Research Project prepared under the direction of one or two professors chosen in consultation with the director of graduate studies. The project is evaluated by the supervisor(s) and another professor.
Graded: S (Satisfactory)/NS (Not satisfactory).
Preamble
Like the thesis, the purpose of the research project is for the student to demonstrate his or her ability to work independently in a scholarly manner. It is a prospective exercise, i.e., a student may not submit work conducted previously. It is expected that students will complete the MSc in Epidemiology with research project in no more than two years; it is usual to complete within 16 months.
The research project does not have to make a significant original contribution to the academic knowledge of the subject, but it must display extensive research and independent analysis. This includes comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the literature relating to the topic. Use of original data is not required but analysis of already collected data, or collection and analysis of small-scale primary data, is optional. The subject of the research project must fit within the parameters of the epidemiology program. Examples of projects that may be feasible to conduct within the time frame of about one semester (4 months) and therefore could be the basis of research papers include some types of evidence syntheses, some types of analysis of already-collected data, and small-scale studies involving collection of primary data. The intent is that the student applies some of the training they gain in their coursework and produce scholarly work. Supervisors will be able to advise whether a chosen topic is appropriate.
Format and requirements
Length
The research project is a major piece of work, requiring approximately half the effort expected for a master’s thesis. While quality is more important than length, a typical paper is approximately 40 to 50 pages of double-spaced text in a 12-point font, excluding the title page, table of contents, references, and appendices.
Your paper should include:
- A title page
- A table of contents
- A one-page abstract
- References and citations using a recognized health sciences or medical citation style
- Tables and figures integrated into the text where appropriate
The organization of the paper should reflect the nature of the project. Many papers follow the traditional scientific format:
- Introduction
- Aims
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
However, other structures may be appropriate if they present the material more clearly and logically.
Submission of the research project
To submit your Research project, submit a Service Request and provide the following information:
- Type/Subtype: Major Research paper
Required documents
The Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office forwards the research project and the original protocol to the evaluators, with the firm expectation that their recommendations will be returned in no more than three weeks.
How Your Research Project Is Evaluated
The research project is evaluated by:
- Your supervisor (or one combined evaluation if two supervisors are involved)
- One additional professor with supervisory privileges in the program
The evaluation considers several factors, including:
- Quality and accuracy of the analysis
- Organization and structure
- Depth of research
- Relevance of the evidence and sources used
- Clarity and quality of writing
- Overall scholarly rigor
An aspiration is that it would be ‘of publishable quality’ in the sense that it meets the standards of rigorous peer-review while recognizing the short time frame for the research. Some students have gone on to develop manuscripts based on their research projects that have been accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
The supervisor’s evaluation will be informed by having been involved with the student in the development of the research project, from advising on the original protocol, interactions through the writing phase, and feedback on the draft paper. The evaluation will consider how closely the research project reflects the original intent and aims of the protocol, taking into account how and why these may have evolved as the work progressed.
Where the student has engaged two supervisors, they will agree on one evaluation only (i.e., either one supervisor acts as a single evaluator, or they both evaluate but agree on a single recommendation).
The external professor’s evaluation will also be informed by the original protocol. He or she will be requested to judge whether the research project meets the expectation of high quality, scholarly work, as described in the PREAMBLE.
Each evaluator indicates one of three possible recommendations:
Approved with no revisions required.
- The research project is accepted as submitted.
- Graded satisfactory.
Approved with minor revisions.
The research project is not approved and requires major revisions.
The research project is not approved in its current form and requires substantial revisions.
Students are given one opportunity to revise and resubmit the project.
The revised research project must be submitted by the deadline for the following term, and enrolment must be maintained. The revised research project will be evaluated using the standard process.
- To receive a SATISFACTORY grade, the research project recommendation must be (1) or (2), with minor revisions made according to the process described above.
- If the revised research project receives a second recommendation for ‘major revisions’, it will receive a final NOT SATISFACTORY grade.
If evaluators provide conflicting recommendations, the Director of Graduate Studies will appoint a third examiner to help reach a final decision.
Final Grade
A grade of Satisfactory is awarded when the research project is:
- Approved without revisions, or
- Approved with minor revisions that are completed successfully.
