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2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

DSUR5129M Dental Public Health Research Project

60 creditsClass Size: 10

Module manager: Dr Julia Csikar
Email: j.i.csikar@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Pre-requisite qualifications

A bachelor degree with 2:2 (hons) in a related subject or medical or dental degree. New graduates with limited or no work experience in a health related area would be expected to have a 2.1 or above.
Or Professional qualification with 3-5 years' work experience.
We also welcome applications from graduates with a medical or dental degree.
English language requirements IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Co-requisites

DSUR5022MResearch Methods Ethics and Statistics

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is the essential research component of the MSc in Dental Public Health. It will prepare students with all the skills to successfully undertake scientific research. Students agree the area of research with the supervisors at the start of the year allowing the formulation of a research hypothesis and plan.

Objectives

The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their professional skills in Dental Public Health through individual original research projects. The research project will develop their understanding of research methodology, good practice including the ethics and philosophy of research. They will gain experience of working within research groups with clinical and non-clinical colleagues. Students will be given the opportunity to learn and enhance their skills in literature searching, data handling and interpretation and in critical appraisal of published research. Students will plan and execute a research project which will give opportunities to gain experience of scientific writing and presentation of data. For clinical and health-care based research, the student will receive training in the Cochrane method and the work should be publishable in its own right.

Learning outcomes
Through successful completion of this module students will show evidence of being able to:
1. interpret and communicate knowledge through research and scholarship of high quality
2. demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the subject area and expertise in relevant research skills
3. formulate ideas and hypotheses proactively, and develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these
4. critically evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship
5. demonstrate an understanding of relevant ethical and legal issues

Skills outcomes
No additional skills


Syllabus

This module will teach students how to undertake high quality research. It will be underpinned by seminars, lectures and student led sessions on:

- introduction to literature reviews and developing search strategies
- appraising/critiquing research evidence (including statistical interpretation)
- developing a research question, aims and objectives
- research method selection qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods and multi-methods appropriate to answer aims and objectives
- questionnaire/topic guide design
- ethical approval in research

Each student will receive Dental Public Health Research Project Supervision meetings throughout their module.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Student-led discussion42.008.00
Supervision Meetings61.006.00
Lecture11.001.00
Lecture82.0016.00
Seminar82.0016.00
Private study hours553.00
Total Contact hours47.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)600.00

Private study

Private study and self-directed learning will require students to prepare for lectures, seminars and regular literature reviews. Students will be asked to prepare for contact sessions and will be required to undertake independent learning to ensure they can fully take part in each session. As part of private study the students will develop their research project which will include preparing a project proposal, planning and completing an application for ethical approval (if appropriate). Students will also use their private study time to maintain proper records of their results, and to present, analyse and interpret data which will culminate in a 10,000-15,000 word Masters dissertation.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The proposed change is to provide students with a lecture and then following this seminars and student led discussions. There is a great deal of variability of research experience that each student has. It is felt providing an overview of each element of the research project (e.g., how to conduct a literature review, how to develop aims and objectives, what your methods section should consist of etc) will give all students the same baseline knowledge. The next stage is for them to take more of the lead in seminars where they present what they have done so far. The group discussion on what has been achieved so far and how to progress to the next stage is a formative process. The student is further supported by taking part in a journal club that culminates with them leading a critical appraisal session of a paper of their choice with the wider DPH team. The rationale for this amendment to the teaching structure is to help both students and staff deliver content and explore how to develop a robust research project in a clear and logical way. The student has one or more supervisors and the module leader. These people liaise throughout the module to ensure the student is progressing their research project in a timely fashion to achieve a research output that can be submitted on time in the form of a dissertation which acts as their summative assessment alongside the diligence mark awarded by the supervision team.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation15,000 word (maximum)90.00
Tutorial PerformanceDiligence and execution of research10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

There will be compensation between the two assessment components.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 15/02/2022 15:33:18

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