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University of Exeter Medical School

Medical Sciences Literature Review

Module titleMedical Sciences Literature Review
Module codeCSC4028
Academic year2020/1
Credits45
Module staff

Dr Vikki Moye (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

12

12

1

Number students taking module (anticipated)

100

Module description

This final year literature review module builds on the skills you have learnt in the previous years. It will stimulate your interest and knowledge in biomedical and/or clinical science with the main component of the module being an independent literature review. Your research will take the form of one, 20-week narrative literature review. By performing an independent literature review you will get an insight into the world of research in biomedical/clinical science. You will investigate your own specific research question using published literature under guidance of an expert in the field.  The module will consolidate your developing skills in collection, interpretation, formulation and presentation of evidence; and enhance your leadership and personal reflective behaviours and employment skills. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module seeks to develop your ability to conduct detailed literature reviews within the Biomedical/Clinical Science discipline and report the results in writing and verbally. It also aims to consolidate student reflective behaviours and employment skills. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

  • 1. Demonstrate an understanding of a range of biomedical and/or clinical science techniques.
  • 2. Apply skills of critical thinking, problem-formulation, problem-solving, and rigorous scientific data /information analysis to biomedical and/or clinical science practice.
  • 3. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of essential facts and theory in a research discipline related to biomedical and/or clinical science.
  • 4. Describe and critically evaluate aspects of current research in biomedical and/or clinical science with reference to research articles.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

  • 5. Demonstrate professional competence in communicating effectively with academic staff and/or healthcare professionals
  • 6. Understand the expected performance standards in relation to scientific probity, multidisciplinary team-based practice and recognise personal levels of professional scientific competence.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

  • 7. Manage time, workload, ambiguity, change and stress effectively and demonstrate effective personal development planning, based on self-awareness and reflection
  • 8. Understand and apply key skills of effective project management and leadership
  • 9. Use employability skills to improve competitiveness in future job applications

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

Preliminary planning for the project takes place in Year 2 or the Professional Training Year (PTY), whichever appropriate. In the final year, project work will normally be undertaken in the Autumn and Spring terms and the written final reports are normally due in the Spring term, 

Supervisory meetings are held by arrangement, with students entitled to at least 30 minutes of supervisory time per week. Three formal, documented meetings of project student and supervisor take place. 

Career development and employability skills will be discussed (e.g. CV consolidation and interview techniques) with Academic Tutor. 

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
224280

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2Lectures. Either short pre-recorded videos live via Teams/Zoom if the can not occur face to face.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities10Project work: Supervisor meetings for guidance on project development, implementation, data analysis and interpretation. Meetings for training and support to be done via Teams/Zoom if the can not occur face to face.
Scheduled Learning & Teaching8Workshops to be delivered by short pre-recorded videos as pre-learning; or synchronous workshops via Teams/Zoom if they can not occur face to face.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2Academic tutor meetings, meetings to be done via Teams/Zoom if the can not occur face to face: • To discuss the Academic, Personal & Professional Learning Evaluation (APPLE) Form development of skills required for successful completion of final year • To discuss the E-portfolio • To discuss employment/future study
Guided independent study420Other project-related work including: Formative project proposal writing, project report writing, literature research, preparation for supervisor meetings, oral presentation preparation, preparation of the E-Portfolio and other guided independent study.
Guided independent study8Keeping E-Portfolio and APPLE form up to date.

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Written Preliminary Project proposalProject proposal 500 words (within first 4 weeks of project)1-5Written and oral
Personal and key skills feedback from peers, project supervisor and research colleagues and Academic Tutor as appropriate.100-200 words1-8Written and oral
Provider feedbackOn 10% of draft written literature review, equivalent to 1000 words1-6Written and oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
80020

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Literature review 7010,000 words1-6Written
Oral presentation (10min) + Q&As (5 min)2015 min5Written
Professionalism Component - encompassing the following elements: a) Supervisor student performance judgement (5%) b) Professionalism award Assessment (2.5%) c) E-Portfolio (2.5%) 10b) Completed APPLE form c) Electronic file containing experiences, feedback and assessment results.a) 1-8 b) 7-9 c) 7-9Oral and/or written

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

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
10,000 literature Review (70%)Re-submission of the 10,000word literature review. 1-6By end of ref/def period
Oral presentation (20%)Oral Presentation (10min) + Q&As (5 min)5By end of ref/def period
Professionalism Component (10%)Remediation meeting with academic tutor1-9Early in term 3 (see note)

Re-assessment notes

In the event of you failing the professionalism award assessment component and failing the module overall, you will be required to meet with your Academic Tutor as soon as possible to remediate this failure as a referred assessment. This will involve submitting any outstanding components required for this award, and, if necessary, undertaking any actions required by the Academic Tutor to remediate for any unprofessional behaviour. In the event of you failing the professionalism award component but passing the module overall, you will be required to meet with your academic tutor for an individual meeting to remediate this outcome before the end of the academic year. 

Please also refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading: 

This will vary according to your specific project, and will be advised by your supervisor and on the project description form 

Web based and electronic resources: 

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6461 

This will vary according to your specific project, and will be advised by your supervisor and on the project description form 

Other resources: As directed by the supervisor

Key words search

Research, data, analysis, literature, clinical science, biomedical science, independent, evidence, critical appraisal, communication

Credit value45
Module ECTS

22.5

Module pre-requisites

CSC2014 Principles of Medical Research 

Module co-requisites

N/A

NQF level (module)

6

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

25/02/2012

Last revision date

13/07/2020