STUDENT SELECTED COMPONENT (SSC) SEPTEMBER 2021
27
Page 1 | 27 PHASE 2A RESEARCH ATTACHMENT STUDENT SELECTED COMPONENT (SSC) SEPTEMBER 2021 STUDENT HANDBOOK The Medical School.
Transcript of STUDENT SELECTED COMPONENT (SSC) SEPTEMBER 2021
P a g e 1 | 27
PHASE 2A RESEARCH ATTACHMENT STUDENT SELECTED COMPONENT (SSC)
SEPTEMBER 2021
STUDENT HANDBOOK
The Medical School.
P a g e 2 | 27
GENERAL INFORMATION
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr Joanne Thompson
SSC Programme Lead
Dr Guillaume Hautbergue
Research Attachment SSC Lead
Karen Kehtarnavaz
Phase 2a Administrator
Fiona Oliver
SSC Administrative Support
Research Attachment SSC Email Account
All queries should be directed to Research Attachment SSC email account in
the first instance.
SSCS IN THE CURRICULUM
Student Selected Components (SSCs) run as a strand throughout the 5 years of
the MBCHB programme. The aims of the SSC’s are:
• To provide opportunity to choose & pursue topics of personal,
academic and vocational interest.
• To apply & develop research skills in relation to information gathering,
research methods and analysis.
• To enhance professional development in relation to communication
skills, reflection, self-direction/ self- management.
• To produce work in line with the guidelines provided for each SSC.
P a g e 3 | 27
AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The aim of the Research Attachment SSC is to enable students to select a current
research project, be attached to members of a research team and to produce a
report which demonstrates an understanding of the research process.
The expected learning outcomes are (the students will be able to …)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of research methodology
(qualitative or quantitative)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical dimensions of research
and how to seek approval from an appropriate ethics committee
• Produce a 2,500 (+/- 10%) word research report (excluding references
and appendices that may include tables).
RESEARCH ATTACHMENT SSC RELATED DOCUMENTS
Information available on Minerva:
• Research Attachment SSC Student Handbook
• Research Attachment SSC Supervisor Handbook
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Introductory lecture presentation slides
• Lecture Timetable (Full version with timings and groupings)
• Project Catalogue 2021
• Excellent Examples
P a g e 4 | 27
THE TAUGHT ELEMENT: LECTURE TIMETABLE
A series of lectures in the first few days of the attachment will offer you a broad
perspective on the fundamentals of research. The final timetable will be
published separately on Minerva.
* These teaching sessions are compulsory. Your supervisor has been informed of this.
Monday 20th September 2021 The Phase 2a Research Attachment SSC Lectures are now face-to-face (not online). Location: Lecture Theatre 1, B-Floor, The Medical School
Details
9:00 – 9:30 Welcome back: Research Attachment SSC Intro Dr Guillaume Hautbergue
9:30 – 10:00 Importance of research in clinical practice Dr John Cooper-Knock
10:00 – 10:30 Getting the most from your SSC Gary Neill and Alexander Kumra / MedSoc
Break
10:45 – 11:15 Qualitative research overview Dr Richard Cooper
11:15 – 11:45 Evidence Reviews Professor Elizabeth Goyder
Lunch break
12:45 – 13:30 Molecular and cellular biology overview Dr Guillaume Hautbergue / Dr Lydia Castelli
13:30 – 14:15 Overview of research methods in health Professor Chris Burton
14:30 – 17:00 Meet supervisors for ‘report to’ meeting
Tuesday 21st September 2021 The Advanced Literature Searching sessions are now face-to-face. Location: Perak IT Lab (ADB-A04). Check the SSC page on Minerva for your new Group allocation.
With Anthea Tucker, Liaison Librarian for
Medicine, Dentistry and Health
12:10 – 13:00 Group 1 Advanced Literature Searching
13:20 – 14:10 Group 2 Advanced Literature Searching
15:00 – 15:50 Group 3 Advanced Literature Searching
16:10 - 17:00 Group 4 Advanced Literature Searching
P a g e 5 | 27
KEY DATES
Student Assessment Period and Summer Vacation: May 2021-
Friday 17 September 2021
Medical School to send reminder to supervisors, week commencing:
Monday 6th September 2021
Students return after Summer vacation: Research Introductory Lectures Advanced Literature Searching sessions:
Monday 20th September 2021 Monday 20th September Tuesday 21st September
Research Attachment SSC starts: Monday 20th September 2021
Deadline for submission to have been uploaded to Turnitin and graded by your Supervisor:
15:00 Monday 1st November 2021
Flash poster presentation (1 slide and 1 to 2 minutes talk per student)
Friday 29th October 2021 (time tbc by the Departmental Lead)
P a g e 6 | 27
THE ATTACHMENT
You will be required to get in touch with your supervisor to arrange reporting
instructions, before the Phase 1 Assessment and Vacation Period, ready for
when you return to Phase 2a in September 2021. Ideally, your first meeting
should take place on Monday 20th September between 2:30 and 5:00 pm.
