Assessment Information Brief 2022-2023
4628515-254000
Assessment Information Brief 2022-2023
Module title Preparing for Research in Health
CRN 35892
Level 7
Assessment title Protocol Assignment and 1-page methodology
Weighting within module This assessment is worth 100% of the overall module mark.
Submission deadline date and time Thursday 15.12.2022 10am
Module Leader and Assessment set by
Dr Nicky Spence N.Spence@salford.ac.uk
Supervisors will be assigned during module delivery and include a wide team of academics.
How to submit
You should submit your assessment via turn it in which is in the PRIH blackboard ultra-assessment site in the December assessment 2023 folder in the final submission folder.
Assessment task details and instructions
The module is assessed by means of a literature review and research 1-page methodology. The topic area can of your own choosing, or it can be nominated by the module team but should relate to some aspect of Physiotherapy Practice.
Specific details of sections below:
The Title Page: (page 1)
This should contain a succinct, concise title which accurately describes the subject of your work, your student ID number, MSc Advanced Physiotherapy and the year.
(See this example)
Title which accurately describes the subject of your work.
Student ID Number:
MSc Advanced Physiotherapy
(2023-2024)
Word count = (insert the word count of your work here, word limit is 2350 words)
The Declaration Page: (page 2)
This page should include the following statement:
Declaration- no portion of the work submitted has been presented in support of any other degree or qualification at this or any other institute of learning.
Assessment Content:
The content of your assessment should be no more than 2350 words and usually begins with and introduction to your chosen topic area and should include the following sections and content.
Section 1-Introduction
An effective Literature Review introduction should include:
An outline the specific aims of the assignment.
Relevant background information and context to the topic area addressing your chosen population, intervention, design, and evaluation (outcome or diagnostic tests).
The relevance and importance of the subject should be evident from this section.
An outline of your search strategy such as the databases and the key words used (you should include further details in your appendix).
A definition of all the key terms (PICO).
Clinical context including its importance and links to Physiotherapy practice.
Signposting of the themes that your Literature Review will focus on this acts as a bridge/link into the main body of your review to follow.
Together with some information regarding your reasoning for identified literature having been included in your review main body.
The references selected for your review should be the most important, valid, and where appropriate the most recent.
Justification for what you have included and what you have excluded from your review should be provided.
Section 2-Literature Review Main body
This forms most of your literature review and should contain a summary of the evidence and its appraisal.
An effective Literature Review should include:
The purpose of this section is to make the case for why your research needs to be done and what is the state of the existing evidence-base.
Summaries of the articles included are required to demonstrate that you have interpreted the article correctly and inform the reader for clarity.
The sort of details that would be useful to mention are things such as design and duration of study, numbers of participants and interventions involved.
The outcome measures used and what the results were.
Critically comment on the strength and weakness of the evidence, this should also include comments on gaps within the literature.
Research reference literature and Critical appraisal tools, such as CASP, are useful resources when commenting on the quality of study methodologies and should be used here.
Remember to comment on the studies that you include within your review on the impact and then the implications of your critical points and the study results to demonstrate your understanding of their methodology.
Gradually build up a case justifying the use of your chosen tool for your population.
The case should be developed using available research evidence.
Section 3-Literature Review Conclusion
The conclusion forms a summary of your findings, where the state of the existing evidence-base is and its relevance to the study summary findings.
An effective Literature Review conclusion should include:
The conclusion should accurately reflect the comments made in the main body.
It should support your choice of research question, which you will identify in the next section, which demonstrates synthesis of your ideas.
Future research avenues can also be discussed here that are relevant to your specific patient group, clinical problems, and measurement tools.
New information should NOT be introduced in the conclusion.
Section 4-Research Question
Your research question should follow your conclusion.
This should be well-articulated and clearly linked to the preceding review
Section 5-Aims and Objectives
Your aims and objectives should be as a product of your literature review and be related to your research question.
The aim(s) are often similar to your research question.
There will be component objectives that can be highlighted, that will in turn help answer your research question.
Section 6-Methodology
Your methodology will be guided from your literature review and make take the form of quantitative research, qualitative research, or a systematic review. This will be approximately 350 words.
Your methodology should include:
Research design
Sample size and selection methods.
Inclusion / exclusion criteria.
Apparatus and procedure.
Variables (Intrinsic, Extrinsic and Dependant).
Hypotheses.
Dealing with error and bias or variables if a correlational design.
