Description

Independent Research Review

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

This module allows you to investigate a question from any of the sub-disciplines in Exercise and Sport Sciences or a question that is interdisciplinary in nature. You will then present a critically analytical literature review on this question. This module allows you to study independently to develop your literature-based research skills, your ability to critically analyse the evidence and present a well-argued and considered answer to your research question. There are no pre- or co-requisites for this module and it is suitable for non-specialist students.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of independent research review module is to present a critically analytical literature review on a specific research question of your choosing. The question you choose to investigate can be from any of the sub-disciplines in Exercise and Sport Science or may be interdisciplinary in nature. This independent study module will allow you to develop your literature-based research skills, your ability to critically analyse the evidence and present a well-argued and considered answer to the research question.

Graduate attributes. As part of this module you are expected to develop the following skills:

• Strategic thinking and problem solving in designing your search strategies.
• Application of knowledge in interpreting findings of your literature search.
• Building confidence as a communicator in discussing your literature search results with peers and your supervisor
• Enquiring mind in pursuing further reading on topics you discuss with your supervisor and find in your independent study.
• Data management skills in collecting and recording literature and critically interpreting results

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Identify and define a research question
• 2. Obtain and appraise the relevant research literature or documentation
• 3. Interpret the data/evidence and draw meaningful conclusions

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrate skills of research, analysis, and critical evaluation
• 5. Examine the meaning from quantitative or qualitative data

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Take responsibility for your learning, including appropriate time management, arranging student-supervisor meetings, data collection, study write-up
• 7. Present ideas and information competently and cogently in both written and poster formats

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

• IRR proposal
• Formulate / clarify research review question
• Formulate a search strategy. Identify search terms and pertinent databases
• Progress in literature review
• Submission of draft review in December – February
• Feedback on the proposed review and action
• IRR write up and hand in – present your IRR is writing
• IRR conference – present your literature review via a poster presentation

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Assessment

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Resources

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Please note that you are encouraged to read more specific texts about your research question. You should familiarise yourself with the Dissertation/IRR Guidelines document, available on ELE.

• American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5^th ed.). Washington, DC: APA.
• Barrass, R. (2002). Scientists must write: A guide to better writing for scientists, engineers, and students (2^nd ed.). London, UK: Routledge.
• Field, A. (2013). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics (4th ed.). London, UK: Sage.
• Huck, S. W. (2008). Reading statistics and research (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
• Vincent, W. J. (2005). Statistics in kinesiology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Sternberg, R. J., & Sternberg, K. (2010). The psychologist’s companion: A guide to scientific writing for students and researchers (5^th ed.) New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
• Strunk, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (2000). The elements of style (4^th ed.). New York, NY: Longman.
• Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K., & Silverman, S. J. (2011). Research methods in physical activity (5th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9396 
  

Module has an active ELE page

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

You should also take the opportunity to read exercise and sport science journals. In particular ‘Sports Medicine’. This journal publishes commissioned review articles that interpret and evaluate the current literature to provide the rationale for and application of research findings in the field of sport and exercise science.

Key words search

Literature review, critical evaluation, biomechanics, physiology, psychology