One of the skills you should gain during the SSC programme is that of
negotiation. At the first meeting you should discuss with your supervisors your
personal learning goals and what you hope to achieve during the attachment.
You are also advised to negotiate a deadline for submitting your 2,500 word
report to Turnitin through Blackboard at a date that gives your supervisor time
to complete the feedback and grading process by the deadline of 15:00 on
Monday 1st November 2021.
You should be clear on what your supervisor expects you to do and the hours of
attendance that are essential – if it is not clear to you ask and make a note of it!
The working hours will be dependent upon your project and will be agreed with
your supervisor/designated team member once you start your project. They
may vary from day to day and week to week. They will certainly vary from project
to project – but this is not a reflection on how “hard” or engaging a project is –
it is a simple fact of research! In addition, the actual contact time with your
supervisor will inevitably vary between projects but as a guide we would expect
you to meet with your supervisor (or designated team member) at least once
per week as a minimum.
P a g e 7 | 27
It is important that you have sufficient time to consult the literature and write
up the report in time to get it marked before the end of the attachment. While
we are not prescriptive about the hours you attend, it is suggested that you are
not in the research environment more than 7 hours a day on a regular basis.
You may (and should be encouraged to) take an active role in the research,
bearing in mind normal health and safety issues. In previous evaluations both
students and supervisors requested opportunities for more “hands-on” activity.
Again, this can be negotiated with your supervisor.
You should also attend the normal scheduled activities of the research team, for
example, seminars, journal clubs, presentations by post-graduate students etc.
Important note on the research conducted during the attachment: bear in
mind that the research experience and the understanding of the process of
research is what "count" and is marked in the 2,500 word report. Six weeks is a
very short period of time particularly for wet lab projects that typically require
several years of experimentation prior to publication. Therefore, it is not
necessary neither expected to show positive results and it does not matter
whether experiments/research worked or failed and whether the hypothesis
was correct or wrong. In your report, you can highlight challenges met during
the attachment and whether the hypothesis has been confirmed, rejected or
requires additional research to be tested.
P a g e 8 | 27
SPECIAL NOTE ON POSSIBLE REMOTE PROJECTS DUE TO COVID-19
Due to the current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, it is possible that research
projects will have to be based remotely as much as possible from home and via
online video conference meetings. This is likely to be dependent on the nature
of the research projects. Reviews type of projects will be less affected than lab-
based projects for which raw data to be analysed and interpreted can be
provided. Projects involving contact with people and patients are likely to be the
most affected if projects have to be undertaken virtually. If this is the case, we
will update you as soon as we have more information.
SUPERVISION, INDUCTION AND ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS
Research in a Medical School takes diverse forms from basic understanding of
mechanisms of diseases, design/testing of therapeutic strategies and synthesis
of published literature up to patient or people-based research such as clinical
trials and questionnaire data.
• Supervision: The principal investigator (PI) is not necessarily the person
that will supervise most of your research. PhD students and postdoctoral
researchers can be your day-to-day supervisors particularly in wet lab
settings. Note that postdoctoral researchers that have supervised your
work can mark your report on Turnitin instead of the PI (and in agreement
with the PI). However, PhD students are not entitled to mark your report.
• Health and Safety Inductions: various type of inductions will take place
depending on the research you will be carrying out and the building you
are working in. These will be arranged by each department/unit. Note that
they should not occur before the start of the attachment since students are
P a g e 9 | 27
on vacation and should ideally be conducted in the first few days of the
attachment from Tuesday 21st September. Note: this year some formative
exams will take place on Thursday 23rd September.
Please contact [email protected] for any issues.
