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Summary

The Research Project is the largest single component of the MSc, contributing one third of the credits. This provides an opportunity to put all of your module-based learning from the course into action by undertaking worthwhile primary research (or in some circumstances to conduct a systematic review). Specifically, this will entail asking a good research question, selecting appropriate methods to answer that question, managing and analysing data appropriately, making valid inferences from results and expressing the findings clearly and logically. Ìý

You will be supported by a project supervisor and module tutors in: practicalities of research; developing a critical approach to the research of others; self-directed research and project design; writing a literature review; research ethics committee applications; conducting independent research; dissertation structure and preparing a professional dissertation; data analysis and interpretation; generating data for possible publication in a peer-reviewed journal, or a poster presentation at a relevant conference. Ìý

The research project is a compulsory component of the MSc Paediatrics and Child Health. The resulting dissertation is a substantive piece of work up to 10,000 words. We encourage high quality projects that can be published in high impact journals. Ìý

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

By taking this module, you will be able to:

1. Design, execute and complete an independent research project at postgraduate levelÌý

2. Conduct a thorough and appropriate literature review which shows an advanced level of critical appraisal and evaluationÌý

3. Present and justify your methods in a clear and understandable styleÌý

4. Analyse and present your findings logically, selecting appropriate statistical tests and/or qualitative data analysisÌý

5. Critically interpret your findings with reference to current literatureÌý

6. Make recommendations for clinical practice in response to your findings, that are appropriate given the scale and scope of the research projectÌý

7. Present your work to a wider audience

Who is this module for?

This is compulsory for students on all MSc Paediatrics and Child Health pathways.Ìý

Teaching and Learning Methods

Teaching and learning will be through one-to-one discussions with allocated supervisor(s) and self-directed learning. There will also be monthly project progress meetings with module tutorsÌý

Assessment

This module will be assessed by a dissertation of 10,000 words.

Selected Reading List

Organizing and Managing your Research; a practical guide for postgraduates. Renata Phelps, Kath Fisher and Alan Ellis 2007 : SAGE Publications.

‘Critical Reading: Making sense of research papers in life sciences and medicine’; Ben Yudkin 2006: Routledge.

‘How to write and illustrate a scientific paper’; Bjorn Gustavii 2003: Cambridge University Press.

‘Data Analysis and Presentation Skills’; Jackie Willis 2004: Wiley.