This module meets the care certificate standards:

1. Understanding your role; 2. Your personal development

This module introduces the student to the essential practical skills required for locating, understanding, evaluating and applying results from research literature in their field. This will prepare them for scoping the literature and report-writing in a range of future careers and sensitize them to the key features of good reliable research. Core content will include:

Accessible ways of scoping out the research literature

Research and opinion

Assessing the grey literature

Quality and trustworthiness

Applying the fruits of research in practice

This assignment assesses all learning outcomes

A systematically organised critical review of the research literature addressing a current challenge in Health and Social Care, analysing the key findings and generating practical recommendations.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: (30¿hours)¿¿

You will attend face to face sessions combine multiple ways of learning including practical work, group work, discussions and interactive mini-lectures.

Guided Independent Study: (170¿hours)¿¿

100¿hours: Research literature searching and analysis - You will be expected to read a wide range of research and organise it into a structured review

70¿hours: Research methods preparation. Background reading and videos covering various aspects of research design and their practical importance for exploring contemporary social issues.

1. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the use of research data in relation to health and social care practice

Knowledge and Understanding, Learning, Problem Solving

2. Critically evaluate the methods of empirical enquiry as utilised in the study of health and social care and how these inform research findings

Analysis, Application

3. Relate the process of research-led enquiry and evaluation to a current issue in health and social care, generating research-based recommendations for changes to practice.

Enquiry, Problem Solving

You will have access to a range of materials on Blackboard VLE including articles, session slides, and interactive activities. You will also be able to access a variety of digital material through our Library and specialist databases.

Aveyard, H. (2018) Doing a literature review in health and social care: a practical guide. Open University Press.

Bryman, A. (2015) Social Research Methods (5th edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Hek G and Moule P (2015) Making Sense of Research: An Introduction for Health and Social Care Practitioners (5th edition) London, Sage

Holloway, I. and Galvin, K. (2016) Qualitative Research in Nursing and Healthcare. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

McSweeney, F. and Williams, D (2019) Designing and Conducting Research in Social Science, Health and Social Care. Taylor and Francis. doi:10.4324/9781351245425.

'Research’ is what we do when we need to find something out for ourselves. It makes the difference between guessing and knowing, between doing what we are told and doing the best we can. This module is designed to give you a step-by-step guide into discovering the research in your area and using it to gain new insights. It will give you skills that are essential for your Extended Study module next year, and that you will be able to use throughout your future career