DA6103 - Occupational Therapy Dissertation

You will draw on your knowledge of evidence-based practice and research skills from previous modules. You will learn through a variety of student-centred approaches and activities. You will have some lectures where facilitators will introduce the format of a literature review, research proposal or service development proposal, and the guidelines for you to follow.

Working with your allocated supervisor (a member iof the module team) and your work-based mentor you will identify an area for research related to your practice. With your peers, you will explore how literature reviews, research proposals and service development proposals are constructed and will explore the format that you feel is most appropriate for your self-selected topic. All sessions will be interactive with the focus on meeting you and your peer groups’ learning needs. Seminar activities will facilitate your reflection on previous experience of finding, critically appraising and applying research and other evidence.

Access to electronic learning platform information developed for year 1 and 2, level 4 and 5 modules will provide you will the opportunity to revise key concepts and build confidence in further development of those areas already studied. Practical sessions will provide you with the opportunity to increase your knowledge of specific areas in greater depth as appropriate for conducting a literature review or writing a research or service development proposal. In addition to online lectures, seminars and practical sessions you will also work in small groups as well as individually with a designated dissertation tutor who will support and advise you on the module and assessment requirements. Assessment adaptations recognise the diversity of workplace settings represented across the apprentice cohort, with assessment briefs explicitly permitting you to tailor your responses to reflect your specific practice area, in this module you will choose a topic area that is directly related to your day to day practice within your work setting. Assessment criteria are constructed to value depth of critical analysis and application of learning rather than requiring experience with particular client groups or interventions, ensuring equity across different workplace contexts.

The identified module tutor, alongside the staff dissertation team, will structure a range of blended learning opportunities to support your learning within the module and to assist you to work towards the module assessment.

The module guide, electronic reading list, web-based material and information communicated throughout the module within sessions and on the e-learning portal will all support your academic and skill development. You will receive staff feedback on a formative piece of work. You will be provided with clear and structured guidelines as to the content and structure of your summative assignment. You will also be supported through student support and the learning resource centre (library) having access to specialists in assisting you in developing your skill of information retrieval and interlibrary loans.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding (K&U):
1. Justify and articulate an evidenced based topic relevant to occupational therapy
2. Critically debate the use and value of different methodological designs

Intellectual/Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):
3. Critically appraise and synthesise evidence from a range of sources

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Evidence ethical principles throughout the literature review, research proposal or service development proposal process
5. Evidence appreciation of service user and carer involvement in health and social care research to promote inclusion and participation

Formative:
500-word dissertation topic rationale and reference list.

You will receive staff feedback on this formative piece of work via blackboard within 2 weeks of submission. Working towards MLOs 1,4,5

Summative:
6000-word dissertation (literature review, research proposal or service development proposal)

You will receive written feedback summarising strengths and areas for development from your assessment. Feedback will be provided via gradebook within the university standard of 20 working days.

This will promote achievement of all MLO’s

All level 4 and level 5 modules

N/A

This module provides you with an exciting opportunity to explore an area of particular interest that could enhance your employability in a specific area of occupational therapy practice. You will spend this module undertaking a literature review, research proposal or service development proposal which will be of value to you in increasing both your knowledge in this area and your professional skill base.

You will self-select your topic and will be supported to retrieve and appraise related literature and apply this to furthering your knowledge in relation to your own specific area of enquiry. This module will help you to become and continue to be an evidence-informed occupational therapy student and future practitioner throughout your professional career.

You will learn from and contribute to your peers’ knowledge and skill development through interaction in class and directed learning activities. You will learn from research active academic staff and contemporary published material.