BIMAPS1: Critical Analysis and Problem Solving

Module code: BIMAPS1

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Phillip Dash, email: p.r.dash@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Mike Fry, email: m.j.fry@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Understanding the scientific literature is an essential skill for a successful career in research. In this module students will learn about the latest developments in biomedical research and will learn how to critically evaluate this research, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of published studies and developing their own conclusions from the data presented. Students will discuss in small groups the latest scientific papers in order to understand the latest research and gain an appreciation for how this research was designed and conducted and how best to critically evaluate the findings. Students will also attend weekly seminars given by eminent external speakers.

Students will put into practice what they’ve learned by putting together a proposal to solve a scientific problem. At the start of term students will be given a briefing from a team of scientists from industry or academia. They will explain a problem or challenge that they would like solved. Working in small teams students will search the literature and apply their knowledge of different lab techniques to propose a solution to these challenges. This will allow students to see how these important skills can translate into both academic and industry settings.

Aims:

1. To enable students to understand the latest research across a range of topics in the biomedical sciences and to be able to critically appraise and evaluate the quality of scientific papers
2. To understand and be able to evaluate the latest publications in the area relevant to their choice of specialist topic
3. To develop problem solving skills

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand the experimental design and theoretical foundations underlying published scientific papers
2. Critically evaluate the experimental design, methods, analysis and conclusions of published papers
3. Suggest additional experiments to extend the published studies
4. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to research questions adopted in different studies
5. Develop communication, writing and critical analysis skills through class participation, reading of materials, preparation of reports and a group presentation

Module content

Content will be based on the latest biomedical research and so specific details cannot be given of the papers that will be discussed or the seminars that will be presented. However papers will cover a variety of topics that will reflect the interests of the students on the programme. 

Students will also be given a group challenge around an academic or industrial problem that needs to be solved. The student will work with an academic or industrial mentor to address the challenge and will present their findings in the form of a report and a Dragon’s Den style presentation. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will primarily be delivered by weekly small group discussions. Additionally individual or group study will be required prior to the paper discussions and individual reflection on the issues raised will be expected after the discussions. 

For the problem solving challenge students will be allocated to groups with different challenges. There will be an initial briefing and tours of the available facilities and then the students will be supported by a mentor for each group. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs