2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

EPIB5030M Professional Spine

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Paul Baxter
Email: p.d.baxter@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Academic entry requirements

Normally a first degree in a science allied with medicine, including biology, ecology, biochemistry, statistics, mathematics, computing, psychology, economics or biomedical science (at least 2:2). We will also consider working experience (two years or more) of research in a quantitative subject area.

English language requirements

An overall score of 7.0 on IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with at least 6.0 in writing and no other skill below 6.5; from a TOEFL paper based test the requirement is a minimum score of 600, with 4.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE); from a TOEFL computer based test the requirement is a minimum score of 250, with 4.5 TWE; from a TOEFL Internet based test the requirement is a minimum score of 100, with 25 in the "Writing Skills" score.

Pre-requisites

EPIB5022M	Core Epidemiology
EPIB5023M	Introduction to Modelling
EPIB5024M	Statistical Inference

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

Introduce the knowledge and skills necessary to work as an effective professional in epidemiological research;
Provide an understanding of ethical issues relating to epidemiological research;

Enable the student to:

- Perform appropriate sample size calculations;
- Critically appraise and evaluate published epidemiological research;
- Develop a professional approach to submitting research articles and applying for research funding;
- Judge what is required when reviewing submitted articles and research proposals;
- Develop the skills necessary to consult professionally with non-statistical colleagues;
- Develop professional skills relevant to oral and written presentation of study results, including communicate clearly and effectively with a non-technical audience.

Provide signposted links to skills that are introduced or developed in other modules.

Learning outcomes
Overall
By the end of this module participants should be able to:

- Understand key concepts, demonstrate key skills and attitudes necessary to work as an effective professional in epidemiological research.

Transferable skills
By the end of this module the student should be able to:

- Explain and critically appraise published epidemiological research.
- Construct a peer-review of a submitted article.
- Conduct an appropriate sample size calculation.
- Assemble a research proposal suitable for submission to a grant funding body.
- Write a paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed epidemiological journal.
- Demonstrate professional consultancy skills.
- Present work effectively in both oral and written formats.
- Engage in constructive discussion of professional ethics.
- Demonstrate professional qualities and attitudes appropriate to their future responsibilities to colleagues and society, including communicating effectively with a non-technical audience.

Skills outcomes
The ability to work as a professional epidemiologist or biostatistician, e.g. critically appraising the work of others and producing work of publishable quality, working ethically and liaising appropriately with other medical professionals.

Syllabus

The module will be taught over the second semester and will develop the core skills and competencies necessary to work as an applied statistician/ epidemiologist in a range of environments. The sessions:

Consultancy skills
Developing a research proposal
Sample size estimation
Research Ethics
Searching the literature
Critically appraising the literature
Academic writing
Data presentation
Designing effective posters
Presentation skills
Reviewing for journals

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Group learning	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	12	2.00	24.00
Private study hours			116.00
Total Contact hours			34.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Each week, students will be expected to prepare for the forthcoming seminar through material relevant to that session, such as reading journal articles, reports, referees reports, grant applications. They will then be expected to use this learning to engage with the discussions in the following week.

Students are also expected to keep a reflective log, in order from them to consider their learning that week in context with both the rest of the module and making links across the course as a whole.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The students will be required to keep a weekly reflective log. This will be reviewed mid-semester by the module leader, who will provide feedback on progress to date.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Referee report (1000 words)	40.00
Poster Presentation	A1 poster	10.00
Practical	Sample size calculation (500 words)	40.00
Reflective log	1000 words	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/01/2018

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