This course introduces students to concepts and practices of scientific research methodology. During the course, students will utilise the theoretical knowledge gained to critically review and synthesise the published literature, and to plan their upcoming research projects.

This course consists of lectures, tutorials and supervisor meetings.

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Oral assessment and presentation - preparation of a scientific poster outlining the student's proposed project plus a 2 minute spoken summary of the poster (60%) - ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Set exercise - viva-style examination of the student's understanding of and plans for their research project (40%). ILOs 1, 3, 4, 6, 7.

The course aims to provide students with a critical understanding of research approach and methodology as applied to modern biomedical research. Students will have the opportunity to appraise different types of scientific research, and to examine critically the different steps within a research project. Students will demonstrate their understanding and competence through the development of the study design for their own research project, including hypothesis setting, literature review and project work plans.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. critically analyse published literature in a research area, and from this ascertain a scientific question for a research project;

2. develop hypotheses and design scientific experiments to address the hypotheses for the research project;

3. critically evaluate scientific methods relevant to the research question;

4. design a strategy for data analysis that leads to a defined outcome;

5. design research in line with accepted research ethics, and legislation involving animal experimentation and research involving humans;

6. select and succinctly summarise the key information in a complex research project, and effectively communicate this information to others;

7. discuss and defend their research aims and approaches with in-depth awareness of the strengths and caveats of the research project

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.