Research Methods in Health

This online research course aims at introducing students to a range of research methodologies and methods as they are used in health-related subjects. The course aims at students from different disciplinary backgrounds and is suitable for students that are new to research. The course introduces students to key principles in research design and strategy, including topics such as: developing a research question, theoretical and epistemological foundations in research, observational and experimental study designs, qualitative study designs, systemtic literature review as well as ethical principles and considerations in research.

This Semester 1 online foundation course on Research methods in health aims to introduce students to a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and their methods. The course will introduce students to a range of research methodologies and the key principles when designing research. The course will cover quantitative and qualitative methodologies hence offering students a rounded experiences of research development in health-related disciplines. The following topic will be covered: - identifying and formulating a research question - epistemological and theoretical perspectives that underline methodological choices - ethical considerations when designing research - the decisions that need to be made in justifying methodological and method(s) choices. - And the introduction to key quantitative and qualitative study designs.

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Learning outcomes:

On completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of research in health related disciplines for their evidence based practice delivery.
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of how feasible research questions are developed, including the appreciation of alternative research approaches.
3. Understand and critically reflect on the importance of searching the literature systematically, including the development of a search strategy and its justification.
4. Understand the significance of different theoretical and epistemological positions in research and its application to research (e.g. research design, methodological and analytical choices).
5. Demonstrate a critical understanding of ethical principles and how these apply to health-related research.

Assessment

The assessments for this course consist of (1) the development of a research question and its justification (2500 words, 70% of marks) and (2) a Multiple Choice Test (30%) testing basic competencies of research approaches. Part of this assessment is the systemic search of the literature, including the production of a PRISMA flow chart to aid transparency of the literature search and decision making.

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Further information

For further information about the content of this course please contact the Nursing Studies CPD secretary:

David Morris

Nursing Studies CPD Secretary

Contact details

Email: NursingCPD@ed.ac.uk

Address

Medical School, Teviot Place

Edinburgh

EH8 9AG