Modules

Module title: Research Project
SCQF level: 11:
SCQF credit value: 60.00
ECTS credit value: 30
Module code: BMS11102
Module leader: Graham Wright
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Biomedical Science
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added
2017/8, Trimester 3, Blended, Edinburgh Napier University
Occurrence: 003
Primary mode of delivery: Blended
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Graham Wright
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
Learning & Teaching methods including their alignment to LOs
A combination of directed study, literature searches, project design (LOs 1&2); data gathering (LOs 3,4&5); data analysis and problem solving, including lectures on use of statistics (LO 3); and report writing (LO 4&6) is used to develop research and professional skills.

Embedding of employability/PDP/Scholarship Skills
Several key employability skills are embedded and assessed:
a) Project planning and management,
(b) Data acquisition skills
(c) Problem-solving skills
(d) Individual initiative and self-motivation,
(e) Numeracy and/or analytical skills,
(f) Presentation and communication skills - assessed in the final reports
(g) IT – students use online literature search engines, data-handling software.

Assessment (formative or summative)
Formative feedback will be given to the students on drafts of work. Summative assessment in week 3 comprises a written project proposal (word limit of 2500), which assists the student in research design and preparation, and contributes 10% to the assessment. Summative assessment comprises submission of a final dissertation (word limit of 10,000) in week 15, worth 75% of the module assessment. The remainder 15% of the module will be allocated in relation to the performance during the project.

Research / teaching linkages
By its nature, this module links research with teaching, whereby the student conducts an independent piece of research under the expert guidance of a supervisor.

Supporting equality and diversity
Projects will be assigned to students as appropriate, and all reasonable measures will be taken to ensure any student can partake of a laboratory-based or qualitative-designed project. The assessments cover a range of skills to account for diverse backgrounds and aptitudes.

Internationalisation
Depending on availability of suitable supervisors, this module has the potential to be conducted worldwide.
Formative Assessment:
The University is currently undertaking work to improve the quality of information provided on methods of assessment and feedback. Please refer to the section on Learning and Teaching Approaches above for further information about this module’s learning, teaching and assessment practices, including formative and summative approaches.

Summative Assessment:
The University is currently undertaking work to improve the quality of information provided on methods of assessment and feedback. Please refer to the section on Learning and Teaching Approaches above for further information about this module’s learning, teaching and assessment practices, including formative and summative approaches.

Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Independent Learning Practical classes and workshops 570
Face To Face Tutorial 10
Face To Face Lecture 20
Total Study Hours600
Expected Total Study Hours for Module600


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Project - Written 10 1-2 3 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 2500
Report 75 1-6 15 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 10000
Project - Practical 15 1-6 15 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 0
Component 1 subtotal: 25
Component 2 subtotal: 75
Module subtotal: 100
2018/9, Trimester 1, Blended, Edinburgh Napier University
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Blended
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Graham Wright
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
A combination of directed study, literature searches, project design (LOs 1&2); data gathering (LOs 3,4&5); data analysis and problem solving, including lectures on use of statistics (LO 3); and report writing (LO 4&6) is used to develop research and professional skills.
Formative Assessment:
Formative feedback will be given to the students on drafts of work.

Summative Assessment:
Summative assessment in week 3 comprises a written project proposal (word limit of 2500), which assists the student in research design and preparation, and contributes 10% to the assessment, with the submission of a final dissertation (word limit of 10,000) in week 15, worth 75% of the module assessment. The remainder 15% of the module will be allocated in relation to the performance during the project.

Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Independent Learning Practical classes and workshops 570
Face To Face Tutorial 10
Independent Learning Guided independent study 20
Total Study Hours600
Expected Total Study Hours for Module600


