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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Moray House School of Education and Sport : Sport

Undergraduate Course: Sport Science: Research Attachment 4 (SPRT10049)

Course Outline
SchoolMoray House School of Education and Sport CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)
Course typePlacement AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe sport science research attachment is an opportunity for students to engage in a piece of applied research carried out on behalf of an agency external to the university. External agencies suitable for hosting a research attachment can include those concerned with performance and excellence in sport through to those more focused on participation and physical activity for health.

The nature of this project-based investigation is agreed by the agency, the student and the university. It is in essence the production of an applied consultancy report designed to address an identified problem, issue or knowledge gap. The final report will be a professionally-relevant resource as well as an item of academic assessment.
Course description During semester 1 students will have initiated contact with an external agency and discussed areas of mutual interest. A proposal of the work will be discussed with an academic member of staff and agreed by all parties (student, agency & university) before any work commences. Under normal circumstances It is anticipated that work should begin before the end of semester 1. Contact time with the external agency will vary between projects; it is not essential to have regular contact hours as one would with a placement. If for any reason by the end of semester 1 there are concerns about the progress of the work students can register for a different course for semester 2.

Students will be allocated a supervisor from among our academic staff and this will depend on the nature of the work. Supervision will involve regular scheduled meetings and this will be the only direct teaching contact. The assessment is a written report which is written in way that it is professionally relevant to the external agency and in a way which can engage an audience which not be sport science professionals.

This teaching and learning is based around a position statement about work placements produced by The British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES) which is the professional body for the sport sciences. BASES define work placements as "curriculum-based work related learning opportunities, integral to a programme of study (undergraduate and postgraduate), embedded within a framework of clearly defined learning outcomes, opportunity for assessment, reflective practice and achievement of academic credit".

This teaching and learning is research-led. Members of academic staff the Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Science (ISPEHS) who contribute to this course are all members of one or more of the following research groups hosted by ISPEHS: (1) Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAHRC), (2) Edinburgh Sports Research, (3) Human Performance Science (HPS) and (4) Physical Education Research Forum (PERF).
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 3, Fieldwork Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 173 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) The student effort is focussed on generating the commisioned research report for the outside agency
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 1 x 5000 word project report (100%)
Feedback Informal Feedback - This takes place during teaching, seminars and practicals throughout the semester. Your tutors will comment on your understanding of the ideas covered in the course, and may give you specific advice regarding your progress. Such feedback is intended to help you understand what your strengths and development points are, and to enable you to take informed responsibility for your learning and progression.

Discussion forum - Throughout the course as a whole the students are encouraged to use a discussion forum in LEARN. Any questions posted by students about teaching, learning and assessment are be responded to by the course tutors for everyone to see.

Cohort feedforward - Detailed cohort feed-forward (if available) from previous cohorts of students is provided for all assessments on this course.

Formative Feedback - At the start of this courses all research attachments involve submission of a research proposal and ethical approval; this will involve discussion and feedback on design and suitability. In addition students will arrange regular meetings with their supervisor to review progress and give guidance on planning, data collection, analysis and reporting. Students will gain valuable experience, knowledge and also feedback on what they are doing from a practitioner perspective.

Summative Feedback - All students will receive individual written feedback based on the structure of the sections on the assignment specification
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of sport science and an understanding of how this is connected and applied to sport and exercise
  2. Execute a programme of research with applied, professionally-relevant outcomes
  3. Demonstrate critical thinking, creativity and judgement when translating research into practice
  4. Communicate scientific findings in a way which is professionally-relevant but accessible to a range of audiences
  5. Initiate and maintain a working relationship with professional partners external to the university
Learning Resources
Lynch C (2010) "Doing your Research project in Sport" Pub by Learning Matters Ltd Exeter. ISBN number: 978-1-84445-164-7

Board L, Pye M, Doggart L, Caldow E, Knowles Z and Twist C. The BASES Position Stand on Curriculum-based Work Placements. The Sport & Exercise Scientist. Issue 4 Summer 2014 http://www.bases.org.uk/The-BASES-Position-Stand-on-Curriculum-based-Work-Placements
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills This course addresses 12 of the 21 graduate attributes developed on the BSc Applied Sport Science degree

RESEARCH AND ENQUIRY
(3) Plan and execute research projects, involving data collection and analysis, which answer research questions in sport and exercise sciences.
(4) Interpret data collected or reported in sport, physical activity and exercise studies

PERSONAL AND INTELLECTUAL AUTONOMY
(7) Be independent learners who can take responsibility for their own learning
(8) Be able to respond to unfamiliar problems by extrapolating their existing knowledge and understanding

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
(9) Be able to communicate clearly using oral and written methods, including posters, presentations, essays, web pages, in order to critique, negotiate, create or communicate understanding
(12) Be able to initiate communication with non-university agencies connected to sport and exercise

PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
(13) Be able to plan and execute substantive research projects in sport and exercise sciences (including but not limited to the dissertation and mini-project)
(16) Be able to transfer knowledge and ideas between different contexts within sport, exercise and health
(17) Be able to engage effectively with outside agencies to foster or develop research, consultancy or support initiatives

TECHNICAL/PRACTICAL SKILLS
(18) Be able to use the test, measurement and analysis tools appropriate to sport, physical activity and exercise, including for example laboratory or field tests.
(20) Be able to select and apply the appropriate statistical procedures to analyse empirical data
(21) Be able to present data and report research findings according to standard scientific conventions
Keywordssport science placement research attachment external
Contacts
Course organiserDr Dave Saunders
Tel: (0131 6)51 4121
Email: Dave.Saunders@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Lorraine Nolan
Tel: (0131 6)51 6571
Email: Lorraine.Nolan@ed.ac.uk
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