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FSC-30015 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

FSC-30015 - Forensic Science Team Research Project - ISP
Coordinator: Christopher Aris
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

The aims of this module are: (i) to provide students with the opportunity to apply and develop their knowledge and understanding of forensic science within a research environment; (ii) to implement recognised and develop novel forensic analytical techniques; (iii) to evolve their knowledge and use of and understand the relevance of statistical techniques and their interpretation; (iv) to use and develop interpersonal and communications skills; (v) to develop presentation and report-writing skills; (vi) to appreciate the role of ethical approval in forensic science project work.

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: 1,3
communicate verbally the project aims, key literature findings, and plans for practical work: 2
carry out a planned programme of investigative laboratory work, continually analysing the data obtained, enabling informed decisions to be made: 3
communicate verbally the results obtained and offer interpretation. Summarise the key findings: 2
produce 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: 3
identify the need for an ethical appraisal of any work in forensic science and this project in particular and the process for obtaining ethical approval: 1,3
critically appraise information of relevance to the project (general) and specific area (individual) obtained from a variety of sources: 1,2,3

Study hours

Induction (6h)
Laboratory work and data analysis (56h)
Progress meetings (8h)
Literature research and private study (30h)
Report writing (50h)


School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 15%
Project Proposal
Written 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%
Viva
A 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 report
Written 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.

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: 19 January 2023