Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Do you want to understand why, for example, some athletes perform better than others under pressure, why obesity is on the rise, how training and recovery influences performance or something else related to sport and physical activity? If so this module is for you! Research is fundamental to what we, as scientists, do and informs practice in the sport, health and fitness industry. Therefore, developing good research skills and gaining experience of designing projects are key skills to develop in order to support your successful career. The module is hands on and involves practical activities relating to data management, understanding different approaches to science, and developing your own research projects. These are real world graduate skills that will help make you more employable. For part of the module you will be given the opportunity to choose a member of staff as your supervisor and with their support, you will develop a relevant and original research question. If you would like to start thinking about who you might like to work with then why not visit the SSHES staff page at www.bangor.ac.uk/sport and have a look at their research interests.

This double module contains two components, research methods and project design. The Research methods aspect of the module focuses on how to design scientific studies and conduct successful research via an interactive problem-solving approach. In the research methods component of the module, you will be presented with real-world problems encountered by sport science researchers and challenged to work with your coursemates to come up with applied solutions to ensure your research study has high validity. Following on from this, in the second part of the module (project design), students will be asked to identify a research area and, with the support of a supervisor, identify an appropriate research question. The subject content will thus vary but will be congruent with the degree programme being studied. All students are required to gather relevant information from the research literature and review it, establish hypotheses, propose a methodology through which these hypotheses might be tested, indicate relevant analytical approaches, consider problems in data collection, recognise and plan for ethical issues and estimate the financial cost of the proposed study.

threshold

To achieve a threshold grade, students will meet the marking criteria to an adequate standard; there may be a wide range in the quality of different components of the assessments across the double module

good

To achieve a good grade, students will meet the marking criteria to an good standard. The assessments will provide reasonably comprehensive coverage, will be well organised and structured, and show good understanding of the material and evidence of independent thought.

excellent

To achieve an excellent grade, students will provide a comprehensive and accurate coverage of the area, arguments will be presented with clarity and expression, and they will display a depth of insight into theoretical and practical issues relevant in research methods and project design.

1. Reflect on the experience of generating a research question

2. Develop a thorough understanding of how to attain valid and reliable measurements in research

3. Design an effective research study to test a novel research question

4. Effectively communicate a critical and up to date understanding of relevant research literature

5. Evaluate how different philosophies about ways of knowing influence one’s approach to research design

		Hours
Lecture	Research design - Each research design lecture (11) will typically involve an hour of delivery and an hour of a workshop that involves a practical element	22
Private study	Research Design - private study to include readings, and preparation for and completion of assessments	78
Lecture	Project design - 6 hours of lectures will cover key topics in the project design process (e.g., ethics)	6
Tutorial	Project Design - Tutorial Supervisory support and lectures will form an important part of the teaching method, but ultimately, most of the learning will be student-led	6
Private study	Project Design - private study for this part of the module will involve students completed self and supervisor directed tasks in order to prepare and complete assessments	88

• Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
• Numeracy - Proficiency in using numbers at appropriate levels of accuracy
• Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
• Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
• Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
• Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
• Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
• Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
• Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others
• Leadership - Able to lead and manage, develop action plans and objectives, offer guidance and direction to others, and cope with the related pressures such authority can result in

• research and assess paradigms, theories, principles, concepts and factual information, and apply such skills in explaining and solving problems
• critically assess and evaluate data and evidence in the context of research methodologies and data sources
• describe, synthesise, interpret, analyse and evaluate information and data relevant to a professional or vocational context
• apply knowledge to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems
• develop a sustained reasoned argument, perhaps challenging previously held assumptions
• demonstrate effective written and/or oral communication and presentation skills
• work effectively independently and with others
• take and demonstrate responsibility for their own learning and continuing personal and professional development
• self-appraise and reflect on practice
• demonstrate an understanding of the philosophical basis of scientific paradigms
• demonstrate evidence of competence in the scientific methods of enquiry, and interpretation and analysis of relevant data and statistical outputs.
• develop transferable skills of relevance to careers outside of sport, health and exercise sciences.
• communicate succinctly at a level appropriate to different audiences.

Talis Reading list

http://readinglists.bangor.ac.uk/modules/jxh-2050.html

Reading list

Example texts include: Jones, I. (2014) Research Methods for Sports studies. Routledge Neil, R., Hanton, S., Fleming, S., & Wilson., K. (2013). The research process in sport, exercise and health. Routledge

Compulsory in courses:

• C617: BSc Sport Science, PE & Coaching year 2 (BSC/SSCPE)
• C64P: BSc Sport Science, PE and Coaching with Placement Year year 2 (BSC/SSCPEP)
• C618: BSc Sport Sci: Strength & Conditioning year 2 (BSC/SSSC)
• C65P: BSc Sport Science: Strength & Conditioning with Placement Yr year 2 (BSC/SSSCP)
• C621: MSci Sport & Exercise Science year 2 (MSCI/SES)