Research Project for Healthcare Practitioners
| Module title | Research Project for Healthcare Practitioners |
|---|---|
| Module code | PAMM121 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Mrs Madi Stone (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 2 | 12 | 6 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
This module will provide you with the opportunity to undertake a piece of independent research or a service evaluation. 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 this module is to enable you to demonstrate your ability to design, conduct, evaluate and write up a project on a topic that is of relevance to the title and aim of your 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.
Elements of this module may map against aspects of Enhanced or Advanced Practice as defined by the relevant AHP frameworks (NHSE) and / or as defined the College of Radiographers’ Education and Career Framework 2023.
Supervisors will be drawn from academic staff according to your research interest.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically review relevant theory and methodology to inform the design and development of an independent project (either research or service evaluation).
- 2. Provide evidence of skills in the formulation of a research or service evaluation question, identification of aims and objectives and clarification and justification of choice of methodological approach.
- 3. Undertake a research or service evaluation project which includes data collection and analysis, or secondary data analysis.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Contribute to the development and dissemination of evidence-based practice.
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 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 an accompanying poster suitable for a conference.
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 or workplace-based service evaluation including the following components:
Select a topic area that is relevant and important to the field of study
Develop a research question OR service evaluation strategy that is appropriate to the scale of a master's independent research project.
Justify the need for the research OR service evaluation 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
For research projects - apply for ethical approval to proceed
For service evaluation projects – apply for required workplace approvals
Collect and analyse the data associated with the project in a rigorous way, justifying your approach
Write up the project in a manner appropriate to the intended audience, ensuring that the findings/discussions answer the posed question.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 280 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 20 | Supervision meetings (scheduled by arrangement between individual students and supervisors). Contact with dissertation supervisors may take place face-to-face or via email or video-conferencing. |
| Guided Independent Study | 50 | Resource gathering and in-depth reading |
| Guided Independent Study | 130 | Project design, data collection and delivery |
| Guided Independent Study | 100 | 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 | 20 hours | 1-3, 6 | Verbal |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report: (service evaluation / research) | 80 | 3000 words in a format suitable for publication (to include abstract) | 1-7 | Written |
| Poster | 20 | Poster in a format suitable for a conference | 4, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report: (service evaluation / research) (80%) | Report: (service evaluation / research) | 1-7 | Typically within 6 weeks of the result |
| Poster (20%) | Poster | 4, 7 | Typically within 6 weeks of the result |
Re-assessment notes
If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of deferral, your re-assessment will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment and the overall module mark will not be capped.
If you pass re-assessments taken as a result of referral (i.e. following initial failure in the assessment), the overall module mark will be capped at 50%.
If you fail re-assessments taken as a result of referral (i.e. following initial failure in the assessment), you will be failed in the module.
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
Writing skills –The Purdue Online Writing Lab
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | HPDM092 Fundamentals of Research Design |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 03/03/2025 |
