PLMRD-Research and Dissertation

Module Provider: Clinical Language Sciences
Number of credits: 40 [20 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: All year one MSc SLT modules co-reqs;All year two MSc SLT modules
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Christos Pliatsikas
Email: c.pliatsikas@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The aims of this module are to provide the students with an understanding and working knowledge of research methods, design, and statistical analysis and to apply this knowledge to the administration and writing up of a dissertation. The dissertation allows students to complete an independent research project in a chosen area of Speech and Language Therapy or a related discipline. Students design the project with support from an assigned dissertation supervisor. The outcome of the research project is written up as the student’s dissertation.

Aims:

The aim of this module is to develop high-level skills in critical evaluation and understanding of current research issues and methodologies within the field of speech and language therapy. This is achieved through the design, planning and implementation of an independent research project, submitted as a written dissertation of up to 8,000 words.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that a student will have a detailed knowledge of the topic of the dissertation and will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and critical evaluation of the relevant research literature


• Demonstrate knowledge on how to design an independent research project, including formulating hypotheses and research questions and choosing the appropriate methods for the analysis of the data.


• Evaluate the et hical implications of their project in detail, through the preparation of an ethics application


• Demonstrate the ability to use a computerised statistical package to code, summarise, explore and interpret data


• Write a clearly structured and supported argument, and present data appropriately


• Discuss the theoretical and clinical implications of their research as appropriate.


• Discuss the strengths and limitations of their work in the co ntexts of existing research and within the constraints of their research project

Additional outcomes:

It is also expected that students will gain a broader understanding of the role of research in clinical practice and will be given insight into the area of ethics surrounding the research process. They will be provided with the knowledge to become critical consumers of the research literature. Students will also develop their bibliographic and IT skills by writing up their dissertation and will have the opportunity to develop their academic writing skills. Finally, students will gain understanding of clinical audit and service evaluation, including methodology, governance and application to service delivery.

Outline content:

The course focuses on two related areas.



One part of teaching focuses on developing knowledge of statistics and the application of this knowledge to the analysis of experimental data. Topics covered include data description and summary, probability & distributions, testing hypotheses, and inferential statistics (parametric and non-parametric). Instruction is provided in the use of SPSS/PASW and students are given the opportunity for practical hands-on experience.< br />


The other part covers broader issues surrounding research methods and design. The role of research in clinical practice is explored. Basic research methods and designs are reviewed and consideration is given to their applications across different contexts. The strengths and weaknesses of group studies versus single case experimental designs are explored. Data collection, organisation and analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, are explored. Ethical issues in plannin g and conducting a research project are discussed. The entire research process from the development of a topic to writing the report is explored. Emphasis is also placed on the critical reading and evaluation of research in the literature.



Students are required to submit 5 choices for a dissertation supervisor by mid- Autumn term. Allocations are then made, and students are then given support from their assigned supervisor to develop the research proposal and ethics cour sework. It is the student’s responsibility to do necessary background research and information gathering for their proposed project, with the supervisor playing a supporting role.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
􀀕 Lectures and practical classes for research methods and statistics
􀀕 Individual supervision with the assigned project supervisor.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Coursework: Students will be required to submit a research proposal accompanied by an ethics application for their research (10% of module mark). A class test in Autumn term (1 hour, open book) covering SPSS labs and statistics contributes 10% of the module mark. Students are required to submit an 8,000-word dissertation by mid-September of their second year (80% of module mark).

Formative assessment methods:

• Online quizzes on Blackboard to back up SPSS lab classes and statistics lectures

• Short report / short answer questions summarising and critiquing selected journal articles and readings, reviewed at the beginning of the lecture on the following week.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: