1. Critically review and evaluate relevant research literature, develop a clear rationale, and formulate an appropriate research question within your discipline.

Knowledge & Understanding

Research Skills

2. Design and conduct a methodologically rigorous and ethically sound research project, applying appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative methods to collect, analyse, and interpret data, or to complete a systematic review.

Application & Problem Solving

Digital Literacy

3. Critically evaluate,¿interpret¿and communicate the outcomes of the research by producing a journal-style article and defending the project in a viva voce examination.

Reflection

Communication

The assessment for this module consists of two integrated elements:

A journal-style article (word length determined by the journal selected)

A viva voce (30 minutes)

These two elements are assessed together as a single, cohesive assessment, accounting for 100% of the module grade and addressing all three module learning outcomes (LOs 1–3). This structure mirrors authentic research practice, including the PhD viva process. Specifically, the journal article demonstrates the student’s ability to design, conduct, and analyse a rigorous, ethically sound research project, while the viva provides the opportunity to defend methodological decisions, justify analytical approaches, and discuss the implications of findings in a professional, academic context.

Students receive ongoing guidance through regular meetings with their dissertation supervisor and formative written feedback on one full draft of the dissertation (excluding the Discussion section). This ensures that students can refine their work and enhance the quality of their final submission, supporting the development of high-level research, analytical, and communication skills.

This module supports students in conducting a rigorous and ethically-sound MSc-level research project in the students’ topic area of choice within their course remit. Following ethical approval for their experimental research project, under the supervision of an academic member of staff, students will independently manage and execute their research project. More specifically, this will involve developing relationships to organise data collection, collect suitable quantitative and/or qualitative data, input data appropriately, apply suitable quantitative or qualitative analysis techniques on their data, interpret the outcomes of analysis, critical evaluate the outcomes of the research in terms of theory, literature, and practice. Students are expected to meet regularly with their allocated supervisor. These activities will lead to the production of a journal research article. Following submission of the journal article, all students will undertake a 30-minute viva voce (online) of their research project. Students will additionally develop a range of interpersonal skills and competencies including written and verbal communication, project management, leadership, relationship building and maintaining.

This flagship module is where your academic journey culminates in a fully independent, MSc-level research project; designed, developed, and delivered by¿you.

Building on the foundations of advanced research methods, you’ll take full ownership of a topic aligned to your course and personal interests, working one-on-one with an experienced academic supervisor. You’ll manage every stage of the research process, from refining your research question and gaining ethical approval, to collecting and analysing data, interpreting results, and producing a¿journal-style article¿ready for academic or professional audiences. Throughout the project, you’ll be supported to uphold the highest standards of¿research integrity by adhering to industry standards and ethics, demonstrating autonomy, critical thinking, and subject expertise.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to your field, sharpen your research skills, and showcase your ability to produce work of postgraduate quality—ideal preparation for professional roles or further academic study.

Students are supported to undertake and complete their MSc research project under the supervision of an academic member of staff. Students will primary work independently to execute their research project. They will agree with their allocated supervisor to meet up/review progress online as appropriate throughout the process. Students will be required to access additional support material independently with a focus on their research area of interest. 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 rigorous and ethically-sound research journal article. Students will receive formative feedback throughout the module comprising feedback from their allocated supervisor (e.g., on a draft of the thesis excluding the Discussion section), as well as through conversations during online meetings.

Recommended Texts:

University of Staffordshire Code of Conduct for Research and Research Integrity (2025)- https://www.staffs.ac.uk/research/docs/pdf/research-code-of-conduct.pdf

Biggam, J. (2014).¿Succeeding with your master's dissertation : A step-by-step handbook. McGraw-Hill Education. Available from: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/staffordshire/detail.action?docID=1920721

Furseth, I. and Everett, E.L. (2013) Doing your master’s dissertation. Available at: https://libstaff.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44STA_INST/rlkpvs/alma991000703569706826

Dolan, R. (2017). Effective presentation skills.¿FEMS Microbiology Letters, 364 (24) https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnx235

Course Specific Recommended Texts:

MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology:

Harrison, V. (2021) SPSS for psychologists. 7th ed. London: Red Globe Press. Available at: https://libstaff.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/44STA_INST/rlkpvs/alma991000915052506826

Sparkes, A.C. (2013) Qualitative Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health: From Process to Product. 1st edn. Edited by B. Smith. United Kingdom: Routledge. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203852187.

BPS Code of Human Research Ethics (2021) - Available at: https://www.bps.org.uk/guideline/bps-code-human-research-ethics

Access to an appropriate PC, with accompanying software including Office 365 (MS Teams, One-Drive, Word, PowerPoint et al.), Adobe, and Java software.