Module manager: Flavia Pires Rodrigues
Email: f.piresrodrigues@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
Entry to MSc in Dental Materials or MSc in Digital Dentistry.
| DSUR5022M | Research Methods Ethics and Statistics |
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module is the essential research component of the MSc in Digital Dentistry and MSc in Dental Materials. It will prepare students with the relevant skills to successfully undertake scientific research. Unless your programme is designed to be delivered fully online, your programme and modules will be delivered predominantly on campus. These teaching activities will be supported by the use of digital tools to enhance your learning and experience. The catalogue provides details of your module and the teaching methods used to deliver your module (for example, lecture, seminar, tutorial, practical). It does not necessarily provide you with information about the mode of delivery for specific learning activities on your module (whether these will be on campus or delivered digitally). Information about the delivery mode for learning and teaching activities for your modules will be published in the timetable and in the Minerva area for your modules. You can access your personalised timetable through Minerva or our UniLeeds app on your mobile device. We sometimes need to adapt our teaching to take account of developments in the subject, in response to new research and current affairs for example, and on occasion we may need to adapt our delivery modes too. You will be kept informed of any proposed changes to the content and delivery of your modules as described in the module catalogue and we’ll make sure you understand and agree the reasons for any changes before they are introduced.
It aims to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their professional skills through undertaking individual original research projects in a strong research environment. Through carrying out this research project they will develop their understanding of research methodology, good practice and gain experience of working within the relevant research group. The module aims to give them the opportunity to enhance their skills in literature searching, data handling and interpretation and in critical appraisal of published research. It also aims to provide insight into the processes of experimental design, project planning and reporting.
Through successful completion of this module students will show evidence of being able to:
1. Formulate ideas and communicate knowledge through research of publishable quality that would satisfy peer review.
2. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the subject area and expertise in research skills.
3. Work independently, but also to be proactive in developing professional relationships with others.
4. Critically evaluate own research data.
demonstrate ability to work safely in a research laboratory or other relevant research environment.
Lab skills and techniques appropriate to utilising current and future dental techniques and innovations.
You will carry out an original research project which has been designed and approved with a named project supervisor.
On completion of this module, you will:
Have completed a brief project proposal and research/costing plan.
Submitted a preliminary literature review of 3000 words.
Completed an application for Ethical Committee approval if appropriate for their project.
Complete a research project that is original and executed with care and diligence.
Produce data of high quality, suitable for contribution to a scientific/clinical peer reviewed publication.
Demonstrate your development of skills in the use of library resources including computer based research tools and databases.
Submit a Masters research dissertation of approximately 12000 words.
Present their work in an oral presentation and defend it in an oral presentation with questions.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Meetings | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Supervision Meetings | 12 | 1.5 | 18 |
| Practical | 50 | 8 | 400 |
| Private study hours | 474 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 426 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 900 | ||
Carrying out literature reviews and reading related to their research project and writing this up.
Preparation of a project proposal and resource justification.
Completion of an application for ethical approval if appropriate.
Maintenance of proper records of results, and presentation, analysis and interpretation of data.
Planning research work and writing progress reports.
Write-up of Masters dissertation and preparation for oral presentation.
Progress is monitored throughout the research project in regular meetings with supervisors (a minimum of 10 throughout the year). Students are also expected to present their research to peers and academics at research group meetings.
Early in the first half of the year students will prepare a short research proposal including justification of resources; this will be a formative assessment and will allow the department to assess the availability of resources.
In semester 1 students will write a literature review which will be submitted and assessed by their supervisor(s) using agreed and transparent criteria (10% of marks for module).
Students will be assessed by their supervisors for their diligence and the execution of their research throughout the project (10% of marks awarded at end of project).
Final assessment will be through submission of a research dissertation of approximately 12000 words (70%). Candidates will also present and defend their work in an oral presentation with Q&A (10%).
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 12000 words. | 70 |
| Report | 750 words. | 0 |
| Literature Review | 3000 words. | 10 |
| ------------------------- | Appraisal of diligence and execution of research. | 10 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 90 | |
Individual assessments are compensatable. The ‘literature review‘ is to give a broad picture enabling a narrower ‘project proposal‘ to be developed.
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| - | 1.0 Hrs Mins | 10 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 10 | |
Components are compensatable. The oral presentation is scheduled for up to one hour but time will be spent both on the oral presentation (~20 mins) and on questions and answers (~20 mins).
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 09/09/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team