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PHY-10030 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 25 April 2024

PHY-10030 - Scientific Practice
Coordinator: Jacco Van Loon Room: LJ2.07 Tel: +44 1782 7 33331
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

You will begin to develop the fundamental scientific techniques and core skills needed to
successfully complete a degree in Physics or Astrophysics: scientific writing, critical
evaluation, scientific presentation and debate, experimental design. Through a variety
of lectures, tutorials, presentation sessions and coursework including a reflective
portfolio you will learn and practice the principles of the scientific method. This includes
basic error analysis, risk assessment, recognising bias, intellectual property and
plagiarism.

Aims
To understand the scientific method and its relation to philosophy¿ to acquire skills in
scientific argumentation and presentation, both in written and spoken form¿ to adopt
a critical attitude towards the work of others and of oneself¿ to understand the
principles and importance of intellectual property and open access¿ to understand how
to build on previous work but avoid plagiarism, and to plan a project including a rigorous risk assessment.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/phy-10030/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

1,3,4
3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
2
3,4
1,3,4
1,2,3,4

Study hours

24hr lectures
12hr tutorials
4hr presentation sessions
30hr preparing essay
30hr designing experiment
30hr preparing and reporting on presentation
20hr preparing portfolio

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 25%
Critique (~1000 words)
Written essay (approximately 1000 words) presenting arguments for and against a theory and a critical assessment of both.

2: Research Proposal weighted 25%
Research Proposal
Design of an experiment to test or falsify a theory, including project planning and risk assessment. Assessment is based on a completed proforma template, equivalent to approximately 1000 words.

3: Oral Presentation weighted 25%
Oral presentation
A 10-minute oral presentation, questions and answers¿ summarised in a brief proforma.

4: Portfolio weighted 25%
Portfolio
Presentation of a module portfolio, with evidence of reflection. The portfolio consists of a report of approximately 1000 words, submitted along with any supporting material.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and 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/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 25 April 2024