peers, project supervisor and research colleagues and Academic Tutor as appropriate.100-200 words 1-8Written and verbal
Provider feedbackOn 10% of draft written research project report/dissertation, equivalent to 600 words1-6Written or verbal

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
80020

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Research Project 706,000 words 1-6Written
1x Oral presentation (10min) + Q&As (5 min)2015 min5Written
Professionalism Component - encompassing the following elements: a) 1x Research Project supervisor student performance judgements (5%) b) Professionalism Award Assessment (2.5%) c) E-Portfolio (2.5%) )10b) Completed APPLE form c) Electronic file containing experiences, feedback and assessment results.a) 1-8 b) 7-9 c) 7-9Verbal and/or written

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

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
6000 Research Project (70%)Re-submission of the 6000 word Research Project1-6By end of ref/def period
Oral presentation (20%)Oral Presentation (10min) + Q&As (5 min) 5By end of ref/def period
Professionalism Component (10%)Remediation meeting with academic tutor1-9By end of ref/def period

Re-assessment notes

In the event of you failing the professionalism award assessment component and failing the module overall, you will be required to meet with your Academic Tutor as soon as possible to remediate this failure as a referred assessment. This will involve submitting any outstanding components required for this award, and, if necessary, undertaking any actions required by the Academic Tutor to remediate for any unprofessional behaviour. In the event of you failing the professionalism award component but passing the module overall, you will be required to meet with your academic tutor for an individual meeting to remediate this outcome before the end of the academic year. 

Please also 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

This will vary according to your specific project, and will be advised by your supervisor and on the project description form

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

This will vary according to your specific project, and will be advised by your supervisor and on the project description form

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

As directed by the supervisor

Key words search

Research, data, analysis, literature, clinical science, biomedical science, independent, evidence, critical appraisal, communication

Credit value45
Module ECTS

22.5

Module pre-requisites

CSC2014 Principles of Medical Research 

Module co-requisites

N/A

NQF level (module)

6

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

25/02/2012

Last revision date

13/07/2020