Major Research Project Proposal
Module title | Major Research Project Proposal |
---|---|
Module code | PSYD051 |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
Credits | 60 |
Module staff | Dr Janet Smithson (Lecturer) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Duration: Weeks | 1-12 | 1-12 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 16 |
---|
Module description
This module allows you to develop your doctoral level research skills by undertaking the research design and development of a doctoral level, major research proposal. This module is intended to draw together students’ learning during preceding modules about research design, feasibility, ethics and methodology and link these with their clinical interests, in order to design an innovative research proposal, with the intention that they should subsequently carry this out. In the course of the module students explore their areas of clinical interest, identifypossible areas for exploration and then identify research methodologies which will allow them to do this, taking into account questions of feasibility, ethics and the potential value of the research for testing or enhancing clinical practice.
The module also allows students to learn how to undertake a systematic literature review and to carry this out in relation to an area of research, relevant to an aspect of clinical practice.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to provide students with the skills necessary to design and develop a major piece of novel clinical research.
Through independent learning and research under supervision, the student will develop a proposal using a qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods design, analyse the data and write up a thesis.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Conceptualise and design clinical research that is relevant to the needs of patients, providers and commissioners of health services
- 2. Apply research to solve complex problems in clinical practice.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Evidence great depth and systematic understanding of a substantial body of knowledge in clinical research practice, and produce peer reviewed standard publication quality clinical research;
- 4. Synthesise new approaches to contribute to the development of methodology and understanding in clinical research practice.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Analyse and manage the implications of ethical dilemmas and work proactively with others to formulate solutions;
- 6. Function independently and self-critically as a learner, using a wide range of learning resources.
Syllabus plan
Week 1:Introduction to major research project
Week 2 – 20:Individual and group tutorials to support project design and development.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
80 | 520 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 20 hours | Lectures, workshops and group tutorials |
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 60 hours | Supervision and individual tutorials |
Guided independent study | 520 hours | Project data collection and writing up |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Project proposal presentation | 10min + 10min questions | 1-6 | Verbal |
PBL group critiquing proposals | 3 hours | 2-6 | Verbal |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Project proposal | 50 | 3000 words | 1-6 | Written |
Literature review | 50 | 3000 words | 1-4 | Written |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Project proposal | Project proposal | 1-6 | 3-6 weeks |
Literature review | Literature review | 1-4 | 3-6 weeks |
Re-assessment notes
A tutorial with your supervisor is advised to discuss your re-assessment requirements prior to submitting the revised proposal. Resubmit including track changes or highlighting showing changes, also with a letter to the marker.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
American Psychological Association. (2019) Publication manual (7th ed). American Psychological Association. https://apastyle.apa.org/instructional-aids/reference-guide.pdf
Bryman, A. (2015). Social research methods. Oxford university press.
Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using SPSS (4th ed.). Sage.
Harper, D., & Thompson, A. R. (Eds.). (2011). Qualitative research methods in mental health and psychotherapy: A guide for students and practitioners. John Wiley & Sons.
Lewin S, Glenton C, Munthe-Kaas H, Carlsen B, Colvin CJ, Gülmezoglu M, et al. (2015). Using Qualitative Evidence in Decision Making for Health and Social Interventions: An Approach to Assess Confidence in Findings from Qualitative Evidence Syntheses (GRADE-CERQual). PLoS Med 12(10): e1001895. doi:10.1371/journal. pmed.1001895
Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., ... & Stewart, L. A. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement.â?¯Systematic reviews,â?¯4(1), 1-9.
Peat, J. K., Mellis, C., Williams, K., & Xuan, W. (2020).â?¯Health science research: A handbook of quantitative methods. Routledge.
Richards, D. A., & Hallberg, I. R. (Eds.). (2015). Complex interventions in health: an overview of research methods.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – you can find methodology references; lecture PowerPoints (usually with references on the final slide) and guides to research on the programme ELE pages.
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Research methods presentations and tutorials. NHS Ethics, Psychology Research Ethics Committee ELE site, e-Learning resources.
Credit value | 60 |
---|---|
Module ECTS | 30 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | PSYD050, PSYD052, PSYD057 |
NQF level (module) | 8 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 13/03/2013 |
Last revision date | 13/02/2023 |