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SL40107: Masters research project (BB40261)

[Page last updated: 26 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 48 [equivalent to 96 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 960
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWES 15%, CWOI 10%, CWPI 15%, CWRI 60%
Assessment Detail:
  • Literature review (CWES 15%)
  • Final project report in the form of a Research Paper (CWRI 60%)
  • Supervisor's assessment of performance on project (CWPI 15%)
  • Presentation on Research Project (CWOI 10%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must take BB30259 OR take SL30077
Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to:
  • demonstrate the intellectual, time- and resource-management and technical requirements for productive, rigorous and responsible scientific investigation and reporting;
  • write scientifically at the level of a primary research paper;
  • demonstrate technical, time and resource management, analytical, interpretative and literature-accessing skills appropriate to the undertaking and presentation of their project.



Aims:

To further develop skills in planning and undertaking a scientific investigation in biosciences at the level of advanced research.

To develop skills in the analysis and interpretation of scientific data.

To further develop report writing and communication skills.



Skills: Learning & studying (T/F/A), Written communication (T/F/A), Numeracy & computation (T/F/A), Data acquisition, handling & analysis (T/F/A), Laboratory or Fieldwork skills (T/F/A), Information technology (T/F/A), Problem solving (T/F/A), Information handling & retrieval (T/F/A), Interpersonal & teamwork skills (T/F/A), Working independently (T/F/A).

Content: All stages are undertaken under the guidance of an academic supervisor. The planning stage involves defining the problem and devising an appropriate strategy to investigate it within constraints of time and resources. Risk assessment. Investigation stage involves the acquisition of (usually quantitative) data. Experimental design. Carrying out quantitative techniques, evaluating sources of error. The analysis and interpretation stage involves the use of appropriate statistical techniques and the evaluation of results in relation to published work. The final phase is to communicate the outcome of the project in the form of a written report.

Course availability:

SL40107 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Life Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.