Unit information: Research Portfolio in 2018/19

Unit name	Research Portfolio
Unit code	ANAT30007
Credit points	40
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Spear
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	N/A
Co-requisites	Advanced Dissection
School/department	School of Anatomy
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

Students will use dissection findings to pursue an original project which relates specifically to their cadaveric subject. Information will be mainly sought from scientific literature, but not exclusively as the basis of the research will be in variations, procedures and pathology encountered during dissection. To this end students may also make measurements e.g. size of lesion and observations e.g. tissue integration for an implanted device which can be discussed as part of the dissertation. Findings will also be communicated in the form of a poster. As the dissertation focuses on dissection findings, an additional essay will allow important anatomical themes such as ethics and law to be researched and discussed, and finally a reflective exercise will encourage students to contemplate on the value of dissection, the importance of anatomy in medical education, the skills acquired as part of the unit and the altruistic act of donation. These four elements (dissertation, poster, essay & reflection) constitute the research portfolio.

This unit aims to enable students to:

• gather information from the primary scientific and/or clinical literature and to critically evaluate the material and appraise competing theories or studies.
• further investigate observations made with the dissection room
• present original findings and ideas to a specialist audience in written and oral forms

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this unit students will:

1. demonstrate the ability to conduct independent scientific research and collect valid data/make observations as appropriate
2. interpret, analyse and evaluate scientific and clinical data;
3. summarise and present results appropriately;
4. interpret their findings within the context of current published research.

Teaching Information

Portfolio planning and discussion meetings with project supervisors.

Assessment Information

The Research Portfolio consists of:

1 x 10,000 word dissertation (80%)

1 x Poster presentation and handout (20%)

Assessment weightings are provided in brackets.

Reading and References

Student to select as required for Research portfolio.

The Journal of Anatomy, Clinical Anatomy and International Journal of Morphology are an excellent starting point.