Research Toolkit
Module title | Research Toolkit |
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Module code | SHSM031 |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Dr Sarah Jackman (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 5 | 5 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
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Module description
This module aims to provide you with a bespoke research ‘toolkit’ that will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to carryout postgraduate level research within Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. It is designed to help you navigate the research journey, beginning with the conception of a research problem and ending with disseminating your work via a conference presentation and academic journal. The module will provide an excellent foundation for those wishing to undertake further research (e.g. research assistant, PhD) in Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module will develop your ability to undertake a literature review, develop a research question and decide which methods and approaches are needed. The practicalities of managing a research project, including the collection and storing of data, will be covered. The requirements and processes involved in disseminating your project’s findings through a conference presentation and written journal article will be addressed. The current landscape for funding research projects in the UK and how to write a competitive research grant proposal will be examined. Finally, the module will end with a focus on how to build a career in research aligned to Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.
Graduate attributes: As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:
- Ability to navigate the research landscape in sport, exercise and health sciences
- Identifying research priorities and defining a research question
- Undertaking and interpreting systematic reviews
- Designing research and managing a research project
- Writing scientific work for publication and critically reviewing scientific work
- Presenting at a scientific conference
- Writing a research grant
- Identifying a research career pathway
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Justify and formulate a research question with clearly defined aims
- 2. Identify appropriate experimental designs and methods
- 3. Plan a write a coherent research grant proposal in accord with defined guidelines
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Plan and deliver an oral presentation related to a scientific project within Sport and Health Sciences
- 5. Critically evaluate scientific work and provide appropriate feedback
- 6. Describe project and data management procedures
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Communicate complex scientific information in either written or verbal form
- 8. Identify, retrieve and synthesise complex evidence
- 9. Develop an action plan and needs analysis for building a career in research
Syllabus plan
- Introduction to research in sport, exercise and health sciences
- Using and managing literature to develop a research question
- Synthesising the evidence base: systematic review
- How to design research (e.g. identifying and selecting a sample, allocation to groups, interval validity)
- Issues related to project and data management
- Presenting your work at academic conferences
- Getting your work published and navigating the peer review process
- How to fund your research and write a research grant proposal
- Building a career in research
- What do you need to know? Lesson learn from current PhD students
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 30 | Scheduled lectures and seminars |
Guided independent study | 40 | Completing weekly reading and tasks |
Guided independent study | 80 | Preparing for the formative and summative assessments |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
ELE independent study tasks | Various | 7- 9 | Generic and peer |
Peer review of a paper | 1000 words | 1, 5, 7 | Generic and written |
Conference presentation | 10 minutes plus 5 minutes questions | 1-2, 4, 7 | Written and peer |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Research grant | 100 | 3000 words | 1-3, 6-8 | Written |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Research grant | Research grant | 1-3, 6-8 | August/September assessment period |
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 retake the assessments you have failed. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Neil, R., Hanton, S., Fleming, S. and Wilson, K. (2014). The Research Process in Sport, Exercise and Health Case Studies of Active Researchers. Abingdon: Routledge
- Jones, I. (2015). Research Methods for Sports Studies. Abingdon: Routledge
- Gratton, C. and Jones, I. (2004) Research methods for sports studies. Abingdon: Routledge.
- Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K. and Silverman, S.J. (2011). Research methods in physical activity. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- Exeter Learning Environment (ELE): http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
- Postgraduate Researchers’ Programme: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/rdp/postgraduateresearchers/
- University of Exeter Research Toolkit: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/toolkit/
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | SHSM029 and SHSM030 |
NQF level (module) | 7 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 03/06/2016 |
Last revision date | 18/11/2016 |