DTC4003 : Research Project
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Andrea Fairley
- Lecturer: Dr Rachel Stocker
- Other Staff: Ms Aimee Watson-Cook, Dr Gemma Wain
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 40 |
| ECTS Credits: | 30.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module aims to provide an opportunity for students to engage in cutting-edge research in an intensive research environment. Students will apply specific scientific and technical skills to solve complex research questions which advance the practice of nutrition and dietetics.
Outline Of Syllabus
Projects are individual and students will select a project in their area of interest. A range of techniques and a body of detailed knowledge appropriate to the area of research will be developed unique to each student. Students will work remotely and part-time during semester 1 to undertake appropriate reading and preparatory work. They will then carry out the original research under the guidance of an academic supervisor on campus, on a part-time basis in semester 2. Students write up the results of their research project in a project dissertation and make an oral presentation of their work at the end of the module. The module will also allow the student to demonstrate their professionalism and competence with respect to their project work.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | PIP Lecture- Project planning & preparation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 16 | 1:00 | 16:00 | Non-Sync online – Delivery of lecture content & integrated tasks. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 80:00 | 80:00 | Assessment preparation and delivery |
| Guided Independent Study | Project work | 1 | 382:00 | 382:00 | Development of research tools, data collection and analysis |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 8 | 2:00 | 16:00 | PiP Workshops - Research methods/ Analysis/ Academic Writing skills support |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Sync Online – Project planning & preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 80:00 | 80:00 | Reading relevant literature |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | PIP or Sync online – Supervision meetings between project supervisor and student. TBC by student & supervisor |
| Total | 600:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The student will develop a range of skills and will be trained to engage in research, producing an appropriate output in the form of their final project. Students will be fully engaged in the project selection and development through a dialogue with their project supervisor. They will gain hands on experience of a range of techniques used in nutrition and dietetic research (appropriate to their own project) and will be required to produce a written research dissertation. Although students will receive detailed guidance in the form of scheduled online lectures/seminars, to advise them on the process and completion of the project, in order to attain the intended learning outcomes and skills in full, it will be essential that students engage in a significant amount of private study as outlined. This will include research based fieldwork and practical experience in a range of research techniques. The amount of hours spent on private study will vary with the individual project but should be approximately as outlined in the teaching activities.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dissertation | 2 | M | 80 | An 8000 word empirical research project (to publishable standard), excluding references |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 2 | M | 20 | Mini viva voce of the research protocol/ethics submission (20 mins) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Students will be required to submit an 8000 word empirical research project (to publishable standard). The project is intended to test the ability of students to conduct a substantial and independent project of research. The project will demonstrate their effectiveness in self-organisation and their ability to synthesize relevant research literature, in addition to the discovery and evaluation of relevant materials. The project will allow students to seek out an appropriate methodology, consider legal and ethical issues, collect data rigorously and effectively and present their written findings in a structured and analytical manner.
Viva voce assesses students’ ability to defend their research topic, methodology, rationale and analytical framework and ethical considerations.
MDiet candidates must obtain an overall mark of 50 or above to pass the module, however, if the module has more than one assessment students must also achieve a mark of at least 35 in each component of the assessment to pass the module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- DTC4003's Timetable