Unit name | Research Project |
---|---|
Unit code | VETSM0040 |
Credit points | 60 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
Unit director | Dr. Rooney |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Bristol Veterinary School |
Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
This unit provides an opportunity for students to gain experience of wildlife-related research. Students will develop their skills in topic selection, investigating the background context of their chosen project, research design and implementation, analysis and report writing. The project will culminate in the submission of (i) a literature review, and (ii) a scientific paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Acceptance of students onto the research project unit is conditional upon them successfully passing the taught component of this MSc programme.
On completing this unit students should have a deep understanding of their chosen project topic. They should also be familiar with the essential principles of research design in the context of wildlife health and conservation. It is expected that, as a minimum, students should be able to:
Group and one-to-one tutorials, will support students to select a project topic, develop a central research question and select the best methodological approach. Workshops and online resources will cover aspects of literature reviewing, analysis and writing. The Programme Director will approve all research projects and will check that each student has appropriate supervision, health and safety and ethical approval. The supervisors will advise and support the students throughout their projects, via regular discussion meetings.
The learning outcomes for this unit will be assessed using a combination of
Students will be expected to show considerable initiative in searching the literature for information on their chosen projects. It is expected that the students will refer to a diverse range of sources. Primary sources will include books, journals and other research sources accessible through the University library but, for some topics, it may be necessary to carry out more detailed (e.g. archive) research.
The following are some examples of generic research-orientated texts that students might find helpful: