PE4S226 - Research Methods and Critical Appraisal 01 Sep 2021 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PE4S226
Module Title: Research Methods and Critical Appraisal
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Allied Health and Chiropractic
Faculty Sub Group: Clinical Services
Module Leader: Karl New
Module Team:
First Intended Intake: SEP 2021 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100260 - healthcare science
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2021
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

To enhance knowledge and understanding of evidence-based practice and policy and to prepare students to undertake an independent research-based project.

Content Summary

Topics include:

• Quantitative Studies
• Research and Epidemiology
• Confounding, Bias and Causality
• Statistical Analysis Interpretation
• Interpreting the Evidence
• Meta-analysis and Systematic Reviews
• Qualitative Studies and Mixed Methods Research
• Appraising, Grading, Synthesising, Summarising and Interpreting Studies
• Diagnosis, Audit and Quality Improvement,
• Preparing a Research Proposal: Research Committees, Consent, Ethics, Probity and Literature Review

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 100
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically analyse and interpret research to assess its application to delivery/service development.
LO2 Select and apply different methodological approaches and tools to answer research questions in the chosen field of study.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Online Assessment Time-constrained assessment (Online) 1 End of Module examination relating to research methodologies and critical appraisal 60 N/A 30 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Self Reflective Assessment 1 Reflective Journal 0 600 10 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Project 1 Completion of a group project relating to research methodologies and critical appraisal 0 N/A 20 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Case study 1 Case based scenarios and discussion Forum relating to research methodologies and critical appraisal 0 N/A 40 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Time-constrained assessment (Online) 1 ✔ ✔
Self Reflective Assessment 1 ✔ ✔
Project 1 ✔ ✔
Case study 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Bruce, N., Pope, D., Stanistreet, D., (2017). Quantitative Methods for Health Research: A Practical Interactive Guide to Epidemiology and Statistics. Second ed. Print.

Greenhalgh, T. (2019) How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine. 6th edn. London: BMJ Books. Available as e-book.

Petrie, A. and Sabin, C. (2009) Medical Statistics at a Glance. 3rd edn. Chichester: J Wiley & Sons.

Pope, C. and Mays, N. (2006) Qualitative Research in Health Care. 3rd edn. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub/BMJ Books.

Walliman, N., (2018) Research Methods: The Basics?: 2nd Edition. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge (Basics)

Walliman, N., (2018) Research Methods: The Basics?: 2nd Edition. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge (Basics)

Pace, N. L., (2011) \"Research Methods for Meta-analyses.\" Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology 25.4: 523-33. Web.

Jacelon, Cynthia S S., and Katharine K K. O'Dell. (2005) \"Case and Grounded Theory as Qualitative Research Methods.\" Urologic Nursing : Official Journal of the American Urological Association Allied 25.1: 49-52. Web.

David L. Vaux. (2012) \"Research Methods: Know When Your Numbers Are Significant.\" Nature 492.7428 : 180-181. Web.

Cochrane. Making what can’t be counted count: Cochrane-WHO collaboration on qualitative evidence syntheses in guidelines showcased in new articles. Available at: https://www.cochrane.org/news/making-what-cant-be-counted-count-cochrane-who-collaboration-qualitative-evidence-syntheses

World Health Organisation. New series published to support the use of qualitative research in decision-making. Available at: https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/monitoring/qualitative-research-decision-making/en/.