To understand how to research and write a scientific dissertation.

You will research and present a dissertation on a topic of your choice using two sources of information:

1. Peer reviewed scientific journals containing the most recent (last 10-15 years) primary literature. Primary literature must form at least 80% of your total number of references

2. Books and secondary journals (i.e. review articles) – these should be used sparingly and you should have no more 20% of your total number of references from secondary sources

Learning outcomes 

You will:

· Search, compare and evaluate primary literature and scientific publications for critical review.

· Examine scientific argument, formulate and present a balanced argument and summation

· Identify, synthesise and evaluate ethical issues pertinent in the topic area

· Critically evaluate these issues and formulate potential solutions as applied to the topic area

It is particularly important that you learn how to use primary literature, and the skills that you learn in this exercise will be particularly useful if you carry out a research project in year 4 or when you prepare reports and proposals in future employment.

At least 80% of your references must come from primary literature, other sources such as books, secondary journals such as Sports Medicine etc. can only be used sparingly. Internet sources are not generally acceptable, exceptions to this may be made in the case of dissertations that reference government agency publications, such as SEPA or DEFRA or international agencies such as FAO or WHO.