PHTY30120 Research Methods

Academic Year 2024/2025

This module aims to enable the student, through a series of 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 research 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: formulating a research question, writing a research proposal, the research process and study design, sampling and measurement, questionnaire design, research interviewing, lab data processing, literature searching, the systematic review process and citation management, scientific writing, critical appraisal of literature, and both quantitative and qualitative statistical methods and analysis. Research integrity and 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.

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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, research integrity 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.

Indicative Module Content:

Formulating a research question,
Writing a research proposal,
The research process and study design,
Sampling and measurement,
Questionnaire design,
Research interviewing,
Literature and Database searching, Prospero
The systematic review process,
Referencing guidelines, citation management and scientific writing,
Critical appraisal of literature,
Quantitative and Qualitative study designs, statistical methods and data analysis,
Laboratory and wearable sensor data processing,
Research Integrity
Research Ethics Application Process,
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Theory and Practical Application,

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

27
Small Group

2
Computer Aided Lab

2
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Total

121
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures with supplementary information online in the VLE
Tutor-led CAL sessions in library skills and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) use
Group based small group tutorials and oral presentations to support development of the Research Protocol
Workshop to support development of a feasible written group research 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

Not yet recorded.

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
• Self-assessment activities

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 with the supervisor and at the later presentation to the supervisor.

Name Role
Professor Catherine Blake Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Susan Boyle Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Eamonn Delahunt Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Catherine Doody Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Deirdre Hurley Osing Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Joel Rookwood Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Keith Smart Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Nessa Waters Lecturer / Co-Lecturer