Section 7-Data analysis methods and p-value
Type of data
Number of groups
How to test for normality
Relevant methodological methods if a review method is used
Section 8-Reference List
APA 7th editionis our official Harvard referencing scheme and the main referencing style in use at the University.
See the library website for training on referencing.
We recommend 10 per 1,000 words hence you are looking at approximately 24 references to achieve a fair banding for this piece of work.
Section 9-Appendix
Three appendices are required for this assessment which may include:
A detailed summary of your search strategy, including keywords, combinations, limits, MeSH headings and numbers retrieved for each database.
Data extraction table, a table summarising the main studies used within the review.
Gantt chart, a timeline for your research project for clinical study or systematic review.
Consent forms if appropriate.
Participant information sheets if appropriate.
Please Note:
The Sections 1 7 are included in the word count.
The Reference List (section 8) and Appendix (section 9) are not.
Important:
Your assessment is to be submitted via Turnitin within the blackboard site for the PRIH module.
Prior to submitting electronically please include all appendices at the end of your Reference List so that all your work is contained as one-word document, then submit this one document.
Assessed intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of a range of research techniques that can be applied to their professional practice to explore identified questions.
Critically appraise the purpose, process and products of research activity including the dissemination of research findings and good practice.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the influence of validity and reliability of measurements.
Develop a methodologically sound research proposal, including identification of ethical issues.
Transferable Skills and other Attributes
IT Skills consistent opportunities provided via the programme design and delivery via e learning. Students are required to utilise electronic resources to seek evidence for the module and utilise the VLE. Additionally, students will develop their searching skills to retrieve relevant articles from relevant databases.
Communication Learning opportunities are designed to facilitate communication skills via web applications within a virtual learning community including group discussion forums and email.
Problem Solving The module encourages students to develop a problem solving approach through the examination of the impact of influences and drivers on current practice. The assignment requires the student to problem solve in terms of finding the best method to present their work for assessment.
Managing own learning - learning outcomes are designed to develop skills in self-directed learning and Lifelong Learning through engagement in the learning opportunities the module provides such as the VLE, Web 2.0 applications and through the negotiated assessment strategy. Formatively assessed within the learning opportunities of the module.
Module Aims
Enable students to develop a rigorous approach to the process of research.
Prepare students to complete an original research proposal pertinent to their professional practice.
Word count
Your assessment should be a 2350-word literature review and methodology.
Please note if you exceed the word count the marker will stop reading at the end of the page that exceeds the word count.
Hence, we will not award any credit for words written and will not mark words beyond the word count.
If you exceed the word count this will also be reflected in the communication section of the marking grid.
The title page, references and appendices are not included within the word count; however, tables and all other sections are included in the word count.
Summative Feedback arrangements
You will receive feedback on your assessment on the 12.1.2023.
You can expect to receive summative feedback three weeks after the submission date.
The feedback will be available in my grades section on blackboard.
There will be script annotations on your original submission and feedback in the form of marking grid.
Formative assessment feedback:
The module contains a story so far session which is where you will receive peer formative feedback.
In addition to this your supervisor will also, if you comply before the deadline, review a draft copy of your assessment, no later than the 28.11.2022 10 am
We will comment on your draft within five working days from the point it was received excluding staff and university holiday.
Support arrangements
You can obtain support for this assessment:
In the support sessions held on Tuesday mornings, these are timetabled.
By contacting your supervisor: who can offer three hours supervision, which includes time to look at draft submissions.
As stated, earlier emails will be responded to in five working days.
Other sources of support include:
askUS Service
The University offers a range of support services for students through our askUS service which can be found through the student hub, http://www.askus.salford.ac.uk
Good Academic Conduct:
Students are expected to learn and demonstrate skills associated with good academic conduct (academic integrity).
Good academic conduct includes the use of clear and correct referencing of source materials. Here is a link to where you can find out more about the skills which students require http://www.salford.ac.uk/skills-for-learning
Academic Misconduct
This is an action which may give you an unfair advantage in your academic work. This includes plagiarism, asking someone else to write your assessment for you or taking notes into an exam.
The University takes all forms of academic misconduct seriously. You can find out how to avoid academic misconduct here http://www.salford.ac.uk/skills-for-learning
Assessment Information
If you have any questions about assessment rules, you can find out more here
https://www.salford.ac.uk/askus/academic-support/student-handbook/your-studies/course-support/assessment-and-feedback
Personal Mitigating Circumstances
If personal mitigating circumstances may have affected your ability to complete this assessment, you can find more information about personal mitigating circumstances procedure here https://www.salford.ac.uk/askus/academic-support/pmc
Personal Tutor/Student Progression Administrator
If you have any concerns about your studies, contact your Personal Tutor or your Student Progression Administrator.
