HS900-7-AU: RESEARCH DESIGN AND CRITICAL APPRAISAL
Year: 2013/14
Department: Health and Human Sciences
Essex credit: 15
ECTS credit: 7.5
Available to year(s) of study:
Available to Study Abroad / Exchange Students: No
| Module is taught during the following terms |
| Autumn |  | Spring |  | Summer | |
Module Description
This module provides the student with an advanced understanding of the research study designs commonly used in health research. It equips students with the ability to critically appraise and synthesise research. It combines a theoretical with a practical approach to enable students to search for, obtain, and understand the research literature and the critical skills to analyse and synthesis the material into a literature review. The module is divided into the following themes:
* Research methods, strengths and weaknesses and their application.
* Critical appraisal.
* Writing a literature review.
By the end of the module, students should:
Have an advanced understanding of the range of research methods that are in common use in their discipline.
Be able to conduct and report a rigorous and advanced search for research literature.
Critically appraise research papers and construct a literature review.
Apply research findings, including literature reviews, within their working practice.
Module runs at Colchester campus
Learning & Teaching Methods
The module uses lectures and computer lab sessions supported by Moodle. Lectures include group work and exercises. Moodle hosts extra readings, copies of slides, and other material. Self-assessed formative exercises and quizzes are held on Moodle. Other formative assessment opportunities are conducted via the Turnitin website. The module supervisor will hold walk-in individual tutorial sessions for two hours each week for at least six of the weeks of term.
Assessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Coursework:
3,000 word literature review
Exam Duration and Period
Other information
Minimum enrolment
Please note that if insufficient numbers of students (i.e. <10) opt to take this module we may have to cancel it at short notice. If this is the case we will of course notify anyone who has applied to take this course in a particular term as soon as possible and offer an opportunity to discuss alternative options.
Bibliography
- Recommended reading prior to starting the module:
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1. Hek, Gill and Pam Moule (2006) Making Sense of Research, 3rd Edition. Sage OR Moule, Pam and Gill Hek, (2011) Making Sense of Research, 4th Edition. Sage.
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2. Aveyard, Helen (2007) Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care. Open University Press.
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Core text. One of the following or more recent editions:
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1. Bryman, Alan (2004) Social Research Methods (2nd edition). Oxford University Press. Companion website at: http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199264469/
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2. Bowling, Ann (2002) Research Methods in Health (2nd edition). Open University Press.
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3. Saks, Mike and Allsop, Judith (2007) Researching Health: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods. Sage. Companion website at: www.sagepub.co.uk/saks_allsop
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4. Moule, Pam and Margaret Goodman (2009) Nursing Research: An Introduction. Sage.