• For Research involving access to patient data: if you need access to NHS
Trust sites and /or NHS Hospital IT systems for your Research Attachment ,
please make sure an induction session is booked in advance of the start of
the research attachment. This should be asked when you email your
Supervisor after the allocation of the projects. The person to contact in the
first instance to arrange this induction session if required is Fiona Oliver
• For Research involving Social Media data: please be familiar with the
University of Sheffield Ethical Policy document that can be accessed at
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.670954!/file/Research-Ethics-
Policy-Note-14.pdf
WORKLOADS
In the past students have questioned what can appear to be unequal workloads.
You have to remember that research is a very varied process. Sometimes data
collection takes a very long time and sometimes it doesn’t. Some research
requires researchers to be almost constantly in the lab to see results of
experiments and other research has periods of time where there appears to be
little activity, maybe because of long incubation periods of experiments, timings
of data gathering or other unavoidable “down-time”. You should take this
P a g e 10 | 27
opportunity to do some self-directed learning about the research subject you
are attached to and or to work on your report.
The research projects that are available to you are as variable as any in the
country or in the world. Therefore, you cannot expect that the workload and
attendance will be the same for all research projects. What is important is that
you select projects that interest you because of the methodology, the supervisor
or topic. This is your one chance to learn about research unless you plan to take
the intercalated BMedSci degree and understanding research is essential for all
doctors.
The variability demonstrated in research will be reflected in clinical work in the
future. Life is not always “fair” and equal, but as adult learners you should
maximise this opportunity to attain personal learning goals, regardless of
whether the attachment requires attendance 9-5 (not an unreasonable working
day) or only intermittent attendance.
THE FLASH POSTER PRESENTATION
Flash poster presentations are a modern and very popular mode of presenting
research orally in both national and international conferences. It consists of one
slide on which you will present your work or one aspect of your work in 1-2
minutes maximum. For projects involving several students, each student is
expected to present the background, the research question(s), the
methodologies/research they individually performed and their conclusions.
Each student has one slide and a maximum of 2 minutes for their talk.
P a g e 11 | 27
The flash poster presentation is not graded and does not count in the final
assessment. It is however an excellent opportunity to learn to present your
research in a scientific setting. Using an anonymous voting system, you will also
be involved in scoring the departmental presentations of your peers on a 3-scale
system (1-Amazing; 2-Good; 3-Okay). The student or students with the most
“Amazing” votes will win a Departmental Research SSC Prize certificate. There
are also prizes for outstanding quality of work. Both the flash poster
presentation and a Prize Award are valuable items to add on your CV. The flash
poster presentations are organised individually in each department/ unit by the
Research SSC Departmental Lead and should take place in the last few days of
the placements if not feasible on the last day.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS DURING THE ATTACHMENT?
If there are any difficulties, please contact the Research Attachment SSC Team
([email protected]) in the first instance.
P a g e 12 | 27
THE ASSESSMENT
THE REPORT
You are required to prepare a 2,500 word report (+/- 10% excluding
bibliography, figures and appendices that may include large tables) which will
be structured to reflect headings used in scientific papers and dissertations
within the research field. It will be assessed by the most appropriate member of
the research team. Reports must adhere to the word count.
As well as your written report being graded, you will also be assessed on your
professional behaviours which include attendance during your attachment. This
will be graded in Turnitin along with your report. Supervisors will enter a mark
for the written report, your performance during the attachment and
professional behaviour.
As part of your assignment, you are also required to write a critical reflection of
your experience. It is up to you whether or not you share this reflection with
your supervisor, but it should not be marked as part of the assessment.
However, it is compulsory so you must make sure it is completed and uploaded
to your portfolio.
The last week of the attachment is used to finalise your project report with a
reflection section and upload it to Blackboard / Turnitin by the date agreed in
advance with your Supervisor. Your Supervisor can then grade your report in
Turnitin before the Deadline of 15:00 on Monday 1st November 2021.
P a g e 13 | 27
You are encouraged to remind your supervisor(s) of this deadline. If your
supervisor is unable to meet this deadline, indicate them to email
[email protected] and the Academic Lead Dr Guillaume
Hautbergue ([email protected]) to arrange for an extension, which
should be based on a rationale reason.
To pass this SSC it is necessary that you receive at least a “Satisfactory” grade
for the Written Report Grade, Performance During Attachment Grade and
Overall Competence Grade. All Borderline and Unsatisfactory grades for in-
course assessments will automatically trigger an academic interview and
resubmission may be required.
