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PU5027: FUNDAMENTALS OF RESEARCH DESIGN (2016-2017)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of health research methods. The course will focus on the development of research protocols, including how to formulate research questions, identify appropriate study designs, identify relevant outcomes and plan data collection. Students will be introduced to the main study designs used in health research including experimental, observational, qualitative and mixed method designs. Sampling techniques and methods for data collection for both quantitative and qualitative methods will be addressed. Students will also be introduced to the importance of critical appraisal and research ethics and will learn how to communicate scientific findings.

 

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Online Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Kirsty Kiezebrink

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Any Postgraduate Programme Certificate in Research Methods for Health (Studied) or Master Of Public Health (Studied)
  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

 

The aim of this course is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to

 

  • Undertake scientific dissemination for a range of audiences ( academic, media,  public)
  • To conduct a critical appraisal of research and demonstrate an appreciation of the issues that are important in assessing the methodological quality and ethical rigour of research studies and be able to apply these.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of professional practice, research ethics,  governance and organisation
  • Undertake the design of a health-related research proposal including
    • Develop a basic understanding  of the underlying principles of quantitative and qualitative research
    • introducing students to the key data generation methods in health-related research
    • an understanding of working with secondary data, linked data, healthcare records and large dataset
    • An overview of a range of quantitative and qualitative approaches to analysis
    • enabling students to choose the most appropriate research design and data collection tools to address a particular research question
    • Identifying potential sources of bias in research and develop strategies to minimise these.
  • Produce a research proposal suitable for submission to a research funding body

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Summative assessment will be through:
1. Three time-limited multiple choice questions/short answer questions (30% of final mark, 10% for each assessment)
2. A 2,500 word written research protocol (50% of final mark)
3. A poster and accompanying podcast presentation of the protocol (20% of final mark)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

None.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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