PM3RP: Research Project

Module code: PM3RP

Module provider: Pharmacy; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 60

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Graeme Cottrell, email: g.s.cottrell@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to Associated Pharmacy students. (Open)

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE PM3CSIP (Compulsory)

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: Yes

Last updated: 12 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This laboratory research-focused module provides students with the opportunity to take the lead on a research topic. The module is made up of two main components: 1) development of practical research and enquiry skills and 2) a research project assessed by an outline proposal, an oral presentation, a project write-up and a final project viva.

Aims: 

The module will further develop students’ ability to perform research in a laboratory setting. Students will undertake an original research project in an area of relevance to pharmacology through the design and execution of an individual project, under the direction of an academic supervisor. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Effectively use current knowledge (with individual support from an academic supervisor) to construct a hypothesis or define a research question
2. Apply their knowledge to plan, design and carry out a research project to test their hypothesis or to answer their research question
3. Create a report of the project in the style of a thesis/dissertation to a standard that could be followed by others and to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and critical interpretation of their methodologies and data. Critically evaluate their research findings and set their research in context of current knowledge
4. Critically evaluate their research findings and set their research in context of current knowledge. 
5. Effectively explain their research findings in the form of an oral presentation. 
6. Communicate and discuss their findings in an oral examination. 

Module content

Research Projects: Students are provided with individual research projects covering a variety of pharmacology-related topics and will develop a research question. Students will prepare an Outline Proposal for approval by their supervisor. Students are expected to record meetings with their supervisor and ensure timely progress during the project design phase and to formalise meetings with their supervisor both before and during the practical period for the project. Each meeting, training point or progress indicator will be signed and dated by the supervisor (if provided by the student). Students will attend two meetings with their supervisor prior to the project work beginning. The first to be conducted in the previous summer term after allocation of projects and one to discuss the outline proposal before final submission. During the project work period, students will formally attend bi-weekly meetings (if required) with their supervisors. 

Oral Presentations: The project work will take place over the Autumn term and the first half of Spring term. A presentation conference will be organised in the autumn term. Assessment of the presentation will be by two independent markers (i.e., academics not marking the written report or conducting the viva), with additional feedback from peers. Finally, students will be assessed by their supervisor and another academic (different from the markers for the presentation) during a short viva to be held after the summer exam period has finished. 

Students will also develop skills that enable them to: 

1. provide constructive feedback to peers on their research and presentations. 
2. demonstrate independent learning skills through use of online resources that provide the skills needed to complete their project. 
3. take account of aspects relating to health and safety at all times during their project. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching is provided in the form of one-to-one and/or group supervision. Students are provided with training a laboratory setting. Students working the laboratory are trained in laboratory safety by the School Health and Safety Officer (additional building-specific training is also provided, if required). Students are provided with formal meetings to discuss feedback on their draft reports and presentations to help them understand the feedback and improve the quality of their written work and presentation. 

Study hours

At least 10 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 40% 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.

Students are provided with an opportunity for a bi-weekly meeting during the autumn term and the first half of spring term. In addition, they are provided with a formal meeting to discuss feedback on their draft reports and presentations. 

Reassessment

Additional costs