Please see the appendix for information on criteria upon which you will be
graded, this includes a marking proforma which will be completed online by your
supervisor.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
A random selection of projects reports will be moderated for quality assurance
purposes. All Borderline or Unsatisfactory reports will be second marked. If you
receive a grade below Satisfactory you will be seen by an academic member of
staff. If the Research Attachment SSC results in a Borderline or Unsatisfactory
grade for the written report, additional work must be undertaken to bring the
work up to a satisfactory standard.
Similarly, Borderline or Unsatisfactory grades for performance during
attachment and professional behaviour will trigger an academic interview.
P a g e 14 | 27
REPORT STRUCTURE
The format of the report should be in line with that of a scientific paper in the
field you are working in. The exact format should be discussed and negotiated
with your project supervisor, but at the minimum this will include the following
sections:
• Introduction: this should cover the background to the project including a
review of relevant literature.
• The Research Question(s): Including the hypothesis and aims of the project
• Research methods: explain in detail how the research was actually
performed. If the research involves data analysis from published work (i.e.
meta-analysis) then the methods for selecting the literature and how it was
“mined” needs to be explained. The ethical perspectives of the research
being undertaken (if applicable) should also be included in this section (i.e.
what the key ethical problems that needed to be considered and how a
favourable ethics opinion had been given – i.e. via NRES/local ethics,
University Ethics, HO Animal Licences etc.)
• Results: Explain in detail the result of the project. If the research project
involves a study in the development stages and therefore does not have
findings to report, then possible approaches to data analysis should be
discussed.
P a g e 15 | 27
• Conclusions/Discussion: To provide conclusions regarding the initial
hypothesis/aims. Also to include interpretation of the results in the context
of the current literature, any limitations of the study and future
work/development that needs to be undertaken to take the work forward.
• Bibliography: You should follow the guidelines provided by your supervisor
regarding the bibliography. Some projects require annotated ones where a
couple of descriptive sentences are usually added below each reference in
the reference section. These additional words do not count towards the
final word count as the bibliography section is excluded from the final word
count. Other projects will only have a bibliography (without annotation)
and others a bibliography with annotations for a few key papers. This is for
you and your supervisor to decide what format fits best your project and
how your supervisor will mark it.
The marking criteria are attached as an Appendix.
THE REFLECTION ON THE PROCESS
Your reflection should be a maximum of 500 words. This is in addition to the
2,500 word report.
You are required to reflect on aspects of learning throughout the course. You
may wish to share this reflection with your research supervisor, or you may wish
to submit it directly to your portfolio on Minerva. Either way this section does
not contribute to the research SSC grade. However, as part of the professional
P a g e 16 | 27
behaviour assessment the reflection must be uploaded to your portfolio
(Reflection section).
The key elements to include in this reflection are:
• Understanding of research before you started the SSC
• What were the 3-5 key things learned during this SSC? (These could
include specific skills that were acquired say in a lab or by moderating a
focus group, enhanced literature reviewing, an understanding of research
methodology, understanding of how to get research ethics approval etc.)
• Following this experience what further learning goals have been defined
and how can they be met.
• Submit the reflection section in your e-portfolio.
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Your report must be submitted to Turnitin through Blackboard - AND have been
marked online by your Supervisor by the deadline of 15:00 on Monday 1st
November 2021. You are also required to submit an e-submission to
You must liaise with your supervisor to ensure that they have an opportunity to
mark your work by the deadline of the 1st November.
Unlike previous SSCs The Research Attachment is not marked anonymously,
therefore you should upload your submission to Blackboard Turnitin using
‘Surname, Forename RA2021’ format.
• Electronic Copy
Your final copy of your report should be saved as ‘Surname, Forename
RA2021’ and emailed to [email protected]. Please subject the
email as ‘RA SSC 2021’
P a g e 17 | 27
• Reflection
Your reflection should be uploaded to your e-portfolio (Reflection section).
NB: If you are unable to meet the deadline and have mitigating circumstances
please see the next section, for details on how to apply for an extension. Late
submission, without previous permission, will result in an unsatisfactory grade
being recorded for professional behaviour.
EXTENSIONS
Requests for Extensions: If you are unable to meet the deadline for submission
because of ill health or extenuating circumstances then please email Research
Attachment Team ([email protected]) requesting an
extension. Please include as much information and provide documentary
evidence in support of the request e.g. a note from GP. The Research Team will
confirm approved extensions with both you and your supervisor.
