Unit name | Research Skills |
---|---|
Unit code | VETSM0042 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Dr. Rooney |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
The aim of this unit is to provide students with an advanced training in research methods that will prepare them for their research project (VETSM0040). The unit will introduce (i) how to search for and review the scientific literature, including the use of electronic search engines; (ii) how to read research papers: deciding which papers to focus on and how to take notes and make summaries; (iii) how to source, handle, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, including the use of statistical software; (iv) how to present results in a clear and unambiguous manner; (v) how to write technical reports and scientific research papers, including citing references and avoiding plagiarism; (vi) how to deliver effective oral presentations to a variety of audiences; (vii) how to conform to Health & Safety principles when carrying our research, including how to prepare a risk assessment. At the end of the unit students will be asked to reflect back on the skills that they have learnt and to consider how these can benefit their future careers.
On completing this unit students should be able to demonstrate that they have acquired a research skills platform which will allow them to carry out independent research. In particular, they should be able to:
This unit will involve a mixture of lectures, case studies, plenary discussions and presentations. Practical sessions in a computer laboratory will provide the opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience using electronic search engines, bibliographic tools and statistical software. Much of the time allocated to this unit is intended for the student’s independent study (i.e. guided reading and reflection).
The student’s performance on this unit will be assessed using:
The following are some examples of basic texts - others will be recommended by the individual tutors during their teaching sessions: