2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

BIOL5148M Research Planning and Scientific Communication

15 creditsClass Size: 130

Module manager: Dr Alison Baker
Email: A.Baker@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

Undergraduate degree in biological sciences or equivalent

Module replaces

BIOL5371M - Research Planning and Scientific Communication

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module aims to train participants how to plan and structure research from an individual experiment to a program of work. Furthermore, the module seeks to train students in communicating scientific research in different formats including; literature review, scientific research papers, oral presentation and research proposal.

Objectives

1. Provide guidance on searching literature and writing a literature review and practice these skills by writing a short formative literature review;
2. Explain how a series of experiments are planned and linked together to form a coherent piece of work through lectures and tutorials supporting the summative assessments;
3. Gain an appreciation of the critical evaluation of data through a workshop analysing example data;
4. Take a figure from a research paper and analyse the experimental procedures required to produce that data supported by tutorials;
5. Work in a team to construct a programme of research and make an oral presentation supported by tutorials;
6. Write their research programme in the form of an individual grant proposal.
7. Explain how a research paper is constructed (text and production of figures) through lectures and workshops.

Learning outcomes
1.To identify, evaluate and analyse the content of scientific literature as appropriate to the topic
2.To write using appropriate academic conventions, scientific language and referencing conventions
3.To interpret scientific data and explain the experimental processes that resulted in that data.
4.To work in a group to design an experimental programme to test a hypothesis or research question arising from a previously published research paper.

Skills outcomes
Experimental planning; discussing and defending ideas; problem-solving and questioning skills; summarising and synthesising information; academic writing.

The skills developed are generic but are practiced in a discipline specific context.

Syllabus

How to search literature and write a review. Designing experiments and linking them into a research programme. Critically evaluating data. Writing a grant proposal. How to prepare graphics and figures. Writing a scientific paper.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	1	1.00	1.00
Workshop	1	1.50	1.50
Workshop	1	2.00	2.00
Lecture	2	1.00	2.00
Lecture	3	2.00	6.00
Tutorial	1	2.00	2.00
Tutorial	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			131.50
Total Contact hours			18.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through the tutorials, workshops and coursework surgeries and through the quality of assessed work submitted.

e.g Feedback session on formative lit review; feedback on draft of assessment 1 in tutorial; feedback on oral presentation of research ideas in tutorial.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Literature Review	Write a 800 word literature review on the properties and uses of GFP	0.00
Assignment	Design a flow chart based on a figure from published paper showing how the data were produced (3 A4 pages max)	40.00
Research Proposal	Write an application for a grant to extend work described in a paper selected by the tutor and studied in the tutorials (5 A4 pages plus proforma)	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students who plagiarise or fail the formative literature review will need to rewrite taking on board feedback. All coursework is supported by detailed briefing documents on Minerva, an introductory lecture and tutorials.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 15/03/2023

Disclaimer

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• Undergraduate module catalogue
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