Postgraduate Course: Science communication/public engagement/informal learning dissertation (BIME11203)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 80 |
ECTS Credits | 40 |
| Summary | This is an 80 credit, 4 month dissertation course in which students conduct research in a science communication/public engagement/informal learning topic and produce an 18,000 word dissertation. |
| Course description |
The 80 credit, 4 month dissertation course provides students with the opportunity to conduct research in a science communication/public engagement/informal learning topic.
Students have received formal instruction in the programme in 2 x 20 credit courses of research skills. Students will be encouraged to apply their learning in the selection and critical analysis of topics in the literature review, their identification and refining of research questions, choice of research methods and data analysis and their critical analysis of their research findings to produce a discussion and conclusions. Students will produce an 18,000 word dissertation which provides an opportunity to exemplify their learning from the programme overall and thereby produce original science communication, public engagement/informal learning research.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 5 (Sem 2) and beyond |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
800
(
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 15,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 5,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 16,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
764 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% dissertation |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback will be provided throughout through supervision.
Summative feedback will be provided together with the final mark following the Board of Examiners.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Students will be able critically analyse literature relevant to their topic and produce a cohesive literature review
- Students will be able to formulate research questions
- Students will be able to select appropriate research methods for data collection and analysis
- Students will be able to critically analyse research findings and produce a coherent narrative in a discussion and conclusions
- Students will be able to draw on the aggregated learning outcomes from the programme to produce an analytical, cohesive, relevant research dissertation.
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Reading List
Bryman, A . (2021) Social Research Methods
SAGE Handbook of Quantitative Methodology for the Social Sciences (Kaplan 2004)
Social Science Research, International Journal of Social Research Methodology
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2013) Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners SAGE.
Braun, V., Clarke, V. and Gray, D. (2017) Collecting Qualitative Data: A Practical Guide to Textual, Media and Virtual Techniques Cambridge University Press.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course develops the following graduate attributes:
- curiosity for learning that makes a positive difference
- courage to expand and fulfill student potential
- passion to engage locally and globally
- creative problem solvers and researchers
- critical and reflective thinkers
- skilled communicators |
| Keywords | Dissertation,science communication,public engagement,informal learning,research skills |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Elizabeth Stevenson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3258
Email: E.Stevenson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Katherine Shaw
Tel: (0131 6)50 8349
Email: K.Shaw@ed.ac.uk |
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