Research Project
MSc Students
Your research project is a considerable piece of work which will take over your life for the next few months. I am here to guide you on your journey as you develop your research skills.
A few ‘rules’ to be mindful of:
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Contact
I work part-time for the university (2 days a week). My days of work vary depending on child care and other commitments. I will endeavour to reply to emails within 3 days, do not expect an immediate reply. However if you have not had a reply after 5 working days please send a reminder.
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Tutorials
Tutorials are booked in advance, ensure you get the times in your diary. Please give at least 24hrs notice if you can’t make a tutorial. I will endeavour to do the same. Being part time, my time is limited, do not waste it. I will be as flexible as possible with timings but you may need to fit in with my diary.
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It is your piece of work
I am here to guide you, direct you to resources, and support you. I will not do the work for you. When discussing academic work, remember that what I say is an opinion. Therefore it is up to you to go and independently verify or critique me yourself.
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Look after your supervisor
Have a read of this piece by Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner. Look after me and I will look after you!
Kearns, H., Gardiner, M. The care and maintenance of your adviser. Nature 469, 570 (2011)
Develop your writing skills.
Academic writing still needs to be enjoyable to read. You’re telling a story. So learn how to write from the great storytellers. Practice different ways of conveying your message, don’t be bland and boring. Write music.
Develop your Academic writing.
Use this fantastic resource by Manchester University that will help you phrase your language appropriately.
Critique Quantitative papers with the McMaster tool and see the Guidance notes here
Critique Qualitative papers with the McMasters tool
Be productive, work in small blocks of time.
The Pomodoro Technique was developed in the late 1980s by then university student Francesco Cirillo. Cirillo was struggling to focus on his studies and complete assignments. Feeling overwhelmed, he asked himself to commit to just 10 minutes of focused study time. Encouraged by the challenge, he found a tomato (pomodoro in Italian) shaped kitchen timer, and the Pomodoro technique was born.
Read more here
How to structure your paper
How to structure a systematic review
You are respectfully reminded that this information is for guidance only. You will negotiate the final chapter headings used in your research project with your supervisor.
GUIDELINES FOR A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Abstract
Summary of objectives
Methods & means of analysis
Summary of the main results
Summary of the conclusion.
What the examiner will be looking for
Does the abstract provide a succinct overview of the review?
Does it to allow readers to decide at a glance whether the review is of relevance to them?
Introduction
Reason for the review
Potential impact of the review
Relevance to Trauma & Orthopaedics
Existing reviews
Explore your population and define terms
Explore your intervention (if relevant)
Explore your outcomes / diagnostic tests
Explore your design options
The review questions
Objectives
What the examiner will be looking for
Is the need for the review clear?
Is its place in the context of previous work clarified?
Is the focus of the review explicit?
Are objectives clear and achievable?
Methods
Search strategy & protocols: Sources of material (which databases, grey literature, etc
Search terms, Booleans, limits & MeSH
Inclusion/exclusion e.g. criteria for studies (RCTS, surveys, reviews, etc.)
Critical appraisal
Data extraction
Analysis method – e.g. narrative , thematic or meta-analysis
What the examiner will be looking for
Does the report of the search strategy promote confidence that the most important relevant studies have been included?
Are the boundaries of the review clear?
Are wide sources of material used?
Results
Overview of protocol results numbers from each protocol method
Methodological quality combined with data extraction and then the results of your chosen method of analysis Summary of findings (reflecting your critical judgement of the worth of individual findings
What the examiner will be looking for
Is the review helpfully structured to facilitate the reader’s understanding?
Are appropriate questions asked of studies according to design?
Are appropriate approaches utilised to compare studies of similar design?
Is there enough depth of analysis?
Are both strengths and weaknesses of studies addressed?
Is the rigour of studies adequately assessed?
Is the critique supported by evidence & logical argument?
Is a useful, accurate summary provided?
Discussion
Can you answer your research question?
The degree to which evidence is conflicting, mutually-supportive, or equivocal.
Reflections on how the findings relate to wider context (political, social, professional issues).
Trends over time (a comparison with previous reviews).
Reflection on limitations of the review.
What the examiner will be looking for
Does the discussion go beyond a statement of the findings to provide additional insights into the material?
Does the discussion consider the overall nature and quality of the available evidence?
Are valid links made to the wider context as appropriate to the topic?
Are limitations of the review acknowledged?
Key points
Implications for practice
Implications for future research
What the examiner will be looking for
Are the suggested implications insightful, reasonable, and significant?
Appendices
Gant chart
Data extraction sheets·
Search history e.g.· Quality appraisal results· Analysis results / raw data·
Tables of included/excluded studies·
Tables relating to the review content
What the examiner will be looking for
Do any appendices add illumination to the review?
Are they accurate & clear?
References
Included studies·
Other literature referred to in the text
What the examiner will be looking for
Is referencing accurate, complete, and in consistent academic style?
Keep on track with your word count for each section
How to structure your literature review
Your PRIH work now gets amended to create your literature review and methodology. Use the following to help your format your literature review.
