| Unit name | Study Design |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BRMSM0059 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Parker |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
BRMS_1_introstat |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
The aims of this unit are to:
On successful completion of the unit, a student should be able to:
1. Formulate an appropriate research question for an epidemiological study.
2. Justify why this research question needs to be addressed in light of existing knowledge.
3. Select an appropriate epidemiological study design and analysis strategy to answer the research question.
4. Design an epidemiological study by writing a study protocol which includes a detailed statistical analysis plan.
5. Carry out a sample size calculation for the primary hypothesis of a study.
• There will be 10 teaching weeks.
• Teaching will include learning activities including lectures, small group work, discussions, individual tasks, and practicals.
• Directed and self-directed learning will include activities such as reading, accessing web-based supplementary materials, critical analysis, and completion of assessments.
• 75 hours of directed and self-directed learning. The directed learning includes 25 hours of teaching and the self-directed learning includes activities such as reading, quizzes, and multi-media learning.
Formative assessment: There will be opportunities in both group and individual settings for students to receive feedback on writing progress. Students will receive feedback for learning in the form of an oral poster presentation of their research project in a research colloquium with feedback from tutors and peers.
Summative assessment will be through a written piece of coursework (100%). Students will be required to prepare a 5000-word report (word limit excludes references) on their design for an epidemiological study from a given choice of topics. The report should focus on the methods and methodological challenges (e.g., selection bias and loss to follow-up) of the proposed study design. The report must include a detailed analysis plan and a sample size calculation. The students will be provided with a structured template, which will indicate the level of detail required for each section (e.g., approximate word count for each section or an indication of the percentage contribution to the overall mark) (ILOs 1-5).
A mark of 50% will be required to pass the unit. (ILOs 1-5)
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. BRMSM0059).
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 Faculty 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. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