Occasionally, due to unforeseen circumstances, supervisors have been unable
to mark the students work by their agreed. Supervisors should therefore email
the Research Attachment Team ([email protected])
explaining the situation for a ‘supervisor’ extension to be agreed.
This however does not grant you an extension and you must still submit your
work to Turnitin by the agreed deadline as well as submit an electronic copy of
your final report by the Medical Schools submission deadline, 1500 Monday 1st
Nov 2021. Grades will be released within three weeks of the submission
deadline.
P a g e 18 | 27
Please note that late submissions without a previously approved extension may
result in an Unsatisfactory grade being recorded for professional behaviour.
P a g e 19 | 27
APPENDIX
P a g e 20 | 27
Research Attachment SSC: Marking Criteria September 2021 The SSC assessment is based both on the performance of the student during the placement and on the written report submitted at the end of the placement. Supervisors are encouraged to use the criteria below to assess various elements of the categories the students are assessed on as per the proforma.
Excellent Good Satisfactory Borderline Unsatisfactory
Presentation/structure/understanding of report (as per
requirements in SSC guide for students and supervisors)
Introduction
Literature Review
Methods
Results
Discussion
Bibliography
Very well structured
report containing all
elements. Excellent
understanding of the
research and the
process
demonstrated
Well structured report
containing all elements
with a good
understanding of the
research and the
research process
demonstrated
All elements of the
report included. Student
demonstrates an
understanding of the
research process
Some elements of the
report scant or
missing.
Unsure as to the
degree of
understanding of the
research process
Elements of the report
missing.
Lack of understanding
of the research process
Excellent Good Satisfactory Borderline Unsatisfactory
Use of appropriate sources/ Information gathering Extensive range of
relevant literature
cited
Wide ranging use of
relevant literature
Reference material
covered adequately
Limited coverage of
reference material
Little evidence of
supportive reading
Critical analysis Demonstrates
comprehensive
critical analysis of
relevant concepts at
the level of a
postgraduate student
Demonstrates
comprehensive critical
analysis of relevant
concepts at the level of a
BMedSci (intercalating)
student
Demonstrates critical
analysis skills at the level
of an undergraduate
student
Displays minimal skills
of critical analysis
No evidence of any
critical analysis
Presentation of references
All references properly
cited and listed
References mainly
properly cited and listed
References sometimes
properly cited and
listed
References not cited in
text/listed as a
reference section
Excellent Good Satisfactory Borderline Unsatisfactory
Spelling; grammar & syntax All words correctly spelt.
No grammatical errors
All words correctly spelt,
occasional grammatical
errors
Occasional spelling
errors, occasional
grammatical errors
Many spelling/
grammatical errors
Word processing/page layout Inserts: special
characters, tables,
graphics, charts
Manipulates text around
inserts (where used and
where appropriate
Acceptable page set up
(margins & orientation)
Text formatting (font,
spacing)
Inclusion of page
numbers
Some errors in page
set up and formatting
Lack of acceptable
page set up
Poor selection
of font and pagination
Professionalism
Avoidance of plagiarism
Completed as requested
Literature correctly
referenced
No evidence of
plagiarism
Unsure if some work
plagiarised
Some inadequacies in
references
Evidence of plagiarism
P a g e 23 | 27
SSC ASSESSMENT & FEEDBACK PROFORMA: Phase 2a Research Attachment (2020-21) To be completed by student:
Student Registration No: Submission Date of SSC: 1500 Monday 2nd November
To be completed by supervisor/marker: Please assess the student on the following criteria which are defined in more detail in the School’s Outcome Objectives (see attached). Professional Behaviours should be considered separately from the generic and specific skills assessments. Please give written feedback to ALL students, and not just those with a Borderline or Unsatisfactory grade.
PLEASE CIRCLE THE APPROPRIATE JUDGEMENT
Written Report Generic Graduate Skills
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Borderline
Unsatisfactory
[Includes skills in written communication, information gathering, organisation and self-management]
Please provide FEEDBACK for all grades awarded.
(Continue overleaf if necessary)
Research Skills
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Borderline
Unsatisfactory
[Demonstrates an understanding of the background to the project and the research methods as applied to specific study. Provides a critical analysis of research and results]
Please provide FEEDBACK for all grades awarded.
(Continue overleaf if necessary)
IT & Written Presentations Skills Excellent Good Satisfactory Borderline Unsatisfactory
[Effectively uses medical informatics, prepares a written assignment free from plagiarism, correctly referenced and professionally presented]
Please provide FEEDBACK for all grades awarded.
