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| Unit name |
Research Project |
| Unit code |
PHPH30009 |
| Credit points |
40 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Kennedy |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
PHPH20009: Neurophysiology, PHPH20010: Developmental Physiology of the Specialized Cell
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Life Sciences |
Description including Unit Aims
Students will conduct an original research project and present their findings in the form of a research dissertation and oral presentation. The unit aims to encourage students to investigate a specific research question in considerable depth and to develop an understanding of the process of scientific research. The project can take a variety of forms:
- Experimental projects are lab-based and involve the design, conduct and analysis of wet experiments, in which the students collect their own data, or occasionally dry experiments where the students analyse the results of existing data.
- Non-experimental projects are based on research of the scientific literature and require a detailed literature review on a particular research question and to propose a programme of further research.
- Teaching projects are based on the assessment of teaching methods and materials used in the undergraduate science and professional courses, for example assessing whether the effectiveness of the human patient simulator as a tool for teaching specific aspects of normal and abnormal physiology.
- Undergraduate Ambassador Scheme project students research and develop an original physiology/biology based teaching project in partnership with teachers at a local secondary school. This involves the students developing original teaching resources and using them to deliver teaching to A-level pupils on a selected aspect of the A-level curriculum, along with assessment of their effectiveness. A second part of the project involves devising an original physiological experiment that can be conducted by A-level pupils using the resources available in the Faculty teaching labs.
Students list their preferences from a wide range of projects and every attempt is made to allocate them a project according to their first three choices. Lab time for experimental projects is limited to 240 hours.
Intended Learning Outcomes
- A deep understanding of a specific scientific or educational question
- The ability to gather information from the primary scientific and/or educational literature and to critically evaluate the material and appraise competing theories.
- The ability to present original findings and ideas to a specialist audience in written and oral forms.
Teaching Information
Project planning and discussion meetings with project supervisors. Training in experimental techniques and data analysis, if required.
Assessment Information
• Project Review Essay (20%). This consists of a 200-word abstract and a 2500-word essay that reviews the background literature related to their project question. • Project Dissertation (60%). All projects, consist of a 200-word abstract and a 8000-word dissertation. • Supervisor s report (10%). • Oral presentation (10%).
Reading and References
Reviews and key references from the current scientific and/or educational literature