If you are not sure who your personal tutor is contact the programme leader Dr Nicky Spence N.Spence@salford.ac.uk and they can connect you with them.
Assessment Criteria
You should look at the assessment criteria below and the marking grid to find out what we are specifically looking at during the assessment.
As the protocol has two distinct sections a literature review and methodology each section will be discussed in its logical order. The sections discussed below relate to the corresponding columns on the marking grid. Each of the four areas is assessed in both the literature review and proposals (cognitive processes, knowledge have clear content for the two main sections of your work and are highlighted below separately).
Literature Review Knowledge
When marking this section, consideration will be given to your knowledge of:
Key themes pertinent to the topic area
The chosen condition and its physical problems
The chosen measurement tool(s) and its properties
Subject area in relation to Physiotherapy & related healthcare practice, clinical governance, and policy context
Key elements of critical appraisal appropriate to Health research
Literature Review -Cognitive processes
When marking this section, consideration will be given to your ability to:
Carry out systematic (i.e. a discernible structure /order) critical comment on appropriately selected literature sources
(NB it is the critical comment that is marked in this section and the structure/order is marked under communication)
Provide alternative views of the subject area
Evaluate the evidence and its significance to professional practice and future research i.e. answer the so what? question. It is not enough just to describe the studies.
Isolated critique which is not then used to justify or develop discussion should be discouraged. Broad unsupported comments e.g. this was a good / poor study does not count as being critical.
Develop a rationale for the study culminating in a research question Synthesise evidence to come to an informed objective conclusion regarding your chosen patient group and offer justification for further research.
Develop an academic discussion by synthesis of a range of different ideas and perspectives (exploring both positive/negative impacts, similarities, contrasting opinions, areas of controversy, gaps in the literature etc.)
It is understood that each study cannot be critiqued in detail due to the word count. However there needs to be a brief and concise description of the study and then relevant aspects of methodological critique should be discussed in relation to the point being made an example of this follows. results were found to be significant in acute stages however this cannot be generalised to a more chronic population.
Protocol -Knowledge and Cognitive processes
When marking this section, consideration will be given to your knowledge of:
Appropriate research methodology
Inclusion of consent forms and all relevant documents in the appendices.
Justification of sample size.
Inclusion of Gantt chart
Demonstrate your understanding of research, including:
The methodology should be consistent from the proceeding section, to address the gap you have identified.
Data analysis method should be consistent with the design chosen and the data captured.
Referencing and Using Evidence
When marking this section, consideration will be given to your ability to:
Justify your literature search & inclusion of literature (Full search record should be included in the appendix). Rationalisation of inclusion of literature is more important than
Correctly reference throughout the text in Harvard style
Produce an accurate reference list in Harvard style
Use a wide range of both primary (direct from research papers) and secondary sources. Book and web references are more likely to be research methodology texts used to justify your protocol.
Use a range of appropriate literature in terms of currency
Limit the use of secondary citation
Communication
When marking this section, consideration will be given to your ability to:
Organise your literature in a logical manner (this relates to the systematic structure of the critical comment)
Write in a clear academic style with appropriate use of language (not colloquial in style), spelling and grammar.
Produce well-presented work with correct spelling and grammar
Produce well-presented appendices (e.g. informed consent forms for ethical justification, Gant chart to provide clarity of procedures used, as required)
Clearly and concisely express your ideas
Adhere to the guidelines
Your work should not be merely descriptive in style (aim to demonstrate depth of understanding).
You should consult your Blackboard Ultra Module site for a copy of the marking grid which contains these grade descriptors.
In Year Retrieval Scheme
Your assessment is not eligible for in year retrieval.
If you are eligible for this scheme, you will be contacted shortly after the feedback deadline.
Reassessment
If you fail your assessment, and are eligible for reassessment, you will need to resubmit on or before Monday 12.06.2023 10 am.
For students with accepted personal mitigating circumstances for absence/non submission, this will be your replacement assessment attempt.
If you do not have a PMC in place or it is not accepted the reassessment will be capped at 50%.
Your supervisor and the assignment title will remain the same as the first attempt in May.
You may submit a draft formative copy to your supervisor no later than the Friday 26.05.2023 at 10 am and feedback will be received within five working days.