(Continue overleaf if necessary)
Overall Competence
Excellent Good Satisfactory Borderline Unsatisfactory
[Overall performance on generic and specific skills for stage of training]
Please provide FEEDBACK for all grades awarded.
(Continue overleaf if necessary)
Performance during Attachment
Overall Competence
Excellent Good Satisfactory Borderline Unsatisfactory
[Includes skills in verbal communication, engagement with supervisor, working as part of a team, information gathering, organisation and self-management]
Please provide FEEDBACK for all grades awarded.
(Continue overleaf if necessary)
Professional Behaviours
Satisfactory
Borderline
Unsatisfactory
[Maintains an ethical approach. Adequate attendance; Understands the rules governing consent, and ethics approval demonstrated in written report and performance during attachment]
Please provide FEEDBACK for all grades awarded.
(Continue overleaf if necessary)
Supervisor/marker name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Supervisor/marker: ______________________________________________________________Date:____________________
Supervisor/marker address: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Sheffield Core Curriculum – Outcome Objectives for Undergraduate Medicine
Phase 2a Research Study SSC
Outcomes in bold italics relate to this specific SSC Generic Graduate Skills GS1 Adopts the principles of reflective practice and life-long learning
GS2 Knows the limits of professional competence GS3 Presents information clearly in all formats GS4 Is an effective teacher/mentor GS5 Capable of self-management GS6 Applies research principles and audit and studies topics in depth GS7 Can deal with uncertainty GS8 Manages information retrieval, presentation and manipulation electronically
Interpersonal Skills IS1 Can establish, build and maintain proper partnerships with patients, their family/friends/carers IS2 Communicates effectively IS3 Works effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team IS4 Deals sensitively with patients, their family/friends/carers IS5 Identifies potential danger for self and others and takes appropriate action to limit impact
Clinical Skills CS1 Contributes to cure of illness, recovery from sickness and the easing of suffering and discomfort in encounters with patients CS2 Participates in health promotion and in prevention of disease and disability in encounters with patients CS3 Gathers relevant patient history information systematically either from patient or third party CS4 Conducts complete mental state examination or selects appropriate components in a systematic and directed fashion CS5 Conducts complete physical examination or selects appropriate components in a systematic and directed fashion CS6 Makes accurate assessment of patient's problems & formulates differential diagnosis CS7 Selects & initiates appropriate investigations CS8 Interprets and evaluates data from history, physical examination and other findings to formulate diagnosis CS9 Formulates and implements management plan and monitors its effectiveness
Practical Skills PS1 Ensures optimum patient comfort and privacy PS2 Prepares patient for, explains & conducts technical and practical procedures effectively PS3 Ensures patient consent is obtained in all aspects of investigation, treatment and management PS4 Can access relevant information and record information accurately PS5 Makes thorough and accurate observations, measurements and calculations PS6 Recognises, identifies and can describe abnormalities and symptoms PS7 Demonstrates effective decision making PS8 Manages life-threatening conditions
Professional Behaviours PB1 Adopts a questioning approach to own work and that of others PB2 Works within limits of own knowledge and experience PB3 Maintains patient confidentiality PB4 Is responsive to changes in health care, policy and current science (PB4) PB5 Maintains and ethical approach PB6 Complies with legal responsibilities and requirements and guidelines of regulatory bodies and the NHS PB7 Demonstrates respect for the role and function of all those involved in patient care PB8 Demonstrates a patient centred approach PB9 Recognises and takes advantage of opportunities to teach PB10 Fulfils professional responsibilities in contexts outside work
SSC Specific Skills Demonstrates the effective use of medical informatics Demonstrates research skills e.g. :
• undertakes a literature search
• writes a research question(s)
• employs appropriate research methods
• describes strengths and weaknesses of study
• discusses rationale for study
• integrates evidence from literature and the study
P a g e 25 | 27
USE OF UNFAIR MEANS IN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS (Non Invigilated Exams): ADVICE TO STUDENTS 1 The Advice to Students on the Use of Unfair Means in the Assessment Process applies to students in the Sheffield-based Faculties. Additional Advice applies to students in the International Faculty (www.city.academic.gr/docs/ifgenspec.pdf). 2 http://www.shef.ac.uk/sheffieldgraduate/ The University expects its graduates to have acquired certain attributes (see The Sheffield Graduate2). Many of these relate to good academic practice:
• a critical, analytical and creative thinker;
• an independent learner and researcher;
• information literate and IT literate;
• a flexible team worker;
• an accomplished communicator;
• competent in applying their knowledge and skills;
