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Group Research Project - BIO00088H

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  • Department: Biology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Sean Sweeney
  • Credit value: 40 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

This module will give students experience of the research process in a group project, during which they will work with a project director to frame their research within the context of existing knowledge, develop and test ideas or hypotheses to explain observations, and execute and manage objectives. Data generated will be analysed critically and communicated in a project report and oral presentation. Training will be given in advanced data analyses that can be used for both hypothesis generation, and interrogation and presentation of data.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25 to Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

This module aims to develop research skills that will provide a strong foundation for the extended research project in Stage 4. Skills in both data generation and analysis are emphasised with greater freedom in experimental design and approach compared to previous stages. Initial focus will be on hypothesis generation and learning project-specific data analysis tools. This will be followed by experimental design, execution and data collection. Working in groups will develop skills in collaborative research with peer support forming a key part of the project work. Staff will provide training and feedback on project work that will lead to the submission of a project report. A presentation on aspects of project work also forms a part of the assessment.

Module learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:

Generate a testable hypothesis via engagement with scientific literature and available data

Design and conduct experiments to test a hypothesis

Work effectively, safely and ethically on the project and within a team

Use appropriate computational techniques to reproducibly process, analyse and visualise data and generate scientific reports based on project work

Effectively communicate research findings to a scientific audience through written reports and oral presentations

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : Project Report		 N/A 70
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Oral Presentation		 N/A 30

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : Project Report		 N/A 70
Oral presentation/seminar/exam
Oral Presentation		 N/A 30

Module feedback

Marks for all summative assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Feedback will be either individual or cohort-level, depending on the assessment format. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.

For exam-style summative assessment, model answers will be provided for all questions along with cohort-level feedback indicating how students answered questions in general. Marks achieved per question will be added to your script.

For coursework assessments (eg. reports or essays) you will receive individual feedback on your work. This will usually be in the form of a feedback sheet that will include suggestions for further improvement.

During the teaching of the module you will receive formative feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Such feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.

Indicative reading

These are available through the VLE module site.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.