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MDCS42150

Academic Year 2025/2026

Primary Care Res Dissertation (MDCS42150)

Subject:
Medicine Clinical Science
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
30
Module Coordinator:
Professor Walter Cullen
Credit Split by Trimester:
Autumn 15
Spring 15
Trimester:
2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The purpose of this 30-credit module is to prepare an original piece of research in the area of primary care as a Masters dissertation. This will done under the supervision of experts in the relevant clinical areas and in research methodologies. It is envisaged that students will work towards producing a manuscript that can be submitted to a peer reviewed journal. As well as their supervisor(s), students are expected to attend a series of webinars covering cores aspects of research methodologies.


About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

As part of the Research Dissertation, students undertake to plan, enact and disseminate an original piece of research in the relevant clinical areas (i.e., mental health / MSK), under the supervision of faculty. As such by the end of the module the student should be able to
• Identify a research question related to his / her practice i
• Undertake a literature review on this topic
• Design and plan a project
• Obtain the necessary permissions and ethical procedures
• Enact the study, specifically collect and analyse data
• Write a scientific manuscript that could be submitted to a peer reviewed journal.

Indicative Module Content:

Indicative Module Content involves:

A series of 4-6 half-day workshops / seminars / webinars will support students in planning and enacting their projects. These will focus on the following areas
• Getting started: identifying a research question, choosing the appropriate methodology, common pitfalls and challenges
• Outlining an appropriate methodology and obtaining the necessary permissions and ethical approvals
• Project management, data collection and data management
• Analysis and preparing your manuscript I
• Analysis and preparing your manuscript II





Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

240

Project Supervision

10

Autonomous Student Learning

570

Total

820


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The seminars / webinars will be held during the second year of the programme and will run in parallel with / after clinical placements.

Students will be supported to conduct a project that is: a) related to their own current clinical practice, b) related to the clinical practice of their practice supervisor or c) related to ongoing research projects that is being led by the programme directing team. As well as workshops, students will be assigned an academic supervisor (who will advise on study design and enactment) and a practice supervisor (clinical issues).

As well as seminars / webinars, students will be assigned an academic supervisor (who will advise on study design and enactment) and a practice supervisor (clinical practice in orthopaedics, MSK issues).

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Submission of Study Protocol Week 10 Autumn Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No
20
No
Assignment(Including Essay): Submission of literature review related to work Week 9 Autumn Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No
20
No
Thesis/Dissertation: Submission of final thesis Week 15 Spring Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No
60
No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Dissertations will be given regular feedback in person/audio/video or written formats at regular intervals.

Name Role
Seamus Morris Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr John Broughan Tutor
Dr Geoff McCombe Tutor