Course Catalogue

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This course focuses on the development and implementation of a research based student project. This course aims to consolidate and to extend the student's learning from the Research Methods & Statistics course through undertaking a supervised Dissertation or Work Based Audit & Service Evaluation and writing it up.

Generally three hour sessions spread across the year.

Research methods and Statistics is normally a prerequisite for undertaking this course.

Project (International)

Research methods & statistics

A 15,000 word dissertation/work based project to be submitted (80%)

An individual oral presentation of the dissertation (20%).

This course aims to facilitate students undertaking a study/project on a topic relevant to their specialist area or clinical interests. It requires them to draw on their own knowledge of key concepts and theories gained from other parts of the programme, in particular Research Methods and Statistics, in order to present a coherent masters- level dissertation. The topic of the dissertation will be agreed with the course coordinator as well as the appointment of an appropriate supervisor.

RESEARCH BASED DISSERTATION
To plan and execute a substantial piece of research with the support of a dissertation supervisor

To demonstrate a thorough understanding through practice of the research process.

To undertake appropriate ethical and governance procedures associated with the study

To present a critical review of the literature related to the specific topic

To formulate appropriate research questions derived from the literature review and/or identified clinical problem

To select appropriate research methods to gather data, and to analyse that data using appropriate techniques and analysis to address the questions
To interpret and report results and/or findings.

To critically discuss the findings of the study in relation to previous research and identify for the implications for practice and future work.


WORK-BASED AUDIT/ SERVICE EVALUATION

To plan and execute a substantial project with the support of a dissertation supervisor
To undertake appropriate ethical and governance procedures associated with the study

To demonstrate a thorough understanding through the practice of project management.
To present a critical review of the literature related to the specific topic

To demonstrate systematic implementation and analysis.
To apply, where appropriate, statistical concepts in relation to health care research.
To report project results and / or findings and to make appropriate recommendations following the service evaluation.
To critically discuss the findings of the study and identify for the implications for practice and future work.

Achievement of a grade D or above in the written assignment

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.