Summary

The Research Project is the largest single component of the MSc, contributing one third of the credits. This is a key component that distinguishes the MSc from the Diploma. The aim of this piece of work is to demonstrate the skills students have learnt on the course. Specifically this will entail asking a good research question, selecting appropriate methods to answer that question (with respect to population, interventions and outcomes), managing and analysing data appropriately, making valid inferences from results and expressing the findings clearly and logically.

You are expected to submit a dissertation and you will be supported in: practicalities of research; developing a critical approach to the research of others; self-directed research and project design; writing a literature review; research ethics committee applications; conducting independent research; dissertation structure and preparing a professional dissertation; data analysis and interpretation; generating data for possible publication in a peer-reviewed journal, or a poster presentation at a relevant conference.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

After successfully completing the module, you should be able to:

 Design, execute and complete an independent research project at Masters level
 Conduct a thorough and appropriate literature review which shows an advanced level of critical appraisal and evaluation
 Present and justify your methods in a clear and understandable style
 Analyse and present your findings logically, selecting appropriate statistical tests and/ or qualitative data analysis
 Critically interpret your findings with reference to current literature
 Make recommendations for clinical practice in response to your findings, that are appropriate given the scale and scope of the research project
 Present your work to a wider audience
Who is this module for?

This is a compulsory module for all MSc Advanced Physiotherapy and the MSc Physiotherapy Studies students. 

Teaching and Learning Methods

Teaching and learning will be through face-to face-sessions, one-to-one discussions with allocated supervisor(s) and self-directed learning. 

Assessment

This module will be assessed by the research project dissertation (80%) and presentation (20%).