Module Specification
An online version of this specification is available to prospective students at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section3_moduledescript/index.ht
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Module name
Study Design: Writing a Study Proposal
Module code
2400
Module Organiser
Dr Jennifer Quint
Contact email
Jennifer.Quint@lshtm.ac.uk
Home Faculty
Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health
Level
This module is at Level 7 (postgraduate Masters ‘M’ level) of the QAA
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales & Northern
Ireland (FHEQ).
Credit
LSHTM award 15 credits on successful completion of this module.
Accreditation
Not currently accredited by any other body.
Keywords
Research (in general); Epidemiology (including surveillance); Statistics
(including risk assessment); Quantitative methods; Planning and programming
(including budgeting and evaluation); Values/Human rights/(bio)Ethics.
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND AUDIENCE
Overall aim
To enable participants to design a study and write a proposal on a
contemporary issue in epidemiology and public health.
Intended learning
outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
Target audience
This module is intended for those working in either developing or developed
countries. It offers participants an in-depth and highly specific consideration of
key issues in the evaluation of the effectiveness of public health interventions.
1. Define a research question;
2. Critique a systematic review of the relevant research evidence and
understand the steps needed to avoid systematic and random error;
3. Choose an appropriate and ethical epidemiological study design;
4. Understand key methodological issues including inclusion and exclusion
criteria, sample size and outcome assessment;
5. Prepare a detailed protocol encompassing (1) to (4) above.
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CONTENT
Session content
The module is expected to include sessions addressing the following topics:

Main methodological issues involved in putting together a research
proposal;

What makes a good study proposal and what funding bodies are looking
for;

Systematic review methodology - in particular the critical appraisal of a
systematic review to assess its implications for research and practice.
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Study resources
provided or required
Students will be provided with a module folder and a suggested reading list.
Teaching and learning
methods
Teaching methods will involve lectures and group work. The group work will
focus on the development of a research proposal that will form the basis of the
assessment.
Assessment details
Participants will be expected to prepare a study proposal based on a topic that
that has been provided by the tutor.
The assessment will be based on the written proposal (95%) and a brief
presentation (5%). Each proposal will be reviewed and graded by two staff
members, the first of whom will give comments on a standard form used in this
module, which will be returned to the author normally within 3 weeks of the
end of the module.
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the task will be to revise the study proposal to address the deficiencies in the
original version.
Assessment dates
Assessments will be due by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 10 February 2016
(Week 5).
For students who are required to re-sit, or who are granted a deferral or new
attempt, the next assessment deadline will be the standard Schoolrecommended date in mid/late September 2016.
Language of study and
assessment
English (please see ‘English language requirements’ below regarding the
standard required for entry).
TIMING AND MODE OF STUDY
Duration
The module runs for 5 weeks at 2.5 days per week; this module runs between
Monday morning and Wednesday lunchtime.
Dates
For 2013-14 the module will start on Monday 11 January 2015 and finish on
Wednesday 10 February 2016.
Timetable slot
The module runs in LSHTM timetable slot C1.
Mode of Study
The module is taught face-to-face in London. Both full-time and part-time
students follow the same schedule. For full-time students, other LSHTM
modules are available in the other half of the week for the C and D slots.
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Learning time
The notional learning time for the module totals 150 hours, consisting of:

Contact time ≈ 20 hours

Directed self-study ≈ 60 hours

Self-directed learning ≈ 30 hours

Assessment, review and revision ≈ 40 hours.
APPLICATION, ADMISSION AND FEES
Pre-requisites
This module presumes an understanding of the material covered in Term 1
modules in Basic or Extended Epidemiology and Statistics for Epidemiology
and Population Health. Students who have not attended these modules need to
contact the Module Organiser to discuss their eligibility.
English language
requirements
A strong command of the English language is necessary to benefit from
studying the module. Applicants whose first language is not English or whose
prior university studies have not been conducted wholly in English must fulfil
LSHTM’s English language requirements, with an acceptable score in an
approved test taken in the two years prior to entry. Applicants may be asked to
take a test even if the standard conditions have been met.
Student numbers
Student numbers are typically 70 per year; numbers may be capped due to
limitations in facilities or staffing.
Student selection
Preference will be given to LSHTM MSc students and LSHTM research degree
students.
Full Registration (full participation) by LSHTM research degree students is
required for this module.
Other applicants meeting the entry criteria will usually be offered a place in the
order applications are received, until any cap on numbers is reached.
Applicants may be placed on a waiting list and given priority the next time the
module is run.
Fees
For registered LSHTM MSc students, fees for the module are included within
MSc fees (given on individual course prospectus pages).
If registering specifically for this module, as a stand-alone short course,
individual module fees will apply.
Tuition fees must be paid in full before commencing the module, or by any fee
deadline set by the Registry.
Scholarships
Scholarships are not available for individual modules. Some potential sources
of funding are detailed on the LSHTM website.
Admission deadlines
For 2015-16:

For registered LSHTM MSc students, the module choice deadline (for Term
2 and 3 modules) is Friday 20 November 2015.

If registering specifically for this module, applications may be made at any
time but, as places are limited, early application is recommended. All
applications should be submitted by, at latest, 8 weeks prior to the start of
the module. Formal registration will take place on the morning of the first
day of the module.
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ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This module specification applies for the academic year 2015-16.
Last revised: 4 July 2014 by Jennifer Quint. Minor amendments 20th July 15 SDB
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT.
www.lshtm.ac.uk
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