2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SPSC5320M Project Work and Dissertation

60 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Dr Sarah Astill
Email: S.L.Astill@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Feb to 30 Sep View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisites

SPSC5131M	Functional Sports Anatomy and Clinical Assessment
SPSC5132M	Musculoskeletal Medicine and Sport Injuries
SPSC5134M	The Sport and Exercise Medicine Practitioner I

Co-requisites

SPSC5202M	Exercise Physiology, Health and Sports Nutrition
SPSC5204M	Clinical Exercise Prescription
SPSC5235M	The Sport and Exercise Medicine Practitioner II

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module will provide students the opportunity to develop their experience of SEM in practice, allowing them to apply the principles learned in the other modules in critical analysis or assessment of one area of study in greater depth. Project work will involve independent data analysis, requiring critical assessment and evaluation of outcomes. This will require students to be conversant with latest professional practices, and devise an appropriate study area that will potentially advance the field in either theory or practice. This will be developed in consultation with assigned supervisor and appropriate placement allocated. Tutorials will be provided to refresh student’s approach to experimental design and ethical considerations. Regular online and personal contact will ensure continued progress. Group sessions will allow peer feedback, and identification of relevant issues (e.g. ethical concerns). Assessment consist of a research project protocol, poster presentation, a process mark and dissertation.

Objectives

The objectives are for students to:

- build on understanding the medical requirements required at a sporting event or club OR in a clinical setting;

- apply skills that enable effective practice;

- conduct an appropriate data/information gathering exercise;

- generate a synthesis of findings in the context of current literature/practice.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of appropriate research methodologies;

2. define appropriate ethical practice when conducting research;

3. appropriately handle a confidential dataset;

4. carry out suitable data analysis;

5. independently evaluate the results;

6. critically assess and discuss the implications of findings;

7. interpret and present the results in a manner appropriate to the subject matter.

Syllabus

The module will cover the following:

- Introductory lectures and online material will be provided to introduce students to research methods, as this will be the first such activity for many; this includes how to undertake systematic reviews, and how to undertake qualitative data collection and analyses.

- A journal club that will help students develop the capability to critically appraise SEM literature and the application of such to real world context.

- Students may be assigned a clinical tutor who will liaise with appropriate venues for access to clubs, clinics etc.;

- In addition to email contact, tutorials will assess progress on data collection etc. in Semester 2; in Semester 3 this frequency will be reduced;

- Project work could involve laboratory-based experiments, but there will also be a focus on opportunities to design and evaluate SEM activities in context. Examples under consideration are: rugby & football clubs routinely collect GPS data during matches, but rarely analyse performance in this way.

Students are likely to find systematic reviews helpful in developing good practice, and also feasible to accommodate within F/T employment.

While SEM is increasingly recognised as a discipline and positions incorporated within various clubs and sports, appropriate guideline for practice and/or governance documents for organisations are often lacking.

For P/T students we will extend the opportunity to run dissertation work into year 3.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	7	2.00	14.00
In Course Assessment	1	4.00	4.00
In Course Assessment	2	3.00	6.00
Supervision	6	1.00	6.00
Lectures	5	1.00	5.00
Independent online learning hours			65.00
Private study hours			500.00
Total Contact hours			35.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			600.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

A member of the academic or clinical teaching staff will be allocated as tutor to individual students, and will meet with students regularly to assess progress, discuss issues arising, and set objectives for the next stage in the research.

The dissertation format and progress will be reviewed and discussed with the mentor on a regular basis.

Students will receive guidance during training sessions on research methods, ethics etc.

Feedback from the project proposal and oral presentation will help direct final dissertation content, and preparation for a conference poster submission.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Research Proposal	Project proposal (protocol with rationale/ synthesis of the evidence) 1,500 words	15.00
Poster	Individual project poster	20.00
In-course Assessment	Process mark	5.00
Group Project/Project/Dissertation	Project Report in appropriate journal article format, e.g. MSSE, BJSM (5,000 words)	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Short project proposal will be assessed by supervisor; Seminar presentation will be delivered in front of peers and supervisory team, module lead etc.; Process mark by the supervisor will provide an assessment of the student’s enthusiasm, application, independence and intellectual contribution; Dissertation will be assessed by 2 assessors (supervisor and an independent assessor).

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 21/12/2023 14:48:10

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