Independent Research
| Module title | Independent Research |
|---|---|
| Module code | HPDM148 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 60 |
| Module staff | Dr Tristan Snowsill (Convenor) Professor Stephanie Bull (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 | 8 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 100 |
|---|
Module description
This module is the piece of independent research associated with the Masters programmes in Clinical Education, Clinical Pharmacy, Healthcare Leadership & Management, Health Research Methods, Extreme Medicine and Leading Clinical Research Delivery. It is designed to enable you to produce a project report under supervision, and to demonstrate project design, development, evaluation, synthesis and dissemination skills.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of the independent research module is to enable you to demonstrate their ability to design, conduct, evaluate and write up a project on a topic that is of relevance to the title and aim of their award and in doing so, to demonstrate self-direction, originality and an ability to act autonomously in the planning and implementation of project skills at an advanced professional level.
Supervisors will be drawn from academic staff and external co-supervisors (where appropriate) depending on the research interest of the student.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Systematically and critically review relevant theory and methodology in the design and development of an independent project
- 2. Provide evidence of skills in the formulation of research questions, identification of aims and objectives and clarification and justification of choice of methodological approach
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise a projects findings and interpret their relevance within the context of established or emerging theories, policies and/or professional practice
- 4. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems in the conduct of a project that is methodologically and ethically sound
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Present a logically argued and clearly written project report that will aim to enhance knowledge and understanding of an area of practice at an advanced level
- 6. Critically evaluate and reflect upon their own strengths, limitations and performance with reference to the design, development, organisation and write up of the project
- 7. Prepare academic outputs in the form of a journal article and either an oral presentation or a poster (both commonly used in scientific conferences)
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content will vary from year to year, and project to project, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
Students will work under the supervision of one or more supervisors to undertake an independent research process including the following components:
- Select a topic area that is relevant and important to the field of study
- Develop a research question that is appropriate to the scale of a Masters independent research project
- Justify the need for the research with support from the background literature
- Develop an appropriate methodological approach with which to answer the research question
- Consider the ethical principles relating to the chosen project and apply for ethical approval to proceed
- Collect and analyse the data associated with the research project in a rigorous way, justifying your approach
- Write up the research project in a manner appropriate to the intended audience, ensuring that the findings/discussions answer the research question.
- Presentation of research project: oral presentation for all Masters students, except the distance learning MSc Extreme Medicine and MSc Leading Clinical Research Delivery students, who will create a poster presentation.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 560 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning & teaching activities | 40 | Supervision meetings (scheduled by arrangement between individual students and supervisors). Contact with dissertation supervisors may take place face-to-face or via email, telephone and/or video-conferencing. |
| Guided independent study | 100 | Resource gathering and in-depth reading |
| Guided independent study | 260 | Project design and delivery |
| Guided independent study | 200 | Preparation and writing of written report and presentation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feedback and discussion with supervisor | 40 hours | 2-4,6 | Verbal and online |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project report following journal guidelines | 80 | Maximum 5,000 words (dependent on target journal guidance) | 1-7 | Written |
| Oral Presentation (CE, HLM, CP, HRM) or Poster Preparation (EM, LCRD) Presentations (e.g. PowerPoint-based presentation to group in face-to-face setting) may be replaced by PowerPoint-based presentation to the group using Teams/Zoom | 20 | Oral presentation: (CE, HLM, CP, HRM) 10 minutes + 5 minutes questions. Conference style poster (EM, LCRD): suitable for printing at A1 or A0 size (landscape or portrait) but submitted as PDF | 1-7 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project report following journal guidelines (80%), maximum 5,000 words (dependent on target journal guidance) | Project report following journal guidelines | 1-7 | Typically within 12 weeks of the result |
| Oral presentation (CE, HLM, CP, HRM); 10 minutes + 5 minutes questions; (20%); Poster Presentation (EM, LCRD); (20%) | Oral presentation (CE, HLM, CP, HRM); or Poster presentation (EM, LCRD) | 1-7 | Typically within 12 weeks of the result |
Re-assessment notes
If it is not practical for a reassessed presentation to be given in person then a video-conferenced/Skype presentation or a video submission may be accepted at the assessor’s discretion. Distance learning students (MSc Extreme Medicine, MSc Leading Clinical Research Delivery) would need to improve their poster to a passing standard.
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
Dixon N (2001) Writing for publication a guide for new authors. International Journal for Quality in Healthcare. 13;5:417-21
Day RA and Gastel B (2006) How to write and publish a scientific paper. Cambridge University Press
Lock D. (2007).The Essentials of Project Management (3rd edition). Aldershot, Gower Publishing
Rudestam, K. and Newton, R. (2007). Surviving your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process (3rd edition). London, Sage Publications.
Swetnam, D. (2005). How to Plan, Prepare and Present Successful Work (3rd edition). Trowbridge, Cromwell Press Ltd.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Systematic Reviews
PRISMA reporting guidelines – see http://www.prisma-statement.org/
Equator
Reporting guidelines - see http://www.equator-network.org/
Writing skills –The Purdue Online Writing Lab
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/
ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=13255
Please see ELE above for further up to date electronic resources.
| Credit value | 60 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 30 |
| Module pre-requisites | For MSc HRM students only: at least two out of HPDM092, HPDM093, HPDM054 in Term 1 |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 31/01/2017 |
| Last revision date | 29/09/2023 |
