CRITICAL REVIEW OF BIOSCIENCE LITERATURE - 2023/4
Module code: BMSM029
Module Overview
The ability to appraise scientific literature and to communicate ideas is an academic and professional skill required across many areas of the biosciences. Journal clubs are convened in research and clinical environments and are used by professionals to continue to update knowledge of their disciplines and to maintain competencies as scientists; educators, and clinicians. The ability to distil and critique literature into a short review is also an important skill for the ongoing development of professionals in this area.
By Level 7, students will already have a sound understanding of the importance of valid scientific information, and the role of the peer-review process in assuring rigour and integrity. This module develops skills in critical appraisal of scientific literature through a journal club whereby recent publications across a representative range of biomedical science disciplines are discussed in regular sessions facilitated by research students; post-doctoral, and academic staff.
A literature review of an appropriate biomedical topic will further develop approaches to using online databases and selecting appropriate publications, together with writing skills. The progress of this piece of work is supported by one-to-one tutorials.
Module provider
School of Biosciences
Module Leader
ELLIOTT Gill (Biosciences)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Personal Tutorial Hours: 3
Workshop Hours: 8
Independent Learning Hours: 122
Seminar Hours: 10
Guided Learning: 4
Captured Content: 2
Module Availability
Semester 2
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
None
Module content
Indicative content includes:
Seminars (5h):
Uses and abuses of scientific information: the importance of peer-review
Scientific journals: scope and impact
Science reporting in the media
How to prepare an outstanding journal club presentation and pithy critique
Preparing a critical and analytical literature review
Journal clubs (8h): Each student will attend four journal club meetings, where students will be required to present and discuss a journal article of their choice. They will also provide a critique of the paper for those attending They will be guided by their tutor and academic staff or PGRs/postdocs present at the club.
Tutorials (3h): Students will be assigned a tutor for their literature reviews who will hold three one-to-one tutorials to support students as they progress with their independent work
Assessment pattern
Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
---|---|---|
Coursework | Article critique | 20 |
Oral exam or presentation | Journal Club presentation | 30 |
Coursework | Literature review | 50 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:
Appreciation of the importance of accurate and high-quality communication of science.
Ability to appraise scientific literature for a range of bioscience disciplines and topics.
Ability to discuss recent advances and developments in the biosciences.
Ability to accurately summarise research literature.
Ability to communicate research findings in salient topics, through the production of a literature review.
Evaluate the quality of information and the validity of conclusions presented in scientific papers.
Development of communication skills in group discussions.
Knowledge of the scope of different Citation of references using a standard format.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- One research article critique, 20% 1000 words (addresses learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- One journal club presentation, 30% (addresses learning outcomes 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- One literature review, 50% 3000 words (addresses learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
Formative assessment and Feedback.
Students will get instant feedback during journal club meetings where they can assess and reflect on the development on their critical analysis skills and their overall engagement and participation in the Journal Club. Students can also obtain individual feedback from their tutor and the module organizer. Their tutor will also assess the progress of their literature review by assessing their draft review at different stages of production. Students will meet their assigned tutor on a one-to-one basis on three occasions to discuss progress with the literature review and will receive feedback on their work to date.
Module aims
- Develop the ability to analyse the quality, impact, and validity of research journal articles
- Develop confidence and aptitude in appraising primary literature
- Develop competence in summarising primary literature
- Appraise the quality of science reporting in the press and other forms of media
- Guide students through the process of writing review of the literature
- Develop digital capabilities by identifying databases through which peer-reviewed scientific literature can be found
- Develop competence in using standard citation methods
Learning outcomes
Attributes Developed | ||
001 | Appraise the scientific literature within a chosen biomedical science discipline | KCT |
002 | Cite references using standard formats | KPT |
003 | Communicate ideas, principles and research through the production of a literature review | KCPT |
004 | Appreciate the importance of accurate and high quality communication of science | CP |
005 | Appraise the essential components of a research paper within the field of a chosen biomedical sciences discipline | KCT |
006 | Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific research | KPT |
007 | Construct an effective journal article critique | CT |
008 | Compose a written summary of a journal club critique | KC |
009 | Contribute to informal public discussions confidently |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Develop a critical understanding of the scientific literature through facilitated self-directed learning. The skills gained on this module are directly transferable to all other modules on the programme, and to the wider science profession.
The learning and teaching methods include:
Seminars, workshops, and class discussion where different sources of scientific information will be explored, informing students of the range of resources available and how to assess them
One-to-one tutorials where students will discuss their work with their individual tutor who will guide them in their use of specific resources and how to focus their reviews. This will aid them in deciding the content and structure of their final literature reviews
Journal clubs will be interactive group sessions where a student will lead by presenting and providing a critique of a journal article. All other students will be expected to have read the article in advance and be able to discuss and question. Students will gain skills around presenting, explaining, and discussing scientific articles. These are important for future careers and employability.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMSM029
Other information
None
Programmes this module appears in
Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
---|---|---|---|
Biomedical Science MSci (Hons) | 2 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.