University of Essex

HS908-7-SU-CO:
Data Collection, Analysis and Interpretation

The details

Year: 2023/24

Department: Health and Social Care (School of)

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Summer

Level: Postgraduate: Level 7

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 22 April 2024

End date: Friday 28 June 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 26 September 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: HS927, HS948

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

MSC L439JS Global Public Health

Module description

Evidence based practice is an essential component of responsive and responsible health policy, strategy, leadership, service provision and coordination of action for health. To scrutinise the knowledge that informs and guides practice, the practitioner needs to be research-literate. This module explores the different ways in which data can be collected, analysed and interpreted so that students become more confident in carrying out these activities themselves, as well as increasing their ability to critique the research carried out by others.

In particular, students will be able to reflect on the most suitable research methods for their particular research question, understanding that the data collected has implications for the analysis that can be carried out and the types of question that can be answered.

Module aims

This module aims to provide students with a range of techniques for collecting, analysing and interpreting data. It combines a theoretical with a practical approach to enable students to fully understand the collection and analysis process so that they are able to make informed decisions when designing and carrying out research.

Module learning outcomes

On completing this module a student will be able to:
1) Debate the use of particular research methods in response to specific research questions
2) Design and develop data collection instruments and critically reflect on their value and suitably
3) Identify and debate the ethical implications of research
4) Explain and carry out a range of data analysis using appropriate computer software
5) Interpret the findings of statistical and qualitative analysis and relate this to their field.

Module information

This module takes place over ten weeks with a two or three hour class each week. Students are first introduced to the difference between quantitative and qualitative research, how they differ and how they complement each other. Sessions 2 -5 then focus on quantitative methods including research design, the importance of research ethics and the design of questionnaires. Sessions 3-5 are in a computer lab during which a range of descriptive and inferential data analysis techniques are introduced using SPSS. In sessions 6-9 approaches to qualitative data collection and analysis are explored, including a computer lab class which introduces the use of NVivo as an example of qualitative data analysis software. The final week introduces the concept of mixed methods research and its relevance in public health research.

Learning and teaching methods

The module uses lectures and computer lab sessions supported by Moodle. Moodle hosts extra readings, copies of slides, and other material. The assessment task includes piloting your own material which should be developed for formative assessment. Tutorials are scheduled to complement this process.

Bibliography

Clark, T. et al. (eds) (2021c) Bryman’s Social Research Methods. Sixth Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/974675.
Booth, W.C. et al. (2016b) The craft of research. Fourth edition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/238182.
Jones, D.S. and Podolsky, S.H. (2015) ‘The history and fate of the gold standard’, The Lancet, 385(9977), pp. 1502–1503. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60742-5.
Knopf, J.W. (2006) ‘Doing a Literature Review’, PS: Political Science & Politics, 39(1), pp. 127–132. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049096506060264.
Mattick, K., Johnston, J. and la Croix, A. de (2018) ‘How to…write a good research question’, The Clinical Teacher, 15(2), pp. 104–108. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/tct.12776.
Ruggeri, K. et al. (2024) ‘A synthesis of evidence for policy from behavioural science during COVID-19’, Nature, 625(7993), pp. 134–147. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06840-9.
Morgan, D. (2006) ‘Practical Strategies for Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Applications to Health Research’, in Emergent Methods in Social Research. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks California 91320 United States of America : SAGE Publications, Inc., pp. 165–182. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412984034.n8.
Plano Clark, V.L. and Ivankova, N.V. (2016) Mixed Methods Research: A Guide to the Field. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks California 91320 : SAGE Publications, Inc. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781483398341.
Skivington, K. et al. (2021) ‘A new framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions: update of Medical Research Council guidance’, BMJ [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2061.
Small, M.L. (2011) ‘How to Conduct a Mixed Methods Study: Recent Trends in a Rapidly Growing Literature’, Annual Review of Sociology, 37(1), pp. 57–86. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102657.
Field, A.P., Miles, J. and Field, Z. (2012) Discovering statistics using R. Los Angeles, [Calif.]: SAGE. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2726.
Tymms, P.B. et al. (2016) ‘Clustered randomised controlled trial of two education interventions designed to increase physical activity and well-being of secondary school students: the MOVE Project’, BMJ Open, 6(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009318.
Judea Pearl and Dana Mackenzie (2019) Book of Why. Penguin Books, Limited. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/300024.
Mwambari, D. (2019) ‘Local Positionality in the Production of Knowledge in Northern Uganda’, International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 18. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919864845.
Rubin, H. and Rubin, I. (2005) Qualitative Interviewing (2nd ed.): The Art of Hearing Data. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks California 91320 United States : SAGE Publications, Inc. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452226651.
Dempsey, L. et al. (2016) ‘Sensitive Interviewing in Qualitative Research’, Research in Nursing & Health, 39(6), pp. 480–490. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.21743.
Reflexivity and positionality in research by Dr. Nicole Brown (no date). Available at: https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/resources/online/all/?id=20808.
Morgan, D.L. (1996) ‘Focus Groups’, Annual Review of Sociology, 22(1), pp. 129–152. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.22.1.129.
‘How many qualitative interviews is enough’ (no date). Available at: https://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/id/eprint/2273/.
Cornish, F. et al. (no date) ‘Participatory action research.’ Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43586-023-00214-1.pdf.
Ugwu, C. (2019) ‘Refiguring transnational intervention: Ethnographic example from the Roll Back Malaria initiative in an African community’, Ethnography, 20(1), pp. 108–127. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1466138117741504.
Mackenzie, J. and Zhao, S. (2021) ‘Motherhood online: Issues and opportunities for discourse analysis’, Discourse, Context & Media, 40. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcm.2021.100472.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	3,000 word Summative Essay		100%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr ZhiMin Xiao, email: zhimin.xiao@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Caroline Barratt

Contact details: ZhiMin Xiao E: zhimin.xiao@essex.ac.uk GPH Programme Administrator: Ashwini Bharambe, e: gph@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Dr Elaine Lehane

Institution: University College Cork

Academic role: Senior Lecturer

Name: Dr Kate Parkinson

Institution: University of Huddersfield

Academic role: Subject Leader, Health and Social Care

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: No lecture recording information available for this module.

Further information

Department website: Health and Social Care (School of)

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Module Directory

HS908-7-SU-CO:Data Collection, Analysis and Interpretation