The presentation (i.e., formatting and style) of your dissertation (component 1) will a combination of the ‘Author Guidance’ from the Paramedic Journal you have selected, and the School of Health & Life Sciences guidelines for presentation and referencing. Essentially, the dissertation content and structure (heading/sub- heading) will be based on the Journal that you select. A dissertation template/exemplar can be found in Appendix 3. ‘How to get a 1st in your Dissertation’ Guidance from the previous cohorts. , page below.
For the dissertation pre-recorded poster-viva (component 2) I will provide you with a PowerPoint Template, outlining the structure and content of the poster-viva – which should be formatted using the School of Health & Life Sciences guidelines for presentation and referencing. You are expected to edit and adapt this template, to make is topic specific. Alternative formats will be discussed in the taught sessions. A note of caution: copying the exact template, without any attempts to make it topic specific, will limit the overall mark.
Possible Dissertation Formats
Again, the specific format of your own systematic review (component 1) is based on the journal you have chosen. Each journal may have a slightly difference style/structure – which you must replicate. I would recommend looking at these journals; however, other may be more suitable to your topic area:
– British Paramedic Journal
– Emergency Medicine Journal
– Journal of Paramedic Practice
Through your own reading and independent study, you will likely have seen a number of ‘dissertation templates’, which provide a general standard for presentation and structure – an example of this has been provided below. You can use the below points as a study-content guide. This is the general outline for completing a systematic review. While some of these may not be presented (again based on the chosen journals author guidance) for component 1, these can be used to organise your own independent study, and the creation of the poster (component 2).
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General Guide independent study for Systematic Review, and poster content. – Introduction
– Aims / focused question – Methods
o Study methodology
o Review criteria
o Search strategy
o Selection of studies
o Assessment of Quality o Data Extraction
o Data analysis methods – Results
– Discussion
Top tip: I would strongly recommend that you find a published systematic review in the journal you have identified and use this as a template for the completion of your own work. The topic of the journal/template does not matter; use the structure (not the content) of this to map out your own journal article. See below for more guidance on this.
Finding/using dissertation templates – what do I need to do?
Below is a list of the content that will be delivered, provided through Blackboard, and where you will need to actively, and independently source support:
1. Find several published systematic reviews to use – these are excellent examples/templates of exactly what is expected for component 1.
a. Choose 1 (or more) of the, roughly, 28,800 published paramedic systematic reviews to use as a template (search Google Scholar).
2. Look at the “Author Guidance” from the journal you have chosen – this outlines the specific structure for the systematic review.
a. Search and find a systematic review published in that journal you have chosen, to use a template.
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3. Use the detailed, universal checklist template for all systematic review types (the PRISMA checklist).
4. Find one of the many published systematic review protocols (these are published plans how to complete a systematic review).
5. Through the taught sessions we will provide a ‘live’ breakdown of a published systematic review – take notes!
6. A general structure is provided in the Module Guide – this is a rough outline.
7. A key lecture and video introducing all the above, where questions are asked and answered will be provided at the end of the module.
But…what about the Research Methods?
There is no escaping the research methods-bits. It is important to remember when completing your dissertation that you will need to know why you have chosen the processes / methods that you have. You’ll notice that this information is not traditionally reported in a published journal article – but you must still know it – and, importantly, you will be questioned about these processes for the poster-viva (see component 2).
Assessment Strategy / Criteria
Component 1 (50%): Summative assessment will be a 4,000-word systematic review which is focused on an area of paramedic practice, and written in the format of a specific, chosen paramedic journal. (The exception to the journal formatting style is that your maximum word count is set at 4,000 words, where most journals are 3,000- so you have an additional 1,000 words to play with.) Students will identify an answerable focused question related to paramedic practice and critically appraise relevant literature. The literature will then be synthesised and the implications for practice discussed. Assesses all learning outcomes. Please note, there is no allowance of 10% over. Tables/graphs in the results section are not included in the word count. The references cited in text are included in the word count.
Component 2 (50%): A 30-minute pre-recorded poster-viva derived from the student’s systematic review. The poster presentation will focus on the: 1. Clinical topic of the systematic review; 2. The research methods processes of conducting a
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systematic review. I have created a PowerPoint template that you may use, and edit, to complete this component.
Assessment Criteria
Students will be required to adhere to a standardised structured format with regards to the presentation of their project – as indicated by the chosen journal submission author guidelines.
Component 1 – The assignment will be assessed according to the student’s ability to:
1. Generateanappropriatefocusedquestionrelevanttoparamedicpractice.
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive detailed knowledge of the specialist area of paramedic practice and question orthodox practice using balanced, logical
and supported arguments.
3. Conduct an appropriate search strategy and select relevant studies for
inclusion in the review.
4. Evaluatethequalityoftheselectedstudiesusingappropriateframeworks.
5. Extract, synthesise, appraise and evaluate data/evidence from diverse
sources and make independent judgements.
6. Apply, analyse, and evaluate the impact of empirical, theoretical, ethical and
legal issues relevant to the generation of knowledge in the specialist area for
paramedic practice.
7. Adhere to the chosen journals author guidelines for presentation and
referencing.
Component 2 – The assignment will be assessed according to the student’s ability to:
1. Provide a comprehensive overview and critical justification for the process that was undertaken in component 1.
2. Discuss the impact of empirical, theoretical, ethical, and legal issues relevant from the generation of knowledge in the specialist area for paramedic practice.
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3. Demonstrate intellectual flexibility by answering questions in relation to their journal article and through a critical discussion.
4. Adhere to the School of Health & Life Sciences guidelines for presentation and referencing.
