Run by School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences

60 Credits or 30 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Dr Vicky Gottwald

Project management skills are integral for many employability pathways. This module has been developed to help you carry out your own project in an area of your choosing. This choice may be based on future career aspirations, previous experience and expertise, or equally, just because you are passionate about a particular research question. However, your project should be driven by a goal to contribute in a meaningful way to the current knowledge base within a specific area of interest to you.

This module provides the opportunity to work closely with, and be supported by, an expert member of staff on a one-to-one or small group basis to help carry out your project ideas. You will have the opportunity to gain ethical approval on your proposal, before collecting primary data, designed to help answer a research question of particular interest to you and the field. This module provides the opportunity to put into practice the competencies gained throughout your Masters across a range of disciplines e.g. subject specific expertise and statistical analytical skills, as well as transferable skills such as critical thinking or being able to disseminate findings effectively to academics and/or practitioners.

threshold

• Insufficient to fulfil the associated learning outcomes • Deficiencies in Knowledge even of key areas/principles • No evidence of understanding, even of main areas • No evidence of background study • Answer relies on tangential material and lacks a coherent structure • No arguments presented • Many factual/computational errors • No original interpretation • No links between topics are described • No attempt to solve problems • The presentation is very weak containing many inaccuracies

good

• Strong knowledge • Understands most but not all • Evidence of background study • Focussed answer with good structure • Arguments presented coherently • Mostly free of factual/computational errors • Some limited original interpretation • Well known links between topics are described • Problems addressed by existing methods/approaches • Good presentation with accurate communication

excellent

• Comprehensive knowledge • Detailed understanding • Extensive background study • Highly focussed answer and well structured • Logically presented and defended arguments • No factual/computational errors • Original interpretation • New links between topics are developed • New approach to a problem • Excellent presentation with very accurate communication

1. Be able to critically appraise relevant literature to justify a specific research question and associated hypotheses;

2. Demonstrate advanced academic writing skills to present a written report that effectively communicates the completed, viable, research project and their understanding of it.

3. Select, execute and interpret appropriate advanced statistical tests;

4. Show advanced knowledge in planning and conducting research designs that test a specific research question and hypotheses;

5. Critically evaluate research findings in relation to current knowledge and indicate how these might inform practice;

6. Show a deep understanding and apply ethical principles to completion of a research study;

Type	Name	Description	Weight
COURSEWORK	Written Project	This written project will be an extensive piece of independent research that closely resembles a research article in preparation for publication.	100

		Hours
Tutorial	The student is responsible for meeting regularly with their supervisor concerning their research project. This will be via online methods of communication including email, Skype meetings and telephone calls where required.	80
Private study	Students will be expected to complete an extensive amount of independent study including individual reading, critical thinking, writing practice and assignment specific development.	520

• 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.
• Safety-Consciousness - Having an awareness of your immediate environment, and confidence in adhering to health and safety regulations
• Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
• Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
• Mentoring - Able to support, help, guide, inspire and/or coach others
• Caring - Showing concern for others; caring for children, people with disabilities and/or the elderly
• Management - Able to utilise, coordinate and control resources (human, physical and/or financial)
• 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
• plan, design, execute and communicate a sustained piece of independent intellectual work, which provides evidence of critical engagement with, and interpretation of, appropriate data
• 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
• plan and design practical activities using appropriate techniques and procedures whilst demonstrating high levels of relevant skills
• project manage and execute practical activities using appropriate techniques and procedures whilst demonstrating high levels of relevant skills
• recognise and respond to moral, ethical, sustainability and safety issues that directly pertain to the context of study including relevant legislation and professional codes of conduct
• undertake fieldwork with continuous regard for safety and risk assessment.
• 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.
• develop knowledge of psychometric instruments
• accurately interpret case study data
• develop justifiable and/or evidence-based interventions
• develop effective learning aids
• demonstrate effective robust data collection methods

Reading list

This module does not have a specific reading list as this will be dependent on the research project topic area. The supervisor will support students to develop an appropriate reading list specific to the student's project.

For statistical support specifically, the below text is recommended:

Fileds, A. (2018). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS. SAGE.

Best, S. (2012). Understanding and Doing Successful Research; Data Collection and Analysis for the Social Sciences (1st Ed.). Pearson.

Compulsory in courses:

• C6AT: MSc Performance Psychology year 3 (MSC/PP)
• C6AU: MSc Performance Psychology (DL - 2 year) year 2 (MSC/PRP)