Module Directory

This module will provide students with the experience of how social researchers go about applying their skills and knowledge in an empirical investigation of a topic they find interesting. It will allow students to plan the organisation and timing of their work with a high degree of independence and self-motivation.

The aims of this module are:

• To provide students with the experience of how social researchers go about applying their skills and knowledge in an empirical investigation of a topic they find interesting.


• To allow students to plan the organisation and timing of their work with a high degree of independence and self-motivation.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Formulate a problem relevant to Physiotherapy.


2. Critically review relevant literature (this may be theory, research studies, official statistics, policy documents, etc.).


3. Follow through an investigation that will involve designing a piece of empirical research (considering the key methodological issues, risks, and ethical issues) into advanced-level situations, issues and/or problems. Options for the investigation include systematic review and original research (timelines permitting).


4. Incorporate advanced knowledge and skills from other parts of their degree including theoretical, methodological, analytical, or substantive elements.


5. Using available evidence, develop an argument, and write up their material in a coherent, systematic, and well-presented dissertation, and produce a conference-quality poster.

Indicative Content

• Preparing for research, proposal writing, and ethics approval.


• Designing quantitative research and questionnaires or designing qualitative research and interview schedules.


• Report writing.

Indicative content will also reflect each individual student's area of investigation. Students must undertake the work in an area that is directly relevant to physiotherapy practice.

Students will agree on an area of investigation with Dr Nicholas Clark in the first instance, and thereafter with their allocated Research Project Supervisor.

This module will be delivered via:

• A mixture of lectures, recommended readings, and independent learning.

You are allocated a supervisor near the beginning of the year, and you work with this supervisor over the course of the year. Please see the 'Supervision Guidance Document' on Moodle for further information and explanation about the process.

Your supervisor will provide guidance and ensure you are "on track" with your research. They will point out the areas in which you need to focus at a specific point in time and direct you to relevant sources of information as necessary. You direct the supervision, tutorial, and formative feedback process: it is your responsibility to contact your supervisor to book tutorials.

It is your responsibility to prepare appropriately for every tutorial. Your supervisor will not 'chase' you to make tutorials during the year. Your supervisor will provide you with written formative feedback on a draft of your written work (up to 1500 words) at an appropriate point during your project. Dates for submission of formative work should be negotiated with your supervisor and then submitted via email directly to your supervisor.

Your role as the student in supervision is:

• To initiate meetings/contact with your supervisor in a timely fashion.
• To be fully prepared for each meeting/contact.
• To make notes/keep a record of each meeting/contact.
• To negotiate submission dates for written work. o To contact the module lead as soon as possible with any concerns over supervision. Supervision can be in the form of:
• Face to face meetings o Video meetings (e.g., Zoom, Skype)
• Telephone conversations
• Email conversations
• Providing you with written feedback

Up to 15 hours of supervision are available to you across the duration of the module.

As general guidance, you should ideally aim to meet with your supervisor once a month - even if you have not made much progress since the previous month, it is still very useful to 'check in' with your supervisor in order to (re)gain momentum and then make ongoing progress.

Tutorials should be arranged across the course of the Module – October 2024 to April 2025: Tutorials should not be left until the last few weeks before the summative submission deadline when supervisors may not be able to accommodate last-minute requests.

No supervision or feedback will be provided in the last two weeks before the submission date. If you wish to arrange a face-to-face, telephone, or video meeting with your supervisor, please make every effort to arrange these well in advance, as your supervisor may well not be able to meet for several days depending on their workload. Topics: Quantitative research project considerations. Systematic review considerations. Qualitative research project considerations.