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Report 10 1, 2 3 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 2500
Project - Practical 15 3, 4 & 5 15 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 0
Report 75 3,5 & 6 15 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 10000
Component 1 subtotal: 25
Component 2 subtotal: 75
Module subtotal: 100
2018/9, Trimester 2, Blended, Edinburgh Napier University
Occurrence: 002
Primary mode of delivery: Blended
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Graham Wright
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
Learning & Teaching methods including their alignment to LOs
A combination of directed study, literature searches, project design (LOs 1&2); data gathering (LOs 3,4&5); data analysis and problem solving, including lectures on use of statistics (LO 3); and report writing (LO 4&6) is used to develop research and professional skills. Weekly lab meeting attending by staff and students allows student to present data (LO3) and discuss experimental technique (LO5) allowing for feed-forward from academic staff and peers.By its nature, this module links research with teaching, whereby the student conducts an independent piece of research under the expert guidance of a supervisor. Depending on availability of suitable supervisors, this module has the potential to be conducted worldwide
Several key employability skills are embedded and assessed:
a) Project planning and management,
(b) Data acquisition skills – students conduct laboratory-based experiments or surveys by interview and/or questionnaire, or information gathering
(c) Problem-solving skills – as well as project aims and objectives, students are required to address any incidental issues and concerns throughout the duration of the project
(d) Individual initiative and self-motivation,
(e) Numeracy and/or analytical skills,
(f) Presentation and communication skills - assessed in the final reports
(g) IT – students use online literature search engines, data-handling software.
The module is supported by a VLE (Moodle) which is used to provide class materials (including lectures, tutorials, workshops and laboratory classes), resource such as animations, videos, direct links to relevant web-based resource, e:submission of all coursework, self-assessment test, interactive teaching resource, and independent study materials to cover expected prior-learning. Reflecting the discipline, students use a wide range of technology to accomplish laboratory work and in silico analysis.
Formative Assessment:
Formative feedback will be given to the students directly from supervisors on drafts of written work and for performance. Formative feedback from academic staff and peers will be provided during weekly lab meetings.

Summative Assessment:
Summative assessment in week 3 comprises a written project proposal (word limit of 2500), which assists the student in research design and preparation, and contributes 10% to the assessment (LOs 1 and 2) with the submission of a final dissertation (word limit of 10,000) in week 15, worth 75% of the module assessment (LOs 3, 5 and 6) . The remainder 15% of the module will be allocated in relation to the performance during the project (LOs 3, 4 and 5).

Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Independent Learning Practical classes and workshops 570
Face To Face Tutorial 10
Independent Learning Guided independent study 20
Total Study Hours600
Expected Total Study Hours for Module600


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Report 10 1-2 3 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 2500
Report 75 3, 5 & 6 15 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 10000
Project - Practical 15 3,4 & 5 15 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 0
Component 1 subtotal: 25
Component 2 subtotal: 75
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

In this module you will conduct an independent piece of research, either as a practical laboratory-based project, or a piece of qualitative research (e.g. surveys). This involves design, development and implementation of a programme of research in a particular field of study relevant to your programme of study. You will critically analyse data/information generated, and communicate the outcomes in a written report, which will develop your skills in scientific writing. This will give you experience in summarising information and presentation skills.
On-line literature searches. Literature review. Project formulation. Hypothesis generation. Experimental design. Development of practical skills/research technique. Data generation/collection and analysis. Use of appropriate statistical analysis. Evaluation of findings, critical analysis and conclusions, with reference to supporting literature. Communication of original research results in a report written in the style of a scientific paper.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to
LO1: Design, plan and implement a valid research project
LO2: Generate a hypothesis, and devise suitable protocols in order to test that hypothesis
LO3: Analyse and critically appraise experimental data, or metadata
LO4: Exercise appropriate judgement, self-reliance, initiative and time management
LO5: Critically explore solutions to practical problems
LO6: Evaluate, critically reflect and communicate the original research results through the production of a fully referenced report.
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:

Recommended - ALTMAN, D.G. (2005) PRACTICAL STATISTICS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH: CHAPMAN HALL Vol. 1, 2nd ed. - ISBN: 978158488039
Recommended - COAKES, S.J. (2012) SPSS VERSION 20.0 FOR WINDOWS: ANALYSIS WITHOUT ANGUISH: WILEY Vol. 1, 1st ed. - ISBN: 9781118337
Recommended - FOWLER, J., COHEN, L., JARVIS, P. (1998) PRACTICAL STATISTICS FOR FIELD BIOLOGY: JOHN WILEY Vol. 1, 2nd ed. - ISBN: 978047198296
Recommended - HOLMES, D., MODDY, P., DINE, D. (2010) RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BIOSCIENCES: OUP OXFORD Vol. 1, 2nd ed. - ISBN: 978019954576
Recommended - MATTHEWS, J.R., MATTHEWS, R.W. (2007) SUCCESSFUL SCIENTIFIC WRITING: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENTISTS: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Vol. 1, 3rd ed. - ISBN: 978052169927
Recommended - ZEIGER, M. (2000) ESSENTIALS OF WRITING BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH PAPERS.: MCGRAW HILL Vol. 1, 2nd ed. - ISBN: 9780071345446
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