Module manager: Dr Sarah Jing Guo
Email: s.j.guo@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Principles of Research: Diet in Populations (FOOD2215)
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module will explore the fundamentals of nutritional epidemiology, including study design and the hierarchy of evidence pyramid, nutritional status assessment (including dietary and anthropometric assessments) and the analysis and interpretation of nutritional epidemiological studies. Through this module students will develop ability to critically evaluate research literature.
The module aims to: (1) Provide concepts, information and research methods for studying nutrition in populations; (2) critically evaluate research literature; (3) develop students’ understanding of the scientific method of enquiry in nutrition research in populations and apply its principles to formulate a hypothesis; (4) consider the limitations of scientific research & particular challenges associated with measuring diet; (5) identify the ethical considerations that must be considered during study design.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Explain the methods used to measure nutrient intakes and dietary patterns of individuals, population sub-groups, and the general population.
2. Extract and report on data that can be collected from nutrient intake methods.
3. Discuss the methods used to measure nutritional status of individuals, the general population, and population sub-groups, and be able to extract and report on data that can be collected from these.
4. Explain the hierarchy of evidence, recognising strengths, weaknesses and limitations of different study designs and research methods.
5. Explain the importance of large nutrition-related data sets and big data, and how it can be used to reveal patterns, trends and associations, and drive change.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Work ready skills: technical/IT skills, critical thinking, core literacies (WR4,9,13)
2. Academic skills: reflection, critical thinking, presentation skills, academic writing, academic language, time management, information searching, academic integrity, referencing (AS1-9)
3. Digital skills: digital proficiency & productivity (DS1)
4. Technical skills: subject-specific skills, e.g., applications of big data, statistical testing in Nutritional Epidemiology
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Lecture | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Practical | 6 | 2 | 12 |
| Seminar | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Private study hours | 166 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 34 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
In-class quiz, i.e., lecture starts with a quiz to assess for the previous week’s learning.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 20 |
| Coursework | Coursework | 80 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team