PHYS40170 Fundamentals of Physiological Research

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module is designed to teach students the skills that are required to successfully complete a physiological research project and to effectively communicate their findings. Fundamentals of Physiological Research will include sessions that will develop important transferable skills that are relevant to a broad range of careers in the biomedical field and essential for a career in research.
Throughout the module students will consider experimental design, research ethics (human and animal), data analysis, statistical methods, interpretation and presentation of data, and reviewing scientific papers. A major overall aim of this module is to develop the necessary skills to critically evaluate and interpret scientific manuscripts and be able to communicate scientific ideas and results effectively. This module will form an essential foundation on which students will develop their fourth year research projects.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Through engagement with this module a student should be able to:-
1. Demonstrate competent ability to construct effective database search strategies.
2. Clearly present an experimental hypothesis and cite relevant scientific literature in support of their hypothesis.
3. Describe the structure of a scientific report and explain the purpose of each section.
4. Recognise & explain the significance of elements of experimental design including samples, populations, control groups, sample sizes, sampling techniques.
5. Summarise datasets in the form of graphs, tables, histograms etc.
6. Explain the principles and processes involved in applying statistical tests.
7. Select appropriate statistical tests on the basis of the hypothesis to be tested and the conditions that must be satisfied to apply a limited number of parametric and non-parametric tests.
8. Perform a range of statistical tests using a computer package (SPSS or Graphpad Prism).
9. Use basic oral presentation techniques and recognise and avoid common pitfalls.
10. Abstract a scientific report.
11. Critically evaluate scientific reports (find and accurately describe major & minor flaws in design, execution, analysis, description or interpretation).
12. Rationally and reasonably discuss the ethical and legal issues relating to science and be able to recognize ethical issues in everyday reporting of science.
13. Communicate the importance of Public Engagement of Science (PES) and explain their own research project, verbally and in writing, in a form that is consistent with the aims of PES.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Tutorial

12
Computer Aided Lab

6
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

20
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Teaching will involve a mixture of small-group tutorials/lectures. Students will learn via peer and group work (discussing project proposals); critical writing (literature review); and student presentations. 
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
Continuous Assessment: After completion of the statistics workshops students will be given example experimental data sets for analysis and interpretation. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

20
Presentation: 4th Year Project Background Presentation Week 12 n/a Graded No

35
Attendance: Students will be assesseed on their participation in tutorials and their ability to verbally present their planned research hypothesis and experimental aims. Varies over the Trimester n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

10
Continuous Assessment: Written literature review Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

35

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
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?

Not yet recorded.