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LSC-40065 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

LSC-40065 - Literature Review and Grant Proposal
Coordinator: Mark Skidmore Room: Hux168 Tel: +44 1782 7 33945
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

In this module you will further develop skills in the evaluation of scientific literature and experimental design. In addition to producing a comprehensive literature review, you will also formulate research questions/hypotheses and design appropriate research strategies to address these in the form of a mini grant proposal and lay summary.

Aims
This module aims to develop students' independent research skills in literature analysis and data evaluation. Students will conduct a critical analysis of the primary scientific literature of relevance to their programme and discipline, and produce a comprehensive literature review. The module also aims to introduce and develop skills in writing a research proposal in the form of a mini-grant proposal and lay summary, aligned with the research project module, with supporting tutorials.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically evaluate the context, methodology and findings of primary scientific literature: 1,2
evaluate and discuss the impact of a research project in terms of the societal, financial and intellectual perspectives: 2
design a research project, formulating appropriate hypotheses and a research strategy to address these: 2
communicate clearly and effectively in written form suitable for specialist and non-specialist audiences, including a comprehensive literature review, grant proposal and lay summary: 1,2

Study hours

15 hours of tutorials and workshops supporting module assessments
185 hours independent study: preparation of literature review
100 hours independent study: preparation of grant proposal

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Literature Review weighted 60%
Literature review
Students will produce a comprehensive review of the scientific literature (relating to an agreed subject area) of relevance to their programme of study (total 5,000 words)

2: Research Proposal weighted 40%
Grant proposal
Students will produce a mini-grant proposal and lay summary using a structured profoma (total 2,500 words) of relevance to their programme.

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: 13 February 2024