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2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

DSUR5053M Final Year Project

20 creditsClass Size: 2

Module manager: Professor Gail Douglas
Email: g.v.a.douglas@leeds.ac.uk

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

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

None

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is focused upon offering the students an understanding of research methods and ethics. After a short course of masters level lectures (the same lectures given to PGT students), MChD students will undertake a research project to build upon their previous skills and knowledge in critical appraisal though experiential learning of one or more research methodologies. Projects are selected on the basis that they will contribute something of importance to one of the following: the school of dentistry/university, the community around us or will address a current gap in research knowledge.

Objectives

The aim of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to enhance and develop skills that underpin research practice in relation to dentistry. This module will integrate aspects of the Introduction to Research Methodology and ethics module which forms part of the MSc and professional doctorate in clinical dentistry. Students will then undertake a project and produce an individual write-up, putting these newly acquired skills to practice. This project will further embed our research-led curriculum and allow students to enhance and develop higher level learning skills such as critical thinking, self-management and dealing with complex issues and will provide students with invaluable experience in planning and executing a masters level project. Through a series of lectures this module will also lead students through evidence-based learning from bench to clinical practice.

Learning outcomes
At the end of this module students should:
• Be able to carry out a piece of theoretical, experimental, observational research, or extended literature review, as appropriate for the particular project
• Operate effectively as a team when more than one person is working on a project
• Conduct a detailed literature search through various sources
• Demonstrate appropriate transferable skills and the ability to proactively formulate ideas and hypotheses, plan and execute an investigation, critically analyse the results and draw valid conclusions, as appropriate to the project
• Be able to reference other work appropriately
• Be able to describe, evaluate and critically appraise the most recent research in their subject area
• Be able to communicate their findings effectively in written form
• Demonstrate by the writing of a project a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their discipline and advanced scholarship
• Have developed specialist knowledge and an in-depth understanding of their subject area
• Be able to recognise and assess any moral and ethical issues relevant to their subject of research, where appropriate
• Have further developed and embedded skills in self-management (working independently, time management and organisational skills)
• Be able to demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks
• Have developed the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development
• Be able to deal with complex and unpredictable situations
• Be able to apply evidence- based learning in clinical, scientific and professional practice
• Be aware of the application of evidence based knowledge in a particular research field
• Be able to be able to assess and understand the real impact of new techniques/ technologies in clinical practice
• Be able to produce an individual written dissertation, which critically and reflectively analyses the topic, in the format of a journal – type paper, which is properly referenced

Skills outcomes
-Information searching skills
-Critical and analytical skills
-Project planning, organisational and project management skills
-Experimental skills (as relevant to the project)
-Writing skills (preparation of report)


Syllabus

Introduction to research methodology and ethics (10 x 1hr lectures from MSc Clinical Dentistry)
Strategic research in the University of Leeds School of Dentistry (formerly content of New Horizons DSRU5052M within the BChD Programme)

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture161.0016.00
Tutorial61.006.00
Private study hours178.00
Total Contact hours22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Students will conduct literature reviews of the topic of their research project and utilise this private study time to conduct their research. Students will organise themselves within research topic groups to share core information amongst themselves on different methodological approaches to answer research questions.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Regular supervisory meetings will take place. It is anticipated that these meetings will take place more frequently at the start of the module when the student requires more assistance. There will be six, one hour meetings in total (noted above as tutorials) and where appropriate some of these may be held in groups both to extend the learning opportunities for individual students beyond their own project and to assist with managing work load for supervisors with multiple students.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay or DissertationProject proposal of 1,500 words20.00
ReportIn the format of a journal article of 4,000 words submitted at the end of first semester in year 570.00
Tutorial PerformanceMark allocated by the supervisor to reflect the student's efforts and engagement with the research tutorials10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Students with the best 10 project reports will give a poster presentation to compete for the McGregor prize.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 19/10/2017

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