PHTY30120 Research Methods

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module aims to enable the student, through a series of online lectures/lectures, directed tutorials, a high degree of autonomous learning, and guided by feedback from oral presentations, to produce, unique to their group: their own, advanced, research proposal, compatible with the research strategy of UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science. In the context of their own research ideas, their group proposal should credibly plan to deal with various commonly encountered research problems, issues, and procedures that their research would encounter, in the event that their plan is initiated.
A variety of methods of quantitative and qualitative data collection and relevant methods of statistical analysis will be examined, including: study design, questionnaire design, lab data processing, literature searching, the systematic review process and citation management, critical appraisal of literature, and both quantitative and qualitative statistical methods and analysis. Ethical issues relating to research with human subjects are addressed; the concepts of informed consent are considered in relation to ethics and human rights in line with international, national and institutional policies, and students consider the definitions of vulnerable groups and ethical issues associated with informed consent for these populations.
Students engage in tutorial groups to present their developing research ideas, to develop library information skills, and to gain SPSS CAL experience.
The developed group research proposal requires it and all supporting documentation to be submitted in electronic form, for checking by anti-plagiarism software.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: 1. Working in a supervised group, identify and orally present their own initial idea(s) for research compatible with the research strategy of the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science. 2. As a group, present their revised and/or developed ideas further, highlighting issues such as the need for, and feasibility of their research idea. 3. Demonstrate knowledge of study designs, methodologies, appropriate statistical analysis and interpretation, and ethical issues relating to research with human subjects. 4. Work with their group to produce and present a feasible, detailed, research proposal, compatible with the research strategy of the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science, in a manner that indicates a professional approach to devising a credible, well planned study.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Lectures

27
Computer Aided Lab

4
Total

121
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Online lectures/lectures with supplementary information online in the VLE. Led CAL sessions in library skills and statistical package use. Group based presentations and development of a feasible group proposal to do original research. 
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
Group Project: Oral presentation/online oral presentation of initial research question Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

2
Group Project: Written/online submission of group Research Proposal and submission to anti-plagiarism software. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

50
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: In course assessment: MCQ/timed online MCQ Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

40
Group Project: Oral presentation/online oral presentation of developed plan for completing Research Proposal Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

8

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
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
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The provisional (indicative) grade of the Brightspace ICA MCQ quiz will be automatically indicated by Brightspace on submission of the quiz by the student. . Feedback is given to groups presenting their developing Research Proposal to their group's supervisor, at the initial meeting/online meeting with the supervisor and at the later presentation/online presentation to the supervisor.

Name Role
Professor Catherine Blake Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Eamonn Delahunt Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Brona Fullen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Deirdre Hurley Osing Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Alice Kasemiire Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Keith Smart Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Diarmuid Stokes Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Nessa Waters Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22 Fri 13:00 - 14:50
Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 25, 26 Fri 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 25 Mon 16:00 - 17:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 24 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 25, 30 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20 Wed 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33 Wed 14:00 - 15:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 22 Wed 14:00 - 15:50
Computer Aided Lab Offering 6 Week(s) - 25 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
Computer Aided Lab Offering 6 Week(s) - 21 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Computer Aided Lab Offering 6 Week(s) - 26 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Computer Aided Lab Offering 7 Week(s) - 26 Mon 16:00 - 16:50
Computer Aided Lab Offering 7 Week(s) - 26 Tues 16:00 - 16:50
Computer Aided Lab Offering 7 Week(s) - 21 Tues 16:00 - 17:50
Spring