PERS30060 Research Thesis with Biostatis

Academic Year 2022/2023

The aim is to engage students in a piece of applied/translational research; the area of research could fall into one of the main areas of current academic faculty expertise and interest: exercise science, exercise physiology, sport rehabilitation, sport and exercise psychology and sport and exercise biomechanics. The engagement of students in research will be achieved by using a group-based work structure where up to 5 students will work together on a single project under the direct supervision of a designated research thesis supervisor. In addition, students will attend specific biostatistics lectures and accompanying computer-aided laboratory-based classes.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Phase #1a (Semester I): During this phase of the module (semester I) an emphasis will be placed on the critical analysis of scientific literature, exploration of key research methodologies and the ethical conduct of research. Each student group will be guided through the stages of the research process by the module co-ordinator and their designated research thesis supervisor. This module will build on the concepts developed in Research Methods and Dissertation I (PHTY30120). Some guiding lectures will be delivered on how to perform robust and methodologically rigorous research. Topics will include critical analysis of scientific literature, the conduct of ethically responsible research and exploration of key research methodologies. Each student group will be required to submit a detailed study protocol linked to the research study that they will undertake in collaboration with their designated research thesis supervisor.

Phase #1b (Semester I): In this phase of the module students will be introduced to basic statistical procedures that are frequently used in health and performance science research and practice. It assumes existing knowledge of types of data, the normal distribution and descriptive statistics, along with a familiarity with SPSS.

Phase #2 (Semester II): In the second phase of this module each student group student will conduct their applied/translational research study under the supervision of their designated research thesis supervisor. Some guiding lectures will be given on how to perform the research, including data collection, data analysis and presentation of results. Each student will be responsible for a specific part of the project, and therefore the module will be assessed at both the individual and group-level.

Indicative Module Content:

Phase #1a (Semester I): Topics will include critical analysis of scientific literature, the conduct of ethically responsible research and exploration of key research methodologies.

Phase #1b (Semester I): In this phase of the module students will be introduced to basic statistical procedures that are frequently used in health and performance science research and practice. It assumes existing knowledge of types of data, the normal distribution and descriptive statistics, along with a familiarity with SPSS.

Phase #2 (Semester II): Some guiding lectures will be given on how to perform the research, including data collection, data analysis and presentation of results.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

310
Autonomous Student Learning

63
Lectures

29
Tutorial

4
Computer Aided Lab

12
Total

418
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be delivered in a blended format. Blended learning is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional place-based and face-to-face classroom methods 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Journal: Individual scientific abstract. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

10
Presentation: Presentation of research protocol (group-based) Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

13
Practical Examination: Computer-based statistics laboratory examination. Week 12 n/a Graded No

10
Examination: End of semester examination. 1 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

15
Group Project: Development of a research protocol. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

13
Group Project: Draft peer-reviewed manuscript Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

20
Presentation: Presentation of research project (group-based) Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
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, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on examination performance will be provided upon the request of the student. In this instance the module coordinator will arrange to meet with the student to discuss the examination performance.

Name Role
Professor Eamonn Delahunt Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ricardo Piper Segurado Lecturer / Co-Lecturer