Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Final Master's Degree Project

• code 12190
• course 1
• term Semester 1
• type TF
• credits 15

Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish

Head instructor

Dra. Cristina MONFORTE - cmonforte@uic.es

Office hours

Arrange tutoring with TFM teachers. 

For any other questions about the subject contact: cmonforte@uic.es

The Master Final Project (TFM) is the name given to one of the compulsory subjects included in the curriculum of the Master in Clinical Research, which is taught at the International University of Catalonia.

Their characteristics of realization and the requirements of concretion in the educational organization, motivate this teaching guide.

The number of credits assigned to the TFM is 15 ECTS, equivalent to 330 hours / student, during which all the planned tasks of data search and preliminary information, programming, planning and content structuring, organization and realization are developed.

There is not pre-course requirements. 

The main purpose of the Final Master's Project (TFM) is to reinforce the knowledge acquired during the master's degree in methodological matters, programming, structuring, planning and organizing a research work and the tasks necessary for its realization. 

Through the TFM, the student will have to demonstrate that he / she is able to describe and analyze the problem to be investigated based on previous studies and scientific background through the programming of research objectives and design, the appropriate applications and the development of the scientific method, as well as forecasting of the methodology by the evaluation of the results.

Master's thesis will indicate its nature, context and development of the scientific method; it will have to justify the temporary organization of scientific tasks and others until its completion.

1. Basing theoretically the application of scientific methodology in the planning and interpretation of research.
2. Identify the research needs in the field of health sciences cures, considering their relevance and belonging.
3. Identify available sources and health information resources.
4. Carry out information searches, identifying the most relevant bibliography.
5. Formulate objectives and research hypotheses from the research problem.
6. Design methodological strategies to approach an investigation according to the purpose of the study.
7. Identify appropriate methodological tools for the development of research.
8. Communicate effectively the research project in written and oral form.

• CB6 - To have and understand knowledge that provide a basis or opportunity to be original in terms of the applkication of ideas, often within a research context.
• CB7 - To know how to apply the knowledge acquired and resolve problems in unknown or little known environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study.
• CB8 - To able to incorporate their knowledge and cope with the complexity of formulating judgements based on information that, since it is incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgements.
• CB10 - To have the learning competences that allow them to continue to study in a way that will have to be mainly independent.
• CE1 - To know how to apply scientific methods, experimental design and biostatistics to answer a question or corroborate a hypothesis in a clinical setting.
• CE10 - The ability to critically analyse and discuss research results and transmit the relevant outcomes
• CE2 - To know how to design a research project within a specific context in a clinical setting
• CE3 - To know how to describe both the quantitative and qualitative methodological designs used in health research in the healthcare environment.
• CE5 - To know how to apply the language of scientific writing when communicating health outcomes
• CE6 - To know how to describe and apply the most common techniques for exploring and analysing data, the relationship between variables or categories and/or corroborating hypotheses in both quantitative and qualitative research.
• CE7 - To know how to identify health problems on which research may be undertaken and to apply specific techniques to analyse and assess such problems,
• CG1 - The ability to incorporate new knowledge acquired through research and study and cope with complexity.
• CG2 - The ability to critically analyse and discuss research results and transmit the relevant outcomes.
• CG3 - The ability to draw up research questions and put them into operation as research projects and formulate evidence-based research hypotheses.
• CG4 - The ability to articulate and defend one's own scientific ideas in an ethical way with regard to the research process
• CB9 - To be able to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments supporting these conclusions to specialised and non-specialised audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.

Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to:

1. Explain the basic elements and steps of the research process.
2. Use the scientific method as a basis to disseminate knowledge about clinical practice.
3. Design and program a research process using the appropriate methodology according to the objectives that arise.
4. Present a research project with all its elements for evaluation.
5. Use the correct data sources and bibliographic bases to carry out extensive searches that are at the same time sensitive to the objectives set.
6. Synthesize the bibliography and make a critical evaluation.
7. Use the appropriate style, citation and referencing rules.
8. Ethical commitment to the research approach. Take into account all aspects related to the ethics of research.

1. Presentation and writing of the final master project

This document is not a complete treatise on the writing of the Final Master's Project (TFM), but a guide on the formal aspects that the TFM has to contemplate.

2. Sections and ordering of the TFM

The sections followed by the letter (o) are mandatory and those followed by the letter (f) are optional.

a. Covers (o): one page at the beginning with the title and the other at the end of the document in white. They do not count when it comes to paging.

b. Title page (o): it must contain the essential elements to identify the TFM. It must include:

i. Logo of the University

ii. The title of the TFM (Written in lowercase)

iii. The name of the author

iv. Data of the center

v. Fine Master's Work

vi. Master of Science in Nursing

vii. The name of the tutor

viii. TFM delivery date

The TFMs are internationally protected against plagiarism, so on the back of the title page you must carry the following copyright "Prohibited the total or partial reproduction of this text, fear of printing, photocopy, microfilm one another, without prior express permission of the International University of Catalonia”

The title is an expression or short phrase that serves to mention the theme of the TFM and the point of view from which it is treated. It is an important part of the TFM because it serves to disseminate and catalog it. Avoid ambiguous descriptions.

c. Summary (o): between 300 and 350 words. It is necessary to present the subject and the objective of study and the methodology used, as well as, if applicable, the expected results, the limitations of the study and the implications for nursing practice and research. (According to modality a or b of TFM type).

