Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Written report 15000 Words | 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written report Students may be allowed to re-submit the research report (capped mark 40%) as decided by the examination board. 15000 Words | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Critically review relevant behaviour change literature to inform the design of an original research study and formulate novel research hypotheses or questions.
2. Apply an awareness of relevant ethical principles and issues to ensure successful approval of a project proposal by the Department's/University's ethics committee, and in the conducting of the research, handling of data, and subsequent write-up and dissemination of results.
3. Identify, justify, and appropriately use and describe sophisticated methods for data collection and analysis, and so that the study can be fully replicated.
4. Accurately and appropriately present the results, and critically interpret the findings in relation to theoretical principles and empirical research.
5. Evidence criticality and awareness of the broader research landscape when considering any limitations, implications and applications of the research and its findings and how the study can be developed in future research.
6. Communicate the findings in a written report that maximises and capitalises on the amount of words available to MSc researchers.
7. Document, maintain and be able to evidence an appropriate and rigorous record of the research process, from initial idea to write-up of the research.
8. Utilise self-directed problem solving and analytical skills to demonstrate progress as a learner, autonomy, and independent learning abilities, as necessary for continued professional development.
Brief description
Students will design and conduct a substantial piece of independent research that is novel, ambitious, and advances scholarship in behaviour change – as required of students of higher degrees. As such, they are expected to undertake the work necessary to design, plan, and run a study based on suitable hypotheses or research questions with the help of a supervisor. The supervisor's role is to provide guidance to the student throughout the project, but students are encouraged to work as independently as possible. The amount of time spent on the project may vary according to the nature of the study, however students should expect to spend at least 600 hours working on their project.
Content
· The supervisory process: What students and supervisors can expect from each other; how supervision is provided and what it entails.
· Research ethics: Relevant regulatory frameworks (e.g., the BPS Code of Human Research Ethics, 2014), writing an ethics application, the principle of informed consent, avoiding ethical perils and pitfalls, etc.
· Research design, methods, and analysis refresher: A brief summary of the core module Research with People, to remind students of the relevant principles vis-à-vis their evolving dissertation ideas and give them the opportunity to brush up on their practical analytical skills.
· Writing up your dissertation: Focusing on the structural and procedural conventions of writing an MSc dissertation document, and associated rules.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Adaptability and resilience | The taught content, ethical application/review process, and supervision itself, while geared towards helping the student produce a successful dissertation report, have the secondary aim of engendering adaptability and resilience. |
| Co-ordinating with others | Students are expected to maintain a professional relationship with their supervisor and contribute to its effective operation. |
| Creative Problem Solving | Independent project work and creative problem solving is one of the central goals of the module; students will have relative autonomy – and will be encouraged to demonstrate creativity – to solve a research “problem” of their choosing. The identification of a research topic with associated research hypotheses/questions will require the student to develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. |
| Critical and analytical thinking | Students will develop critical and analytical skills they can apply to all stages of the research process, from study conception through to dissemination of results. |
| Digital capability | Online literature search and synthesis of digitally available literature: the project requires learning how to use scientific search engines to access scientific papers relevant to the research. Students will apply prior learning on how to use statistical analysis software or qualitative data analysis software. the statistical software package SPSS to a relatively professional level of expertise. They will have to prepare, input, and store data. |
| Professional communication | Students will understand the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to the best advantage. They will learn to be clear and direct in their aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic and to focus on the objectives of their argument or discussion. |
| Real world sense | The entire module has direct relevance to personal development and career planning as there are number of key and transferable skills integral to the process of producing a project. These include: project development; team working; time management; communication skills; numerical and literacy skills; presentation skills. |
| Reflection | Reflection is inherently important in this module, as a large research project of this nature represents a substantial undertaking that foregrounds the need for self-awareness and reflection. |
| Subject Specific Skills | The project is the culmination of student learning about behaviour change, developed throughout the degree scheme. Students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of key aspects and concepts of behaviour change. Subject specific skills to be developed throughout the module include: Assessment of scientific methods in behaviour change; Differentiation between quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry and their appropriate use; etc. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7