PMM1MRE: Medical Research and Enquiry (PG)

Module code: PMM1MRE

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

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Becky Green, email: rebecca.green@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

This module provides masters Physician Associate students with the opportunity to develop research skills aligned to the needs of physician associates in clinical practice. The module provides training in different research skills and methods relevant to those encountered by medical professionals, to enable students to develop skills needed to plan, design, conduct and present research findings. You will learn how to make use of spreadsheets to capture information and learn how to sample and collect qualitative and quantitative data using statistic approaches where appropriate. The module also provides you with the opportunity to carry out independent defined research tasks. 

Aims: 

• Provide you with knowledge and skills on how to plan, design, conduct and present research 
• Equip you with a critical and reflective approach to research associated with clinical practice 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Develop an appropriate research question using knowledge of how qualitative and quantitative research approaches are used in medical research and enquiry. 
2. Explain the role of evidence in clinical practice and research and know how research supports patients. 
3. Evaluate ethical needs of an activity in relation to information governance, confidentiality, and data protection legislation. 
4. Critically appraise relevant research, evaluation, and quality improvement, and use the results to inform own clinical practice and improve quality. 
5. Evaluate clinical and research data with an understanding of the wider context, including how findings link to local and national policy. 
6. Appropriately make use of quality checking, data manipulation, presentation, and summary methods with a knowledge of the principles of health informatics. 

Module content

Research methods 

Students will learn about research skills for qualitative and quantitative research that is relevant to medical professionals using a blended learning approach, providing on-line resources with classroom discussions to ensure engagement and to develop critical thinking. Students will learn how to work with quantitative information to answer a clinically aligned research question. 

Research Proposal development 

Students will develop a research proposal based on an original research question that is on a topic that is in line with their own interests. With support from staff, students will identify appropriate research aims, objectives and methods and highlight the expected patient outcomes resulting from the research. 

Learning about Audits and Quality Improvement Projects 

Students will engage in carrying out a QIP or Audit in practice or in a simulated environment. Students will present findings from this work as a poster presentation. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

A blended learning approach will be used to support development of research skills. Students will be provided with one-to-one support to develop ideas aligned to the assignments in this module. 

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 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.

Formative feedback will be provided for all summative pieces of work through verbal feedback (project proposal and poster).

Reassessment

Additional costs