The summary needs to be concise, but it is more than an enumeration of the chapters of the work; it has to give the reader an idea of the content, originality and scientific value of the TFM.

You will have to make a list of 5 or 6 keywords. The keywords allow and facilitate the indexing to the databases, facilitating later the search of the articles.

d. Index, list of tables and list of figures (o): these three lists refer to pages of the TFM. The index covers the entire TFM and indicates the main titles. The list of tables and the list of figures occupy separate pages.

List of acronyms and abbreviations (o): this list with alphabetical order mentions the abbreviations and abbreviations that are used in the work and explains its meaning. The rules and internationally accepted abbreviations must be respected.

e. Dedication (f): it is a tribute of the author to one or different people.

f. Body of the TFM (o): there are many ways to structure a research work, but it is necessary that all have a concise expression of the ideas. The TFM will have to have a maximum of 50 pages and will have to contain at least the following sections:

1. Introduction: brief introduction of the research topic.

2. Review of the literature: exposure of existing knowledge on the subject. This section has to justify the objectives of the investigation.

3. Theoretical framework: presentation of the concepts and statements related to the phenomenon of study.

4. Objective (s) of research and hypothesis if necessary

5. Methodology: development of the research plan in order to reach the objectives of the research. This section must contain at least:

• Study design: type of appropriate study.
• Variables: conceptual and operational definition, type (dependent, independent ...) and function of variables and measurement instruments.
• Population and sample: inclusion and exclusion criteria, measurement of the sample, type of sampling, etc.
• Variables
• Instruments: If used, a brief description
• Methods of data collection. planning of who, how, where, when each of the data will be collected (validity and reliability).
• Procedure: development of field work, schedule.
• Ethical considerations of research
• Statistical analysis: description of the type of analysis that will be carried out to reach each of the proposed objectives.

6. Ethical considerations of the investigation

7. Study limitations

8. Schedule

9. Implications for practice

Optional depending on the type of TFM that is presented: (only to the "b" mode)

10. Results: presentation of the preliminary results.

11. Discussion: interpretation of the preliminary results, contributions of the TFM to nursing science, have the proposed objectives been achieved? Compare the results obtained with the other authors. Practical deductions. Limitations Proposal for new lines of research.

12. Conclusions and recommendations: conclusions of the author and recommendations by professional practice or by future research.

g. Bibliographical references (o): for the presentation of the bibliographic list, it is necessary to use the "Requirements of uniformity of the writings presented to biomedical journals: Standards of Vancouver or APA"

h. Anejas (o): some documents such as the informed Consent, the Participant Information Sheet; Measuring instruments or scales, if used; Approval sheet of the Ethics Committee of the investigation in the case of work implemented; audiovisual documents, etc., have to be placed in the annex.

The annexes allow offering this type of information without loading the body of the TFM, or distract the reader from the development of ideas. The annexes are separated from each other by an appropriate title page.

i. Acknowledgments (f): (can also be posed after the dedication). In this section the student gives his thanks to his tutor and to all the people who have helped him during the realization of the TFM. We must also express gratitude to the people who have authorized the use of measuring instruments or devices to carry out the TFM and to organizations that have subsidized work through scholarships or research funds.

*The TFM modality "a" does not require the implementation of fieldwork, for which it will not provide results.

*The modality of TFM "b" requires the presentation of a completed study, with data collection, presentation of results and discussion.

3. Formal presentation

a. Paper, format and margins: the paper has to be white Din A4. You only have to write a face, the size of the letter must be 11 or 12 points and with a line spacing and a half or double line spacing. The characters have to be uniform throughout the work. The following letters can be used: Helvetica, Arial, Times New Roman, Comic Sans and Tahoma.

Do not include references at the bottom of the page. The margin has to be justified on both sides. The upper, lower and right margins have to be 2.5 cm, but the left one has to be 3 cm in order to facilitate the reading of the work once it is bound. The titles have to be written in capital letters and bold.

b. Pagination: the pages of the main body of the TFG must be numbered from the first to the last. The page number has to be in Arabic numerals and it has to be placed in the lower right corner. All pages, pages with rows or tables included, must be paginated. The first page is not numbered, but it must be counted on the page.

