| Unit name | Research Methods and Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Unit code | VETS30035 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Hezzell |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
All 1st, 2nd and 3rd year units |
| Co-requisites |
All other 4th year units |
| School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Initial lectures and workshops will cover experimental design, and analysis methods. An individual in-depth exploration of one aspect of Veterinary Nursing or Bioveterinary Science (for those students on the Veterinary Nursing and Bioveterinary Science programme) or Veterinary Nursing or none Veterinary Nursing project, relevant to behaviour and welfare(for those students on the Veterinary Nursing and Companion Animal Behaviour programme), involving the planning and execution of a piece of original research. Each student completes an individual piece of research under the supervision of one or more members of 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 a presentation of findings. They will prepare and present a poster summarising their dissertation project.
At the end of this unit students will be able to:
1) 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.
2) Justify the use of different forms of control and balance in the design of experimental, survey and
qualitative research protocols.
3) Appreciate the role of single subject and case studies in the advancement of science.
4) Critically evaluate published research including the designs used and the analysis of data in scientific reports and articles.
5) Select an appropriate research topic with guidance.
6) Show evidence of extended knowledge and understanding of the specific area.
7) Generate and test hypotheses using an appropriate experimental, observational or critical review approach.
8) Choose the most appropriate statistical test for quantitative data to be analysed
for significant differences or correlation, and perform tests of statistical significance to test hypotheses using interval, ordinal and frequency data.
9) Explain methods available for the analysis of qualitative data and be able to perform simple tests of association on such data.
10) Explain the use of multivariate statistical techniques for predicting outcomes and classifying data.
11) Analyse data and produce an overall synthesis and evaluation of the project work.
12) Demonstrate understanding of the ethical issues relating to the use of humans and non-human subjects in research.
13) Demonstrate of suitable oral and written communication skills including appropriate referencing.
During term 1 (weeks 1-10):
Weeks 11-13: Background reading, preparation of review essay
Weeks 13-18: Data collection and analysis
Weeks 18-20: Dissertation writing
Final presentations timetabled with other final year exams
The passmark for this unit is 40%
Formative Assessment:
Knowledge and skills of experimental design and analysis will be assessed formatively during the lecture and workshops.
The dissertation will be assessed as follows:
Practical performance during project work: 20% (ILO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13)
Dissertation: 70% (ILO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13)
Final presentation of findings: 10% (ILO13)
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.
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.
