Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1 & 2

Organiser: Dr Tommie Du Preez

Project design and effective planning are integral skill-sets for many employability pathways. This module has been developed to help you plan and design your own project in an area of interest to you. This choice may be based on career aspirations, previous experience and expertise, or equally, just because you are passionate about a particular topic area. However, your project proposal should be driven by a research question, which is designed to answer an impactful and pertinent question, still unanswered within the current sports science evidence base. This module will help prepare you for a Research Project module, where you will be given the opportunity to gain ethical approval for and carry out your proposed project.

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 develop your ideas. You will be supported to advance your understanding of the current knowledge base in an area of interest to you, as well as your problem-solving, writing and presentation skills in preparation to be able to articulate ideas effectively to relevant parties e.g. practitioners, academics.

threshold

The research project will be assessed holistically for content, critical thinking, structure and style. Work will be awarded as good / at pass level / threshold (C- to C+) where most criteria are met to a good standard; there may be a wide range in the quality of different components of the research project proposal

excellent

The research project will be assessed holistically for content, critical thinking, structure and style. Work will be awarded as excellent (A* - A-.) where most or all of these criteria are met to an exceptionally high standard; the remainder are met to an excellent standard.

good

The research project proposal will be assessed holistically for content, critical thinking, structure and style. A mark of good to very good i.e. (B+ to B-) will be awarded where most or all criteria are met to a good or very good/high standard. This grade will equate to a merit level of work.

1. Demonstrate a range of communication skills appropriate to the outcomes of postgraduate study, including the production of a verbal proposal presentation and written proposal.

2. Provide evidence of a critical and analytical approach to how scientific data might be collected, organised and interpreted.

3. Critically appraise ideas and empirical findings in order to formulate research hypotheses that address a chosen research question.

4. Develop and propose an appropriate methodological approach in line with your research question.

Type	Name	Description	Weight
	Verbal Presentation		30.00
	Written Proposal		70.00

		Hours
Tutorial	Students will work with a member of staff via online supervision to develop their project proposal. It is completely down to the student to maintain contact with their supervisor. This may be through a combination of methods e.g. Skype meetings, telephone calls and email.	20
Private study	Students will be expected to complete a substantial amount of independent study. This will be made up of individual reading, writing practice, assignment specific preparation and project proposal development.	180

• 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 sentistevely 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 attached to it as this will be dependent on the chosen project topic area. Supervisors will support students to develop an appropriate reading list.

Suggested statistics reading support:

Fields, A. (2018). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS (5th Ed.). 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 2 (MSC/PP)

Optional in courses:

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