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LSC-20078 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-20078 - Neuroscience Research Methods
Coordinator: Jenny Shin
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

Experimentation is at the heart of scientific pursuit. Within this module, we will focus on the key principles of research design, data analysis, statistics, presenting data and drawing appropriate conclusions. This will help you to prepare for your final year experimental project and help you to develop key scientific skills that are highly sought after by a number of different employers.

Within LSC 20107 Practical Skills in Bioscience you will take part in a comprehensive range of labs that could include: microscopy, electrophysiology, pharmacology and both molecular and behavioural techniques. Within this module, we will explore these research methodologies in more detail and you will learn how to present scientific findings to a range of different audiences.

Aims
To provide students with an understanding of research study design, statistics and reporting applied to key Neuroscience research methodology including, light microscopy and cell staining, electrophysiology, pharmacology, molecular and behavioural techniques.

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate the principal techniques employed in neuroscience research: 1,2,3
analyse data and present findings in both tabular and graphical forms: 1,2,3
locate, evaluate and retrieve information from a variety of resources including textbooks, primary literature and the internet and assess, summarise and communicate information accurately: 1,2
use spreadsheets, word processors and statistical packages to compile, analyse, compare and interpret data derived from experiments: 1,2

Study hours

Active learning hours (101hours):
- 38 hours live lectures, tutorials and workshops
- 11x 5hours engagement with asynchronous material
- 8 hours preparation for 2 labs delivered as part of LSC-20107 Practical skills in Bioscience
Independent study hours (199 hours):
- 35 hours completion of ICA1
- 35 hours completion of ICA2
- 2 hours exam
- 127 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Report weighted 25%
Lab report
A 1000-word lab report. This report will be based on one of the practicals delivered in LSC-20107 covering analysis, presentation and evaluation results.

2: Poster weighted 25%
Digital Poster with flash talk
Students will design a digital poster with 3-4 minute recorded narrative that could be used as a flash talk to inform the scientific community.

3: Exam weighted 50%
Unseen exam (MCQs and SAQs)
The unseen exam will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions assessing lecture-based material. While the exam is designed to take approximately 1 hour, all students will be allocated 2 hours to ensure an inclusive and accessible assessment experience. Students will be permitted to take a double-sided A4 memory prompt of notes with them to the exam.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025