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2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HECS2146 Research Methods and Evaluation

10 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Theresa Munyombwe
Email: T.Munyombwe@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Normally satisfactory completion of 120 credits at level 1

This module is mutually exclusive with

HECS2020	Quantitative Methods in Health Service Research
HECS2073	Research for Healthcare Profes
HECS2201	Research for Healthcare and Social Work Professionals

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

In this 10-credit level 2 module the student will come to understand the issues facing the healthcare practitioner when undertaking clinical audit, service evaluation or original research, how key research frameworks apply to published or original research through practical examples and the process of conducting and evaluating systematic review.

Objectives

The aim of this module is to provide the student with the necessary skills to be able to understand the issues facing the healthcare practitioner when undertaking clinical audit, service evaluation or original research. They will explore how key research frameworks apply to published or original research through practical examples and the process of conducting and evaluating systematic review.

Learning outcomes
At the end of this module the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate how appropriate critical appraisal frameworks can be applied in the process of critical review;
2. Display knowledge of the key differences between clinical audit, service evaluation and original research;
3. Understand the key differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods,
4. Understand the basic methods of quantitative research, data collection and analysis;
5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the appropriate use of common statistical tools used in quantitative data analysis;
6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of data outputs from statistical tools used in quantitative data analysis;
7. Understand the process of undertaking and reviewing a systematic review;
8. Identify a clinical problem and develop a research question informed by appropriate literature search and review


In this module these knowledge outcomes will be achieved through the application of a practical evidence-based approach to content delivery. Along with the key lectures, students will apply their new knowledge each week to practical scenarios with example datasets using PCs and appropriate data evaluation software.

Each week in semester 1 will be associated with a particular research method, the appropriate critical appraisal framework and the data analysis tools commonly used to evaluate the data types associated with this type of research in preparation for the 1st assessment.

In semester 2a the student will study clinical audit, service evaluation, original research and systematic review in preparation for the associated assessment.

Skills outcomes
The student undertaking this module should, on satisfactory completion be able to: appraise quantitative research methods; understand the differences between clinical audit, service evaluation and research; be able to apply appropriate methods of analysis for given data types; be able to use statistical software packages appropriately; interpret and understand results outputs from this software.

Syllabus

Module delivery will include the following topics:
Semester 1
Library training for advanced database searches & creating optimal search strategies;
how to read a paper: clinical problems and introduction to critical appraisal frameworks (RCT, cohort, case control studies surveys, diagnostic tests) and applying them to the critical appraisal process;
quantitative research methodologies
an overview of qualitative research methodologies
practical data analysis for each framework through real-world examples in the IT lab using University supported commercial statistical analysis packages;
understanding data outputs from statistical analysis software packages.
Semester 2a
Teaching sessions will be allocated in semester 2a to expand the topics covered is semester 1 to include:
Clinical audit; differences between clinical audit, service evaluation & real world research
How to interpret and perform a systematic review of published literature;
Developing a research proposal.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	16	2.00	32.00
Practical	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			60.00
Total Contact hours			40.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Private Study Hours: 60 hours, comprising:
- 10 hours online learning
- 30 hours reading (including online resources);
- 10 hours preparation for lectures;
- 10 hours literature searching.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance and engagement with on-line material and resources.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	1250 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

No compensation will be allowed between the two assessments

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/08/2016

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