Modules

Module title: Scientific Research Project
SCQF level: 10:
SCQF credit value: 60.00
ECTS credit value: 30
Module code: SES10113
Module leader: Hollie Fountain
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Sport Exercise and Health Science
Prerequisites

n/a
2019/0, Trimester 2, Face-to-Face, Edinburgh Napier University
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Face-to-Face
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Hollie Fountain
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
Initial face-to-face sessions will focus on project choice and planning, as well as consideration of health and safety issues appropriate to the area of study to enable students to derive a plan of work that is sound, safe and achievable(LO1). Subsequent contact with supervisors is highly individualised, and will equip the student with the skills to utilise appropriate techniques and tools to undertake their research, analyse data appropriately and present the work to appropriate standards of presentation (LO1-5). Although supervision will be provided, much of the module is premised on the active and autonomous engagement of the student in the chosen area of research.
The research project is a key vehicle for the development of employability and scholarship skills, notably time management, independence, self-motivation and organisation, synthesis and analysis of diverse information and written and oral presentation skills.
Formative Assessment:
Formative assessments occur in week 6 of Trimester 1 when students will present their project outline and plan, students will be encouraged to make use of video feedback to develop presentation skills for summative assessment 1.
In week 8, students will submit a literature review to their supervisors. A risk assessment and full engagement in the ethics process is also formatively assessed. Ethics forms will be expected to be signed off by supervisors and submitted to the ethics committee by the 1st December, with a final opportunity to submit at the end of January. Failure to comply with any of these formative assessments will result in the students being unable to progress with their project in Trimester 2.
Feedback on all the above formative assessments will be provided in Trimester 1 (except where students submit ethics forms in January, in this case, feedback will be provided hereafter).

Further feedback will be provided from supervisors during one-to-one meetings, appropriate feedback on the first summative assessment, and additional feedback will be provided on drafts of the introduction and methods sections of the second summative assessment.
Summative Assessment:
Two summative assessments will take place, the first, a presentation and defence in week 12; and the second, the submission of a report in the style of a journal article (LO1-5).
The first assessment in week 12, will be worth 20% of the total grade. It will involve the students to present their research in 5 minutes with the support of an infographic, followed by a 10 minute question and answer session where student have the opportunity to defend their studies.
The second assessment to be submitted in week 14, this will be worth 80% of the total grade. This component will entail a 4000 word report in the style of a journal article, or 6000 words for qualitative studies or systematic reviews.



Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Lecture 2
Independent Learning Guided independent study 570
Face To Face Project Supervision 22
Face To Face Seminar 6
Total Study Hours600
Expected Total Study Hours for Module600


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Oral Presentation 20 5 12 HOURS= 0.15, WORDS= 0
Final Year Project 80 1,2,3 & 4 14 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 6000
Component 1 subtotal: 20
Component 2 subtotal: 80
Module subtotal: 100

Description of module content:

In this module, students will conduct an independent piece of research, developing skills in project planning and time management, critical analysis and interpretation of scientific data, as well as the ability to communicate the results of a scientific study.

Students will design, develop and implement an investigation in a research topic of relevance to their field of study and will also be equipped with the skills necessary to undertake a laboratory or field-based study safely, where appropriate.
The module content is driven by the needs and requirements of the individual projects, and thus is highly diverse and individualised. There is, however, core content, which includes the design of scientific investigations, time management and project planning, data collection and analysis, use of appropriate information technology and statistical analysis to guide interpretation of data, and report presentation and development. Students are also required to attain appropriate levels of knowledge of safe practice in the laboratory or field where relevant.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to:

LO1: Derive a project proposal, based on identification and review of relevant literature, consideration of experimental design and statistical analysis, and safety considerations
LO2: Develop a programme of independent research, using appropriate investigative techniques and research tools
LO3: Organise and analyse data derived from the research in order to test appropriate hypotheses
LO4: Present and defend project during an infographic supported presentation followed by by and question and answer session
LO5: Synthesise results and present them in the context of previously published information, as part of a scientific report, to appropriate standards of presentation
Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
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