| CODE | RAD5010 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Dissertation | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 30 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Radiography | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The purpose of this study-unit is to prepare the student for the data collection, analysis and final dissertation report. As part of this study-unit the student will be required to seek ethics approval. The dissertation study-unit also provides the student with the opportunity to experience conducting and writing up a research study to add to the research base of their profession. A suitably qualified supervisor will support this work. The student may select any topic related to their Masters course and must justify the need for the study, demonstrate that the work is novel and provide evidence that a knowledge gap exists. Study-unit Aims: • To develop students’ in depth understanding of their chosen methodological approach to their research in Allied Health; • To enable students to understand concepts, assumptions and techniques in the collection, analysis and presentation of data appropriate to their chosen research; • To compile and submit an ethics application to the appropriate University or Local Committee; • To enable students to consolidate and develop their understanding of the research process; • To provide the student with the opportunity to undertake an in-depth study in their chosen field; • To enable students to produce a substantial research report based on their own research; • To enable students to add to the research base of their professional practice; • To assess the student in their ability to plan and implement the project and report their research findings; • To enable students to reflect on international developments and results in comparison to their chosen research. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Demonstrate an in depth understanding of their chosen research method(s); • Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the analysis of their prospective data; • Understand effective ways of presenting research results and findings; • Where relevant, to provide evidence of successful submission of an application for ethical approval; • Demonstrate and justify the rationale for their chosen research; • Successfully compile a research proposal; • Identify their learning needs to enable them to undertake a planned project; • Analyse and discuss research data; • Write a paper for publication; • Work effectively with a multidisciplinary research team. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: Intellectual skills • Summarise and demonstrate the relevance of other workers’ findings to the presented work; • Demonstrate an appreciation of, and analyze ethical issues in research within this field and respond to them appropriately; • Evaluate their chosen methodological approach; • Critically evaluate and analyze current literature pertinent to their chosen research; • Undertake research which meets appropriate ethical standards; • Present, defend and debate findings. Practical skills • Plan and manage a research project; • Present information in a succinct, accurate and logical way; • Produce a completed research dissertation. Transferable skills • Engage confidently in academic and professional communication with others; • Reflect on the quality of their work; • Use computer-based software and techniques effectively. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: • Bowling A. (2009) Research methods in health, (3nd edition) Buckingham; Open University Press. • Bryman A (2008) Social Research Methods Oxford (3rd Edition): Oxford University Press. • Bland M. (2000) An introduction to medical statistics (3rd edition), Oxford: Oxford University Press. • Bryman A. and Burgess R (Eds) (2002) Analysing Qualitative Data London: Routledge. • Creswell JW & Poth CN (2018) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Traditions. (4th Edition) London: Sage. • Daves M (2004) Evidence-Based Practice A primer for Health Care Professionals. Churchill Livingstone. • Greenhalgh T. (2006) How to read a paper (3nd Edition), London: BMJ Publishing. • Mason J. (2002) Qualitative Researching London; Sage. • Oppenheim A.N. (2000) Questionnaire Design, interviewing and attitude measurement. Continuum Publishing Group, Washington. • Patton, M.Q. (2002) Qualitative research and evaluation methods, (3rd edition), London: Sage. • Polgar S. and Thomas SA. (2007) Introduction to research in the health sciences (5th edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. • Robson, C. (2002) Real world research: a resource for social scientists and practitioner researchers (2nd Edition), Oxford, Blackwell. • Smith JA. (2007) Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Research Methods (2nd Edition), London: Sage. • Taylor MC (2007) Evidence-Based Practice for Occupational Therapists (2nd Edition) Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite qualifications: Students shall be allowed to proceed to the dissertation study-unit subject to obtaining the 60 credits assigned to the taught study-units with a minimum average mark of 65% **September Assessment Session: Students who fail to obtain an overall pass mark will be re-examined in the Dissertation. However, the resit availability for the Oral Examination is at the discretion of the Board of Examiners. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Dissertation | ||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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