The pages that precede the introduction and the pages that follow the bibliography must be numbered with small Roman numerals in the lower right corner.

c. Citations: you have to place the quotations in quotation marks and if they occupy more than three lines, in a separate paragraph with simple line spacing.

d. Illustrations, tables, figures, etc.: each of these elements must have a title and a number in Arabic numerals. In the event that a table or a figure is commented on to the work, it is necessary to indicate the number attributed to it. To facilitate reading, tables and figures have to be as close as possible to the text in which they are mentioned and can be included in the text as long as they do not occupy more than half a page. The name of the tables will go over the table. The name of the figures will go below or to the base of the figures.

Functions of the tutor

TFM will be advised by one teacher of the Master (tutor), and may be co-authorized, where appropriate, by another teacher. 

The functions of the tutor of the Final Master's Project will be:

a. Advise the student / on the necessary documentation for the elaboration of the proposal of the TFM and give its approval. b. Guide and review during the period of completion of the TFM. 

c. Perform periodically, individualized tutoring (interviews) with the student 

d. Treat the letter of approval of the TFM proposal

e. Within the deadline established by the Master's Commission, entertain the assessment report of the TFM if it is favorable to approve its presentation and defense.

The functions of the co-tutor / a may be the same and his figure is justified in his collaborative role in some specific part or subject of the TFM, or of global help of an accessory nature to the tutoring.

Student Functions 

1. Request the tutorials. It will be the student's responsibility to contact the tutor (via email). 

2. The dates of the tutorials will be agreed by two parties and the non-compliance of the interviews by the student (without prior notice) will be his responsibility. The guardian will not have the obligation to recover them. 

3. Present evidence of the work being done to be advised by the tutor. 

4. Sign the letter of approval of the TFM proposal

Requirements for the realization of the TFM

The completed TFM will have to be completed and released to the Secretariat of the Master's Commission within the calendar marked by the Master's Commission. 

NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED OUT OF THIS TERM. 

Once the student has the TFM with the favorable signed report of the tutor and the corresponding note, they will have to deliver to the Secretary of Nursing three bound copies of the TFM and a CD with the electronic version. 

The defense of the TFM will be within the deadline established in the Academic Calendar approved for the current year. Once the TFM has been accepted by the tutor, the Master's Commission will appoint the Court and the student will be duly informed before the date of the defense and the members of his court.

TFM Intellectual Property

The TFM are works protected by the Intellectual Property Law. Consequently, the copyright of these works corresponds to their authors, considering authors both the student and the director of the work (see Internal Regulation of Final Degree and Final Master's Degree Project of the International University of Catalonia).

Court and criteria for the evaluation of the final master's project 

The court is the evaluation body of the TFM and its members will have to support for its correct performance. 

The court will consist of three members: A president, a vowel and a secretary on the proposal of the Coordination of the Master. The president will be the most senior and senior teacher of the assigned professors, preferably this position being incompatible with that of the tutor or co-tutor of the TFM.

The court will be appointed by the Academic Commission of the Master. 

The criteria for appointment of professors of the courts will be: 

All these criteria will be taken into account and it will be the Master's Commission, who will ensure compliance.

• The constitution of the Court

• The presentation of the TFM by the student / author will be approximately 15 minutes, at the discretion of the president.

• A question, opinion, criticism or suggestion of the members of the Court, with the option to answer or comment on the part of the student author.

• Optional, at the discretion of the president, the possible participation of the members Doctors attending the exhibition as a public.

Once the TFM is completed and submitted, it will be evaluated behind closed doors by the appointed Court, and each member will issue a rating with one vote. The court after deliberating will give a final grade that will correspond to the final grade of the Fine Work Master's Degree, and that will leave the following percentages:

TFM evaluation criteria: 

a. 80% of the TFM note corresponds to the note issued by the members of the Court that will be based on the following criteria:

1. Originality and relevance of the topic 

2. Scientific content of the TFM (literature review, scientific methodology, etc.) 

3. Presentation and formal aspects. 

4. Exhibition of the TFM in public session, the same day of the evaluation. (30%)

The note of the members of the court will be distributed as follows: 

Points 1, 2 and 3 will constitute 70% of the court note and point 4 will constitute 30% of the final note of the court note.

b. The quantitative (0-10) and qualitative qualification consistent with the overall evaluation of the TFM will be made public according to the criteria established above. The corresponding act will be signed, which will be released to the Master's Commission for its registration.

Regardless of the qualification obtained, the Court will decide whether or not the TFM is deposited with the Requested Repository and in the Health Sciences Library (in electronic version). If yes, the student will be asked to express their agreement in writing with the possible partial or total graphic reproduction of the TFM. The Secretariat will process the documentation to sign the contract with Rebuscado.

The guardian and co-tutor, if any, and the rest of the members of the Court, may terminate their prior written justification commitment and approval by the Master's Commission. In this case, the proposed substitute / s must be submitted by the resigning professor (s), which will have to be approved by the Commission.

On the other hand, the student, after justification in writing, may ask the Master's Commission for a new tutor, co-tutor and court, which will be submitted to the Commission for approval.

In the case of termination of any commitment by any member of the Master's Professor Court, the Directorate of Studies will modify the allocation of teaching load based on the work done to the corresponding department.

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