Module SPRT2432: Research Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences

Department: Sport and Exercise Sciences

SPRT2432: Research Skills for Sport and Exercise Sciences

Tied To

• C603: Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity
• C605: Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity with Year Abroad
• C606: Sport and Exercise Sciences
• C607: Sport and Exercise Sciences with Year Abroad
• C608: Sport and Exercise Sciences with Placement Year
• C609: Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity with Placement Year
• LMV0: Combined Honours in Social Sciences
• LMVA: Combined Honours in Social Sciences (with Year Abroad)

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• Develop conceptual knowledge and understanding of qualitative, quantitative and mixed research methods in sport and exercise sciences with a contemporary and applied focus.
• Understand the reasons and protocol for obtaining research ethical approval.
• Expand searching and critiquing skills, along with understanding of the scope of literature underpinning practice in sport and exercise sciences.
• Widen understanding of the application and value of research in practice.
• Understand the principles of research design and validity.
• Develop and apply skills in designing a research study.
• Understand a range of methods for collecting and analysing qualitative data.
• Understand approaches to quantitative data analysis, and develop abilities in statistical analysis.
• Develop an essential and in-depth understanding of research purpose, design and planning, thereby providing an informed foundation for the final-year Dissertation module and beyond.

Content

• Team-taught lectures, seminars and workshops to deliver on:
• Research philosophy, process, design and practice;
• Research ethics;
• Searching for and reviewing published literature;
• Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research;
• Writing a data analysis plan;
• Academic writing.

Learning Outcomes

• Research philosophy, design, and practice;
• Data collection and analysis for quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research in sport and exercise sciences;
• Research ethics

• Skills in research design;
• Skills to design and write a high quality research proposal.

• Developing independence;
• Literature searching and reviewing;
• Research design and planning;
• Academic writing skills;
• IT skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching and learning will take the form of weekly lectures, seminars and SPSS workshops.
• The module summative assessment will have two components:
• 1. Online research methods tests (2 x 40 minutes);
• 1a.Qualitative research methods test (Term 1, 40 minutes).
• 1b. Quantitative research methods test (Term 2, 40 minutes).
• 2. Written research proposal (3000 words)for L3 independent research project The proposal should represent an idea for an independent research project. It is recognised that students may wish or need to change their idea by year 3.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment will take place through regular online quizzes and completion of the dissertation topic form. Feedback can also be requested through tutorials.