| Unit name | Research Methods and Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | VETS30035 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Hezzell |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
All 1st, 2nd and 3rd year units |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
All other 4th year units |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Initial lectures will cover experimental design, the research process and data analysis methods. Each student will undertake an individual in-depth exploration of a topic relevant to their programme of study, involving the planning and execution of a piece of original research. Each student completes an individual piece of research with support from academic staff.
Aims:
The dissertation will be expected to be in the style of a research thesis and a high first-class mark would indicate that the work was of publishable quality. Students will also be assessed via preparation and presentation of a poster summarising their findings.
At the end of this unit students will be able to:
1. Select an appropriate research topic with guidance.
2. Show evidence of extended knowledge and understanding of the specific area chosen.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the application of the principles of experimental design, the principles of survey design, and the principles of qualitative research for different sorts of research questions.
4. Justify the use of different forms of control and balance in the design of experimental, survey and qualitative research protocols.
5. Appreciate the role of single subject and case studies in the advancement of science.
6. Demonstrate understanding of the ethical issues relating to the use of human and non-human subjects in research.
7. Critically evaluate published research including the designs used and the analysis of data in scientific reports and articles.
8. Generate and test hypotheses using an appropriate experimental, observational or critical review approach.
9. Choose the most appropriate statistical test for quantitative data to be analysed for significant differences or correlations, and perform statistical hypotheses testing using continuous, ordinal and frequency data.
10. Explain methods available for the analysis of qualitative data and be able to perform simple tests of association on such data.
11. Analyse data and produce an overall synthesis and evaluation of the project work.
12. Demonstrate suitable oral and written communication skills including appropriate referencing.
Dissertation Support
Typical Project Outline
1) Choice of research topic, identification of potential supervisor(s) and refinement of study design
2) Project and supervisor(s) approved by Unit Lead
3) Application(s) for ethical approval
4) In depth background reading and preparation of literature review
5) Data collection and analysis
6) Dissertation writing
7) Preparation and presentation of poster
The passmark for this unit is 40%
Formative feedback will be provided on a written draft of the Literature Review.
Summative assessments as follows:
Practical performance during project work: 20%
Dissertation: 70%
Final presentation of findings: 10%
Resits:
A referred Dissertation must be resubmitted by date to be set by the VN Faculty Examination Board subject to the current University and VN guidelines. In this event, the practical performance mark (20%) will be carried forward. The final presentation (10%) will be reassessed if the 40% passmark for this element has not been met at the initial sitting.
All units must be passed in order to pass this year of study. There will be an opportunity to resit the Dissertation and Dissertation presentation if required to do so.
The resit opportunity for the VN Programmes is routinely scheduled during the University resit window (Late August / early September). Exceptionally, the final year resit period shall be scheduled to dovetail with the Veterinary Science Programme's resit opportunity every July.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. VETS30035).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
