This module supports students in identifying a suitable area of research and gaining ethical approval for a MSc research project. More specifically, students will develop their competencies of conducting a critical literature review within a topic area of interest and aligned with their course. Students will cover advanced topics in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis, as well as ethical issues in research in sport and exercise. Also, the development of the overall research project will be a key focus, including how to develop a suitable research question(s), and methodology. Finally, students will develop skills on how to write a suitable research proposal (including ethical approval application).

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 MSc Thesis Approval Committee (and where appropriate to the University Ethics Committee). This covers LOs 1 and 2.

Students follow an 8-week distance learning guided study programme and access support material via Blackboard.
The module will being with a series of Activities that contain a series of learning outcomes to be achieved, followed by tasks using a range of formats (e.g., video lectures, reading materials, podcasts) to achieve the learning outcomes. Students will be required to access additional support material independently with a focus on their research area of interest. Students will become familiar with the research interests and strengths of the members of staff within the sport and exercise department. Within the Activities students will use the collaborative discussion boards to further reflect on and analyse their own work, and the work of their peers to facilitate learning. The assessment set within the module will allow students to demonstrate understanding and critical analysis skills via content and task related activities drawn from the module topic areas, with a particular focus on producing a suitable and ethically-sound research proposal. In addition to core tasks, further additional reading, optional tasks and specific preparation for the module assessments will be required. Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising task-related feedback within the discussion boards, together with the opportunity for peer-learning in addition to comments from relevant tutors.

1. Demonstrate critical understanding and analysis of research literature and theory in a topic area of your choice in sport and exercise.

Analysis
Communication
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning

2. Choose an appropriate course-specific research question and plan a suitable, methodologically- and ethically-sound research study.

Analysis
Application
Knowledge & Understanding
Learning
Enquiry

Access to an appropriate PC, with accompanying software including Office 365 (MS Teams, One-Drive, Word, PowerPoint et al.), Adobe, and Java software.
Access to appropriate reading materials, which can be accesses through the Staffordshire University library resource page for sport and Exercise.
This module is delivered via Blackboard, with support via MS teams.

BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct (2009). Available from: https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy%20-%20Files/BPS%20Code%20of%20Human%20Research%20Ethics.pdf

This module supports students in identifying a suitable area of research and gaining ethical approval for a MSc research project. More specifically, students will conduct a critical literature review in a topic area aligned with their course, develop a suitable research question(s), and methodology. Finally, students will develop skills on how to write a suitable research proposal (including ethical approval application).