LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Postgraduate Module Specification template
Section One: ABOUT THE MODULE
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Module title
Bioethics, Research and Grant Proposal
Module code
BM7115DL
Module level and credit rating
Level 7
20
Home academic faculty
Life Sciences
Teaching location
Distance Learning
Teaching semester
Autumn or Spring
Mode of attendance
Distance Learning
Required prior learning
No pre-requisite module is required
Module description
The module is designed to provide students with an understanding of skills needed for the planning,
organisation and practice of research in science. Bioethical considerations to developing a research
project, and proposals for funding such as approaching an organisation for a grant are tracked. Different
analytical approaches to problems will be reviewed together with the need to consider statistics and
quality control in the design of projects. Students will consider the impact of appropriate safety, ethical
and resourcing implications in the design and operation of a project.
Semester: Autumn and Spring
Assessment: Problems in statistics 40%, Ethics review and grant application 30% (1500 words) Research
proposal 30% (1500 words)
Module aims
To provide students with the skills needed to analyse and evaluate published scientific research and to
review a variety of statistical tests commonly applied to quantitative data sets, together with their
respective assumptions and outlines of their underpinning theoretical basis. It also aims to consider the
impact on scientific research of a variety of issues including safety, ethical and resourcing implications,
funding, data protection and intellectual property rights.
Module learning outcomes
1. Develop a deep and systematic understanding of the principles of experimental design, including the
need for randomisation, replication and control.
2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of statistical modelling; identify appropriate tests for a given
dataset; run a variety of statistical tests using a commercially-available software package
3. Analyse and critically evaluate published research articles; locate literature relevant to a scientific
topic, using appropriate databases and search techniques and develop a robust proposal for research
including ethics, health & safety, resourcing, funding, data protection and intellectual property rights.
Indicative syllabus – for full details see section C in Module Booklet
Characteristics of the scientific process; controlled experimentation; types of experimental design.
Communicating scientific ideas; research literature and how to use it.
Principles of data analysis: hypothesis forming and testing; statistical modelling and testing
Developing and managing research projects
Professional codes of practice and ethics; intellectual property; data protection; health and safety.
Finding funding streams and designing grant applications
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Indicative bibliography and key on-line resources – for full details see section D in Module Booklet
The library contains a large number of texts relevant to all aspects of this module. Those given in the list
below are a selection.
For all students:
(i) Research methods and design
Holmes D, Moody P, Dine D. (2006) Research Methods for the Biosciences OUP
Ruxton GD, Colegrave N. (2006) Experimental Design for the Life Sciences. 2nd ed. OUP
(ii) Statistical methods
Freund JE, Simon GA (2007). Modern Elementary Statistics, 12th edn. Prentice-Hall.
McClave JT, Sincich T (2003). Statistics (9th Edition). Prentice Hall.
Pelosi MK, Sandifer TM (2003). Elementary Statistics. Wiley.
(iii) Statistics using SPSS/PASW
Field A (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS. Sage: London.
Kinnear PJ & Grey CD (2009). SPSS Made Simple. Hove: Psychology Press.
For MSc Biomedical Sciences:
Brown BW, Hollander M (2007). Statistics: A Biomedical Introduction. Wiley.
Corley RB (2005). A Guide to Methods in the Biomedical Sciences. Springer.
Dunn OJ, Clark VA (2009). Basic Statistics: A Primer for the Biomedical Sciences. 4th Ed. Wiley
Turgeon ML (2011) Linne & Rinsgrud's Clinical Laboratory Science. 6th Ed. Elsevier
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Learning and Teaching strategy for the module including students’ study responsibilities and
opportunities for PDP
Students will develop a knowledge and understanding of the various aspects of research planning and
execution through a series of lectures, tutorials and IT-based practicals. Throughout the module
students will be guided towards the use of IT-based approaches to literature searching, data analysis,
and the presentation of results, and will be expected to exploit these fully and effectively in their work.
Directed study is provided in the form of practice statistical problems and analyses.
On completion of this module students’ provide an evaluation of how the module allowed them to
develop skills such as information technology, organisational skills, team building, communication time
management, and working under pressure.
Indicative learning hours for the course. Learning hours comprise face-to-face contact hours plus selfmanaged and directed learning and time spent on placements.
Method
Description and number of learning hours
Contact time comprising lectures, seminars and
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other timetabled online sessions
Self-managed/independent study
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Directed activities
36
Placements
TOTAL LEARNING HOURS FOR THE COURSE
200
Assessment strategy
Assessment is coursework based. Knowledge and application of methods of data analysis will be
assessed by set statistical problems. Students will write an essay comprising a discursive analysis of a
research paper they have selected from within their subject speciality. The analysis will consider the
problem being addressed by the research in the context of previous knowledge; the design and
methodology employed; and the results obtained along with their implications and conclusions. The
report should show due consideration, where appropriate, for ethical issues, health and safety,
intellectual property rights and other incidental relevant issues.
To pass the module students need to achieve a minimum aggregate mark of 50%.
Component
Learning outcomes
Statistics problems
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Review
1, 2, 3
Proposal
1, 2, 3
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Arrangements for formative and summative feedback
Students receive oral formative feedback on statistical analyses during each of six IT tutorials. Written
summative feedback is provided on both assessed items of coursework
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Description of assessment items
If not pass on aggregate,
Assessment
%
Week
Description of Item
explain what is required to
Type
weighting
Due
pass the module
CWK
Statistics problems
40
10
CWK
CWK
Review (1500 words)
Research Proposal (1500 words)
30
30
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Section Two: FACULTY USE
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Nominated External Examiners name
Nominated Module Leader at time of approval
Courses to which this module contributes and
whether Core or Designate
Section Three: QUALITY ENHANCEMENT UNIT USE
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Original date of approval
Module approved to run from
Revision date (specify cohort)
Module specification version number
Dr Neville Hall
Dr Gary McClean
MSc Blood Science (Distance Learning)
Core