Unit information: Advanced Concepts and Skills in 2023/24

Unit name	Advanced Concepts and Skills
Unit code	PHPHM0011
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Brennan
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

This unit aims to provide training in core skills and techniques that are vital to effectively read, interpret and criticise the scientific literature, as well as to analyse and communicate scientific findings. It includes: statistics, data quantitation, limits of scientific understanding, critical reading of research literature, scientific writing and presentation and ethics of animal and human experimentation.

In addition, there are lectures and demonstrations to provide training in laboratory techniques used in research. This includes advanced technical workshops, where students gain insight into the use of the latest techniques.

Your learning on this unit

By the end of the unit:

• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to apply common statistical and analytical methods relevant to biomedical science
• Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to design scientific experiments incorporating a critical approach to scientific literature and self-assessment and critique of proposed experimental design.

How you will learn

Lectures, workshops and online tutorial exercises on statistics.

How you will be assessed

• Timed assessment in the January exam period (50%), consisting of statistical analysis, graphical representation and interpretation of a data set. Short answer questions will be used to assess interpretation of statistical methods. This summative assessment tests statistical understanding and is preceded by a formative assessment in November, using the same format.
• Poster presentation of experimental design (20%) with self assessment and critique of strengths and weaknesses of proposed experiment (30%)

Resources

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. PHPHM0011).

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 University 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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.