Thesis - MSc Palaeobiology (EASC M1016)

Unit organizer

Prof. M. J. Benton

Aims and objectives

This unit aims to develop in students an understanding of independent research. This will involve students being involved in the design, and implementation, of a research project, executable in the available time, using library and other search facilities, referencing previous work. Guidance and training will be given in the techniques needed to complete any analytical or theoretical parts of the project. The final part will involve students being guided in the construction of logical arguments and scientific report-writing. The project provides an opportunity to work alongside staff, postdoctoral workers and PhD students. The projects will occupy the students partially for the first 12 weeks of study, and fulltime for the remainder of the session. It is intended that the completed work should be of a standard that could be published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, noting that some of the best projects of past students have indeed been published or have been incorporated into publications.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the unit you will be able to:

• determine a theme to research through analysis of the current state of knowledge in a subject field
• identify,  access and assess appropriate library- or archive-based  information  relevant to the project
• design and plan a research project that it is feasible within the available time
• maintain high professional standards (use adequate sample size, eliminate bias, consider errors in data, limitations to models etc).
• critically appraise the strengths and weaknesses of the research project, evaluating the findings against those of others
• adapt and react if the project diverts from the original plan
• demonstrate practical and analytical skills relevant to the project
• collect, record and manage information and/or findings, and decide when it is sufficient to meet the aims of the project
• communicate the outcomes of the project to different audiences in an appropriate manner
• produce a final project report presented to the standard expected for submission of a manuscript to a leading international journal
• establish professional contacts within an international research team.

Coursework

This unit is based entirely on your research project, resulting in an MSc thesis (100%). Students attend the unit Scientific Communication as part of their training in how to write reports and scientific papers, how to give talks at conferences, how to make posters and web sites, and public understanding of science issues. This unit forms part of the overall assessment of the research (i.e. includes marks for project report and PDG talk).

Feedback

The academic advisor will provide general feedback during planning of the project and on-going consultation throughout the project. The work will be undertaken within the Palaeobiology and Biodiversity research group in the Department, and valuable feedback will be forthcoming by networking within this group, including discussion amongst postdoctoral staff and graduate students (e.g. in PDG). Feedback will be given on the draft project report, and following the PDG talk. General feedback will also be received from the project coordinator. Self-reflection is an important component of the project, with analysis of feedback from staff and peers during the life of the project and from the seminar presentation.

Unit workload

The Research Project is a 60 cp unit, and so is representative of some 600 hours workload over the academic session.

Assessment

This unit constitutes 60 credit points. The project will be examined on the basis of the presented thesis. Assessment criteria are given in the Department guidelines for individual project work and oral presentations.

Further guidelines on thesis format and assessment are available on the MSc Palaeobiology part of the Intranet.

Last updated: 11.09.2010