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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: 21 December 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 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

Critically evaluate arguments presented by themselves and by others: 1,2,3
Assess the accuracy and reliability of the work of themselves and of others: 1,3
Apply the scientific method to experiment and theory: 1,2,3
Write in a scientific style: 1,2
Present original work, giving appropriate credit to the work by others: 1,2,3
Plan a project including risk assessment: 2
Make and organise accurate recordings of data and information: 1,2,3
Recognise and avoid bias: 1
Present and argue a case in an articulate manner: 1,2,3

Study hours

Active learning:
24hr lectures
12hr tutorials
4hr presentation sessions
Independent Study:
35hr preparing essay
35hr designing experiment
40hr preparing and reporting on presentation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 30%
Critique (~1000 words)


2: Research Proposal weighted 30%
Research Proposal


3: Presentation weighted 40%
Oral presentation


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: 21 December 2024