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PU5531: RESEARCH METHODS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE (2016-2017)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

This course will equip students with the skills and information needed to appraise and undertake nutrition research in a professional manner. You will acquire the skills and information needed to: formulate a general aim and specific research questions and objectives; design a study; writing a research proposal and protocol, collect and manage data and critically appraise the data in the context of other relevant research and present the findings of a scientific study. In addition students will develop their knowledge of the standards, requirements and professionalism required to conduct high quality rigorous research.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Foresterhill Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Kirsty Kiezebrink

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)
  • MSc Human Nutrition

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Course Aims: The overall aim of this course is to develop the skills required to design and conduct an independent piece of research within the field of nutrition. Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course you will be able to: 1. To describe the strengths and limitations of randomised-controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control and qualitative study designs. 2. To explain how hypotheses are tested in such studies, and to appreciate that the methods are used in making aetiological inference and in evaluating preventive measures. 3. To appreciate the issues that are important in assessing the methodological quality and ethical rigour of research studies and be able to apply these. 4. To provide an introduction to critical appraisal which allows the reader to assess the methodological quality of research studies and papers. 5. To describe the application of systematic review methods to nutrition. 6. To develop skills in research governance and organisation. 7. To demonstrate and understanding of Professional Conduct and the nutritionists’ Code of Ethics.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

 

1 two-hour written exam (70%); Group work protocol report (1-A4 page) plus 15 minute group presentation (15%); 1 essay (2500 words) 15%

Resit -

Oral examination as currently standard across CLSM

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

None.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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