Postgraduate Course: Research Methods and Dissertation Planning (CAB) (VESC11286)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides an introduction to good scientific practice, data collection, management and analysis, scientific communication and common issues to avoid in research. |
| Course description |
This course provides an introduction to research methods and data analysis for students in the clinical animal behaviour field. An overview of different types of data and how to organise and manage the data will provide foundation for an overview of different data analysis and summarisation techniques and project management skills. Students will further explore methods for collecting data, different sources of available data and the potential need for ethical approvals before data collection begins. Specific methods for analysing qualitative and quantitative data will be examined, as well as introductions to different types of data analysis software. Finally, the students will apply what they have learned throughout this course to design a project proposal which could be used to form the basis for a dissertation thesis in the field of clinical animal behaviour.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment of this course will include an individual written assignment and multiple choice questions. Assessment briefs will be published on Learn at the beginning of the course. Please contact the programme team for more details. |
| Feedback |
Students will receive written or oral feedback on all formative and summative assessments within 15 working days of each assessment being due.
Opportunities for informal feedback arise within the course discussion boards and live sessions as well as through email discussions. Formal feedback and feedforward will be provided on coursework assignments and on formative activities.
Formative assessment and associated feedback will be provided prior to each summative assessment. Summative assessment will include comprehensive feedback.
The feedback from the second assessment will be used to finalise the project proposal into the dissertation topic and methods for the Dissertation course in the following academic year.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of data analysis and concepts of scientific methodology.
- Design and plan a research proposal within the field of Clinical Animal Behaviour, with consideration to research ethics and appropriate analysis of data.
- Undertake critical evaluation to analyse, interpret, and summarise data.
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Reading List
| The course reading list will be provided via the University's Resource List service and a link will be provided on the Learn course. Items will be identified as essential, recommended or further reading items. Additional resources will be provided, making full use of university electronic library, Learn, Media Hopper and other online resources. Other support material will be available through external open-access websites. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The following attributes are carefully developed throughout the RMDP course, enabling students to navigate current academic endeavours and to identify and overcome the challenges of undertaking research in clinical animal behaviour as they move forward in their careers.
1. Aspiration and Personal Development
Students are encouraged to develop a robust personal and professional identity that drives their pursuit of excellence and innovation in the field of clinical animal behaviour. Motivation and autonomy is encouraged in order to seek out professional development opportunities and strive to elevate capabilities in research design, data analysis, and ethical judgement.
2. Research and Enquiry
Building on scientific inquiry and data handling skills, students will utilise data analysis software and problem solving to enhance their capacity to undertake independent research in the field of clinical animal behaviour.
3. Personal Effectiveness
Students are encouraged to demonstrate autonomy and begin building project management skills, critical for guiding independent research projects such as a dissertation thesis. This includes planning, organisation and the ability to anticipate and respond to challenges while maintaining professional integrity and sound ethical judgement.
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| Keywords | Data collection,Research Methods,Data Analysis,Dissertation planning |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Loni Loftus
Tel: (0131 6)51 7396
Email: loni.loftus@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Elizabeth Wright
Tel: (0131 6)50 6272
Email: E.Wright@ed.ac.uk |
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