YTRA0008-1

Duration

30h Pr

Number of credits

	Master in speech and language therapy (120 ECTS)	3 crédits

Lecturer

Collégialité

Coordinator

Dominique Morsomme

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

All year long

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The research introduction project aims at preparing students to write their master's thesis. The student's coach must ensure that the student fulfils the minimum criteria for a master's thesis, and is able to make adequate use of the resources available. In most cases, the content of this activity will lay down the foundations for the work to be done during the second year of the master programme, although this is not set in stone: in some cases, students can - for various reasons - choose a different topic for their thesis.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

In Psychology and Education, the project must enable students: - to formulate a question with sufficient accuracy and evaluate its relevance; - to read the literature related to the topic studied; - to draft a first formulation of the research question they intend to explore; - to develop an early concept of the methodology they will use; - to assess the feasibility (including in ethical terms) of the planned research; - to create a first draft of their research introduction project according to the guidelines (see the document setting out the rules for the research introduction project during the 1st year of the masters in Psychology, Education and Speech and Language Therapy). In Speech and Language Therapy, the project must enable students: - to apply the fundamental principles of evidence-based practice; - to formulate a question with sufficient accuracy and evaluate its relevance; - to search through bibliographical databases for literature that will contribute to solving the research question; - to carry out a critical assessment of the selected articles; - to draft a first formulation of the research question they intend to explore; - to develop an early concept of the methodology they will use; - to assess the feasibility (including in ethical terms) of the projected research; - to create a first draft of their research introduction project according to the guidelines (see the document setting out the rules for the research introduction project during the 1st year of the masters in Psychology, Education and Speech and Language Therapy).

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Choice of topic

Students are required to decide on a topic with their teacher, as this might become the topic of their future thesis. In order to facilitate this decision, the Faculty's various services hold information sessions during the first term of the first master, and/or publish potential topics on their website. Students are therefore responsible for learning about the topics they could pick for their research introduction project.

Coaching

In order to carry out their research introduction project, students are coached by a teacher who offers advice and support during the project's initial development phase. Students are responsible for keeping the teacher informed of progress made on research and analysis. In Speech and Language Therapy, students are required to attend the classes on information retrieval methodology.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Assessment methods and criteria

The end result of the research introduction project is a written document that is sent to the teacher. Maximum length is 20 pages or 5,000 words (12-point font, 1.5 spacing) and a one-page appendix describing the methodology used to retrieve information.
Students will hand in a first draft of their research introduction project at an agreed-upon date. They will then make improvements based on the teacher's feedback, and hand in a final version on June 1 (1st exam session) or August 20 (2nd session) at the latest. This final research introduction project will be graded by the teacher. A chart providing indications on how the project will be graded is included in the rules for the research introduction project during the 1st year of the masters in Psychology, Education and Speech and Language Therapy.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Students choose a research introduction project by March 1 of the first master, which could determine the topic of their master's thesis (which will be written during the second master). By that date, students will fill out a form (available on the Faculty's intranet at the following address: http://www.fapse.ulg.ac.be/cms/c_5000/accueil) and give it to the students' office, indicating the chosen topic (provisional title) and the coaching teacher's name. The document must be signed by the teacher and the student.

Contacts

Administrative support for the master: Magda Thunus (04/366.20.26 or Magda.Thunus@ulg.ac.be) and Roseline Fertons (04/366.20.26 or Roseline.Fertons@ulg.ac.be). Scientific support: all teachers in the masters in Psychology, Education and Speech and Language Therapy (students choose one coaching teacher).

Introductory work to research in logopaedics