Assessment Brief
Module Title: The Advancing Professional
Code:
Level: 6 40
Module Leader/ Assessment set by: The assessment has been developed in conjunction with the various subject teams across the College.
The module lead for the module is Victoria Cadman (ODP).
You will also have a lead from your own professional group.
Assessment title: • Primary research proposal
or
• Extended literature review
or
• Service evaluation and/or improvement
Mode of submission: You should submit your assessment electronically via the submission link provided in the ‘Assessment’ section of the module Blackboard site.
Please note: the Turnitin submission point is NOT the final submission point for marking and assessment. You need to submit your final piece of work to BOTH the final submission point (for assessment) AND the Turnitin submission point (for a plagiarism check). Both these submissions should be identical including the reference list.
Task details and instructions: The assessment is a project report, detailed proposal, dissertation (literature based, primary research, service development or evaluation) which is up to 6,000 words in length. The precise nature of the assessment is negotiated and agreed with your supervisor.
This written assignment will enable you to undertake a project that explores a topic of your own choice relating to your area of practice and present your findings. You may choose a primary research proposal, extended literature review, or service evaluation and/or improvement.
Primary research proposal
• The background to the study, its rationale and importance.
• The study design and method to be undertaken including sampling methods, recruitment, setting, researcher bias and ethical considerations.
• Data collection methods and tools.
• Data analysis methods.
• Implications and application of possible findings to practice.
Extended literature review
• Background/justification for your topic.
• Your search strategy – how evidence was identified and selected.
• The critical appraisal tools used to assess the quality of the literature found.
• A critical review of the evidence.
• A synthesis of your findings.
• A critical discussion around your findings.
• Recommendations for clinical practice.
• Recommendations for future research.
• Conclusions.
Service evaluation and/or improvement
• The background to the service, rationale and importance of evaluation/improvement.
• Evaluation and/or improvement design method/improvement models (e.g. Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle) to be undertaken including ethical considerations.
• Data collection methods and tools.
• Data analysis methods.
• Implication and application of finding to practice in informing service provision.
• Recommendations for service.
For all work, copies of your supervision records should be attached and submitted as appendices.
For all written work; SHU standard for referencing (APA) will be required. Further guidance can be found here https://libguides.shu.ac.uk/referencing
Presentation format
● Your work MUST be presented electronically
● Use a clear font such as Arial, Verdana or Times New Roman using font size 12 and black text colour.
● Your work should be submitted in Microsoft Word format for example .doc or .docx file type. All SHU computers have Microsoft Word installed. If you are using your home computer and you do not have Word installed or use a Mac you can either use your free SHU Office 365 account to create your assignments in Word online, download and then upload the document to grade centre OR to create the assignment in Pages and export to Word then upload.
● Text should be presented using double line spacing except for quotes over two lines long which should be indented and single spaced as per SHU referencing Guidelines.
● Pages must be clearly numbered.
● Avoid using bullet points. It is preferable to express your ideas using complete and structured sentences.
● Leave yourself time to proof read for errors and omissions. Marks will be lost if assignments contain numerous errors of grammar, spelling and style, or, if cited references and the reference list do not match or the source material is not properly incorporated in the text.
● Use the front page provided with the following information detailed in the example at the end of this document.
● If you have a Learning Contract, please ensure that you copy the wording of the sticker given to you by the disabled student support team onto the front page of your assignment
● IT problems are not a valid reason for late submission – it is your responsibility to ensure that you leave plenty of time to cope with unforeseen delays.
● The submission deadline is always 3.00pm on the due date. Please leave yourself ample time to submit PRIOR to 3.00pm.
● There is a one working day grace period where you can submit your assignment late with a penalty of a capped mark of 40%.
● This link will close at 3.00pm one working day after the submission date.
● It is advised that you aim to submit by the submission date as the submission link will close after the grace period has lapsed.
Please remember:
● Check your hand-in date and time carefully; late assignments will not be accepted, unless there is an approved extension. Late submissions after the one working day grace period will be recorded as a fail.
● Keep a copy of all your work and back-up with a USB stick. You should also keep a hard copy of all your submitted work.
● Do not lend your work to another student and do not leave your work (USB stick) where it can be accessed by others.
● Ensure that you are familiar with the Cheating and Plagiarism Regulations
● Ensure that you have accurately referenced all quotations within the assignment and that all references used in the text are accurately identified in the reference list.
● Ensure that you have included a full reference list at the end of your assignment and that you have followed the University guidelines for referencing.
Any reference to workplaces, patients, clients, carers and their family must maintain anonymity and confidentiality. Failure to maintain confidentiality will result in academic misconduct proceedings.
Module
learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:
Module Learning Outcomes
1. Identify a topic of contemporary relevance to professional practice, evaluate and justify its investigation using critical appraisal skills.
2. Identify and justify an appropriate study design and suitable methods including ethical issues relating to the chosen area.
3. Conduct the study and appropriate critical analysis and draw reasoned conclusions to make recommendations for practice.
4. Communicate your findings within accepted academic and professional conventions in a suitable format.
