Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Aims
The aim of this module is to allow forensic science students to undertake a research project. This will enable the student to design an appropriate experiment to test a scientific hypothesis. During this module, they will gain experience of collecting and evaluating data as well as presenting the results of their analysis in both written and oral form.
Intended Learning Outcomes
plan and initiate a programme of practical work into a clearly defined area of the proposed forensic project: 1,3communicate verbally the project aims, key literature findings, and plans for practical work: 2carry out a planned programme of investigative laboratory work, continually analysing the data obtained, enabling informed decisions to be made: 3communicate verbally the results obtained and offer interpretation. Summarise the key findings: 2produce an individual project report outlining the project background, individual results and interpretation, group results and their relevance, a critical evaluation of findings overall, and conclusion: 3identify the need for an ethical appraisal of any work in forensic science and this project in particular and the process for obtaining ethical approval: 1,3critically appraise information of relevance to the project (general) and specific area (individual) obtained from a variety of sources: 1,2,3
Induction (6h)Laboratory work and data analysis (56h)Progress meetings (8h)Literature research and private study (30h)Report writing (50h)
Description of Module Assessment
1: Research Proposal weighted 15%Project ProposalWritten proposal for the proposed research project. Equivalent of 750 words covering the rationale, proposed methodology and analysis, and likely outcomes. Also to include completed ethics and risk assessment forms, and COSHH forms where relevant.
2: Viva weighted 15%VivaA viva interview (lasting 10-15 minutes) assessing the student on the technical aspects and findings of their research project. To be held two weeks before final report submission to give time for feedback to be incorporated into the final write up.
3: Report weighted 70%Individual written reportWritten report equivalent to 3500 words including submission of an ethics statement on the project and copies of lab notebooks (excluded from word count). The write up with focus on the rationale of the research conducted, the aims and objectives, materials and methods, results, and discussion (including conclusions). The write up will be on the same project as the Forensic Dissertation module and thus be supported by their dissertation write up submitted in semester 1.