• professional and adaptable. Throughout your programme of studies at the University you will learn how to develop these skills and attributes. Your assessed work is the main way in which you demonstrate that you have acquired and can apply them. Using unfair means in the assessment process is dishonest and means that you cannot demonstrate that you have acquired these essential academic skills and attributes. What constitutes unfair means? The basic principle underlying the preparation of any piece of academic work is that the work submitted must be your own work. Plagiarism, submitting bought or commissioned work, double submission (or self-plagiarism), collusion and fabrication of results are not allowed because they violate this principle (see definitions below). Rules about these forms of cheating apply to all assessed and non-assessed work. 1. Plagiarism (either intentional or unintentional) is using the ideas or work of another person (including experts and fellow or former students) and submitting them as your own. It is considered dishonest and unprofessional. Plagiarism may take the form of cutting and pasting, taking or closely paraphrasing ideas, passages, sections, sentences, paragraphs, drawings, graphs and other graphical material from books, articles, internet sites or any other source and submitting them for assessment without appropriate acknowledgement. 2. Submitting bought or commissioned work (for example from internet sites, essay “banks” or “mills”) is an extremely serious form of plagiarism. This may take the form of buying or commissioning either the whole piece of work or part of it and implies a clear intention to deceive the examiners. The University also takes an extremely serious view of any student who sells, offers to sell or passes on their own assessed work to other students.
P a g e 26 | 27
3. Double submission (or self-plagiarism) is resubmitting previously submitted work on one or more occasions (without proper acknowledgement). This may take the form of copying either the whole piece of work or part of it. Normally credit will already have been given for this work. 4. Collusion is where two or more students work together to produce a piece of work, all or part of which is then submitted by each of them as their own individual work. This includes passing on work in any format to another student. Collusion does not occur where students involved in group work are encouraged to work together to produce a single piece of work as part of the assessment process. 5. Fabrication is submitting work (for example, practical or laboratory work) any part of which is untrue, made up, falsified or fabricated in any way. This is regarded as fraudulent and dishonest. 6. Facilitating the use of unfair means is where any student assists a fellow student in using any of the forms of unfair means defined above, for example in submitting bought or commissioned work. How can I avoid the use of unfair means? To avoid using unfair means, any work submitted must be your own and must not include the work of any other person, unless it is properly acknowledged and referenced. As part of your programme of studies you will learn how to reference sources appropriately in order to avoid plagiarism. This is an essential skills that you will need throughout your University career and beyond. You should follow any guidance on the preparation of assessed work given by the academic department setting the assignment. You are required to declare that all work submitted is entirely your own work. Many departments will ask you to attach a declaration form to all pieces of submitted work (including work submitted online). Your department will inform you how to do this. If you have any concerns about appropriate academic practices or if you are experiencing any personal difficulties which are affecting your work, you should consult your personal tutor, supervisor or another member of staff involved. The following websites provide additional information on referencing appropriately and avoiding unfair means: The Library provides online information literacy skills tutorials http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/infoskills The Library also has information on reference management software http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/refmant/refmant The English Language Teaching Centre operates a Writing Advisory Service through which students can make individual appointments to discuss a piece of writing. This is available for all students, both native and non-native speakers of English.
P a g e 27 | 27
http://www.shef.ac.uk/eltc/languagesupport/writingadvisory What happens if I use unfair means? Any form of unfair means is treated as a serious academic offence and action may be taken under the Discipline Regulations. For a student registered on a professionally accredited programme of study, action may also be taken under the Fitness to Practise Regulations. Where unfair means is found to have been used, the University may impose penalties ranging from awarding no grade for the piece of work or failure in a PhD examination through to expulsion from the University in extremely serious cases. Detection of Unfair Means The University subscribes to a national plagiarism detection service which helps academic staff identify the original source of material submitted by students. This means that academic staff have access to specialist software that searches a database of reference material gathered from professional publications, student essay websites and other work submitted by students. It is also a resource which can help tutors and supervisors to advise students on ways of improving their referencing techniques. Your work is likely to be submitted to this service. For further information http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/infoskills http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/languagesupport/writingadvisory http://www.shef.ac.uk/ssid/procedures/grid_discipline http://www.shef.ac.uk/ssd/sca/discipline
