Last modified: 10 Oct 2025 11:16
This course introduces you to health research methods, focusing on designing strong research proposals. You'll learn to formulate research questions, choose study designs, identify outcomes, and plan data collection.
We will explore key study designs, from experimental to observational, and master sampling and data collection for both qualitative and quantitative research. You'll also develop skills in critical appraisal and research ethics, equipping you to design rigorous and impactful research.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Offshore | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course gives you a comprehensive introduction to health research methods, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to design, evaluate, and refine research proposals. Rather than just focusing on the final proposal, this course emphasizes the research design process, encouraging you to engage in an iterative learning journey—refining your research ideas through feedback, critical reflection, and methodological considerations.
You'll explore the key elements of research design, including how to formulate strong research questions, select appropriate study designs, identify relevant outcomes, and plan data collection strategies. The course covers both quantitative and qualitative approaches, helping you understand their strengths, limitations, and applications in health research.
Through interactive and practice-based learning, you’ll take part in hands-on activities, case studies, and discussions that deepen your understanding of research design principles. Assessment isn’t just about producing a final research proposal—it’s about demonstrating your ability to critically reflect on the decisions you make throughout the research design process.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 20 | Feedback Weeks | 24 | |
| Feedback |
To support your summative assessment, you will complete five smaller activities throughout the term. Each of these activities will receive feedback, which you will be expected to reflect on and incorporate into your final assessment. This iterative approach will help you develop your research skills progressively. For your final submission, you will receive feedback in the form of annotations to the marking rubric. Carefully review the descriptors for each category selected by the marker(s) to understand how your work aligns with the assessment criteria. In addition to these annotations, you will receive summary comments in the final feedback box, providing an overview of key strengths and areas for improvement. If you feel you would benefit from further clarification or additional feedback, you are encouraged to arrange a discussion with your marker or the course coordinator.
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Demonstrate the ability to critically assess potential ethical challenges, reflect on ethical decision-making, and refine research plans to maximise benefits and mitigate risks. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflect on the strengths and limitations of research methodologies, demonstrating an understanding of how methodological choices influence research outcomes. |
| Procedural | Apply | Apply principles of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in research design, to adapt and refine research to address issues of representation in research. |
| Procedural | Create | Demonstrate the ability to develop and refine a research question through an iterative process of study design selection, justification, & feedback incorporation. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop and iteratively refine data collection strategies, incorporating feedback and critical reflection to improve data collection methods, and data management procedures. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 20 | Feedback Weeks | 20 | |
| Feedback |
2.5-hour test. You will be able to review your answers and be presented with the correct answers and an explanation for this with three week after the test closes. If there is anything you don't understand from the feedback, please arrange to meet with the course coordinator in early January for further advice and explanations. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Demonstrate the ability to critically assess potential ethical challenges, reflect on ethical decision-making, and refine research plans to maximise benefits and mitigate risks. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflect on the strengths and limitations of research methodologies, demonstrating an understanding of how methodological choices influence research outcomes. |
| Procedural | Apply | Apply principles of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in research design, to adapt and refine research to address issues of representation in research. |
| Procedural | Create | Demonstrate the ability to develop and refine a research question through an iterative process of study design selection, justification, & feedback incorporation. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop and iteratively refine data collection strategies, incorporating feedback and critical reflection to improve data collection methods, and data management procedures. |
| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 12 | Feedback Weeks | 14 | |
| Feedback |
We will review your early ideas for your project and if there are any concerns you will be asked to arrange a meeting with a tutor for additional support and advice. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Duration: 45 minutes |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Apply principles of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in research design, to adapt and refine research to address issues of representation in research. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop and iteratively refine data collection strategies, incorporating feedback and critical reflection to improve data collection methods, and data management procedures. |
| Procedural | Create | Demonstrate the ability to develop and refine a research question through an iterative process of study design selection, justification, & feedback incorporation. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Reflect on the strengths and limitations of research methodologies, demonstrating an understanding of how methodological choices influence research outcomes. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Demonstrate the ability to critically assess potential ethical challenges, reflect on ethical decision-making, and refine research plans to maximise benefits and mitigate risks. |
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