1. ¿Choose an appropriate award specific research question and plan a suitable research question
Analysis
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning

2. Demonstrate appropriate rigor in executing and conducting ethical appropriate research
Analysis
Application
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning

3. Demonstrate a critical awareness and evaluation of appropriate research literature.
Analysis
Application
Enquiry
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning
Problem Solving

4. Design and conduct a methodologically sound piece of research in award specific area
Analysis
Application
Enquiry
Knowledge & Understanding
Problem Solving

5. Demonstrate competency in appropriately applying quantitative and or qualitative methods to collect data.
Analysis
Enquiry
Knowledge & Understanding
Problem Solving

6. Critically evaluate the outcomes of the research project.
Analysis
Enquiry
Knowledge & Understanding

7. Produce a professionally styled research report, deliver a professionally styled presentation of the research process and findings, along with defending the research project in a viva voce examination.
Analysis
Communication
Knowledge & Understanding
Reflection

Students will be required to complete 2 pieces of summative assessment.


(1) To provide a detailed research proposal (2000 words) that outlines the rationale, proposed method, proposed analysis, costings, a schematic timetable of the research, and consideration of ethical issues to the Sport and Exercise Dissertation Approval Committee (and where appropriate to the University Ethics Committee). This is worth 10% of the module grade and assesses LO1.


(2) To submit a dissertation in line with the guidelines provided and undergo a 30 minute oral defence of the submitted dissertation. Attendance at the oral defence is compulsory, however video conferencing facilities will be used at the discretion of the course leaders in extreme situations.



Depending on the award specific demands, the dissertation will be (a) in a format suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (including accompanying appendix of supplementary materials which supported the dissertation), or (b) a 8,000 word (maximum) thesis typically comprising an abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion and conclusion. This assessment is worth 90% of the module grade and assesses LO's 2-7.



As part of the formative assessment on the module, students will provide three, two monthly, progress reports, following a template provided at the beginning of the module. Students are required to submit one electronic copy (to enable a Turnitin report) and two hard bound copies of the thesis.



Additional Assessment Details:



Students will be provided with formative assessments and feedback via on-line tasks and discussions.



Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising a combination of task related feedback and (more importantly) comments on online discussion contributions offered throughout the module.

This module supports students in identifying a suitable area of research and in conducting a Masters level research project/dissertation. Students from the sport psychology and sport science Masters programmes will be enrolled on this module - although where appropriate material will be delivered in award specific contexts using discrete strands within Blackboard.



Module content will broadly include:

1. Project management skills

2. Searching the literature

3. Ethical issues in research and the importance of pilot work (including risk assessment)

4. Advanced issues in qualitative and quantitative research (e.g. single-case research methods)

5. Writing a research proposal (including ethical approval application)

6. Presentation skills

7. Referencing

8. Data analysis support Skype sessions

This module will support you to identify a suitable area of research and in conducting a Masters level research project/dissertation.

This module content will broadly include:

1. Project management skills

2. Searching the literature

3. Ethical issues in research and the importance of pilot work (including risk assessment)

4. Advanced issues in qualitative and quantitative research (e.g. single-case research methods)

5. Writing a research proposal (including ethical approval application)

6. Presentation skills

7. Referencing

8. Data analysis support Skype sessions

Students will initially follow an eight week guided study programme and access support material via Blackboard. Students will be required to access additional support material independently.

Following the submission of the research proposal and ethical approval, students will work with an appointed supervisor to complete the dissertation agreed milestones.

Scheduled learning and teaching hours will equate to 8 hours on the module.

Guided independent study hours including tasks related to the completion of Masters level dissertation and specific preparation for the module assignments will equate to 592 hours.

Core:

Clark-Carter, D (2009). Quantitative Psychological Research: The Complete Student's Companion. Hove: Psychology Press.

Willig, C. (2013). Introducing qualitative research in psychology. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press

Recommended:



Barker, J. McCarthy, P., Jones, M., & Moran, A. (2011) Single-case research methods in sport and exercise psychology. London: Routledge.

Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. London, UK: Sage.

Biggam, J. (2011). Succeeding with your masters dissertation: a step-by-step handbook. Maidenhead. Berkshire: OUP..

Access to an appropriately specified PC, with accompanying Word, PowerPoint, Adobe and Java software.

Access to Voicethread software.