Undergraduate Course: Critical Analysis Skills in Medical Biology (MBBM10017)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Medical Biology (Biomedical Sciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Critical evaluation of published primary research articles, and skill in clear and accurate scientific communication are two explicitly identified learning objectives of the Medical Biology Honours BSc Programme. These will be assessed through a Critical Analysis Task in which students will demonstrate their ability to interrogate research papers in depth by critically evaluating an original published research paper (i.e. not a review) relating to the topic of their Project. To ensure that appropriate papers are chosen, each student is initially required to select two potential papers and to send these to their project supervisor, who will then decide which of these two papers should be used (to prevent selection of an inappropriate paper ¿ e.g. because it is far too complex, or because it is too trivial, lacks data, etc). Each student will provide an independent report (1500 words max.) of that published paper for assessment, according to a specified format.
Critical evaluation of papers depends in part on being able to understand enough of statistical techniques to make a reasonable judgement about what conclusions may be legitimately drawn from data. Teaching sessions on statistics/data analysis will therefore be held to help develop/consolidate understanding of these issues.
A tutorial session will focus on how to construct a balanced evaluation of a specific example paper.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 2,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 2,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
93 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Students should be capable of:
Demonstrating an ability to use knowledge to critically analyse hypotheses and arguments
2. Writing about medical science issues in an accurate, clear and well-organised manner.
3. Demonstrating an ability to evaluate and integrate information from several sources |
Assessment Information
| 100% in-course assessment - 1500 word critique of a primary research paper in the area of the student's project (see Course Description for further details) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Martin Simmen
Tel: (0131 6)51 1773
Email: M.Simmen@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Lisa Ketchion
Tel: (0131 6)51 1629
Email: Lisa.Ketchion@ed.ac.uk |
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