MSc Clinical Pharmacy

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Pharmacy Research Dissertation

Course unit fact file
Unit code PHAR62230
Credit rating 60
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit consolidates both the general research methods skills and the knowledge about specific pharmacy topics gained during the first two years of the diploma.  It provides the learner with an opportunity to investigate a topic of particular interest.  Unlike the unit previously studied in the diploma, this unit places heavy emphasis on self-directed study with guidance from a course tutor or other departmental staff member.

 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Research Methods PHAR60512 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

The unit aims to enable students to:

  • demonstrate a fully informed, critical and analytical understanding of a significant issue related to community pharmacy public health through an original research project;
  • demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their own research;
  • consolidate their ability to critically analyse literature;
  • consolidate their understanding of research processes;
  • demonstrate independent learning.

Teaching and learning methods

All learning and teaching processes for this programme will be delivered through e-learning resources based around Blackboard.
 
This will involve 5 x 2 hour webinars covering research skills, development and presentation of project ideas

Further, each student will have a personal supervisor who will be a recognised educationalist employed by the University. 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of different theoretical concepts as they apply to the area of research.
  • Demonstrate a clear understanding of the different methods and approaches to data collection depending on the research questions, and their relative values to the research enquiry.
  • Understand ethical issues and processes as appropriate to the area of research.

 

Intellectual skills

  • Critically demonstrate considerable in-depth skills in terms of research; critical thinking, reasoning, and analysis and synthesis of information.
  • Critically analyse, evaluate and interpret data from the specific enquiry.

Practical skills

  • Use literature searching skills together with discrimination skills in relation to the appropriateness and relevance of available evidence to support academic reasoning.
  • Demonstrate skills and expertise in academic writing, scholarship and authorship, including skills of referencing and the production of reference list.
  • Work with appropriate data analytic techniques and software (eg SPSS).

 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • In-depth and extensive capabilities in the analysis and synthesis of new and past evidence on the topic, as demonstrated and applied to their area of research.
  • Engage in systematic and critical reflection of personal practice and the practice of others in relation to the enquiry.

Assessment methods

Assessment Length Feedback Weighting

Submit a research proposal

1000 words

Written feedback provided by the Division of Pharmacy & Optometry PGT research committee 15 working days after submission

N/A

Present an update of project progress

3 hours

Oral feedback provided by course leader and peers during the presentation session

 

 

Feedback methods

Provisional marks and feedback for coursework returned within 15 working days.

Exam marks and final marks returned after ratification at exam board. 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 3
Seminars 3
Independent study hours
Independent study 594

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Denham Phipps Unit coordinator

Return to course details