| Unit name | Project Proposal in Health Sciences |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MEDIM0016 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Holmes |
| 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 | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
In order to carry out a novel research project that will add useful information to your area of interest, you need to have a good understanding of the current knowledge, concepts and theories in this area. Robust research requires effective planning and good experimental study design to ensure that outcomes can be met, and conclusions are reliable. Furthermore, being able to convincingly communicate your research questions and how they will be answered is an important skill if you wish to secure research funding in the future. This unit covers the design, planning, writing and presentation of a research project proposal based on your individual chosen project. It ensures you have a good understanding of the background and the rationale for your project. It enables you to have a clear understanding of the aims of your project and the methods by which they will be achieved, as well as the plan for the timely conduct of your research.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is scheduled in the first teaching block of your programme and will be taught partly in parallel with Foundations in Health Sciences Research. You will begin this unit once you have chosen your research project and covered the introductory academic and research skills training sessions. It provides an important basis for the successful conduct of your research project which follows.
An overview of content
You will be given guidance on the expected structure and generic content of your research project proposal in a project / grant writing workshop. Guidance for your oral presentation will be given. Your project supervisor will provide subject and research-specific guidance. You will build experience in the acquisition and analysis of subject-specific information and the critical evaluation of scientific papers. You will formulate hypothesis-driven research questions and plan to apply relevant research methodology, statistical analysis and research ethics. Transferable skills including IT, scientific communication and organisation will be included.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have a thorough understanding of the context of your research area to enable you to identify unanswered questions from which testable hypotheses can be proposed. You will begin on your journey towards being an expert in your chosen subject with the academic, research and transferable skills to embark on your research project with knowledge and confidence.
Learning Outcomes
A project proposal workshop and interactive tutorials will prepare you for your assessments. You will learn through directed reading suggested by your supervisor, self-directed reading and through discussions and feedback from your project supervisor. You will learn through experience, applying the academic and research skills taught in Foundations of Health Sciences Research in the context of your own research project, i.e. finding, interpreting, reviewing, writing and presenting information relating to your area of research. You will learn through planning your research design and analysis strategy and explaining the experimental methodology relevant to your project, facilitated by your supervisor.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
You will submit a draft of your research proposal to your project supervisor for written feedback. Your proposal will include: a review of the literature relevant to the research project; hypothesis and aims; impact; plan of the proposed research, including the experimental design, methods and proposed analysis; ethical considerations; contingency plans; timetable and milestones; estimated resource costs; references. You will have the opportunity to practice your proposal presentation with your supervisor for verbal feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
If you do not pass the unit, you will normally be given the opportunity to take a reassessment as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. Decisions on the award of reassessment will normally be taken after all taught units of the year have been completed. Reassessment will normally be in a similar format to the original assessment that has been failed.
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. MEDIM0016).
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.
