1.To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research design, including methodology, methods and ethics
Knowledge and Understanding, Professional Requirement

2.To demonstrate critical evaluation of methodology and a variety of research methods, including approaches to collecting and analysing data
Analysis, Enquiry

3.To convey critical awareness of the principles that underpin effective quantitative and qualitative research Enquiry, Communication

4.To apply the evaluation of methodology and methods to the development of a proposed area of investigation within health and social care
Analysis, Application

A research proposal, including a literature search and critical appraisal of issues related to the proposed design. Weighting: 4,000 word written proposal 100% (assessing all four LO's)

This must be completed and submitted by the end of week 45

This assessment links to all the Learning Outcomes 1-4

This module has been designed to enable you to develop an in-depth critical understanding of research methodology and methods in health and social case contexts. You will need to demonstrate that you can grasp theoretical matters and the basis of different research techniques. This will be demonstrable through critical evaluation of published research evidence and the initial formulation of your own research ideas. As part of this development, you will be guided through the process of framing a research question, devising a coherent research design and the justification and defence of your approach when open to the scrutiny of others. You will consider the role and meaning of data including when and how it should be collected, monitored and analysed. The development of metrics to assess system reliability and clinical outcomes will also be explored.

Theoretical elements of the module will consider competing research strategies and the criteria by which we judge the effectiveness of research. We will also explore the use of specific methods commonly used in research, related to sampling, data collection and data analysis. The module will address, amongst other things, the following topics:

1. Research strategy: quantitative, qualitative or mixed
2. Primary and secondary research
3. Contextualising research – making use of literature
4. Quantitative designs: experimental and survey
5. Qualitative designs: including phenomenological and grounded theory
6. Recruitment and sampling
7. Data collection: questionnaires, interviews and focus groups
8. Data analysis: quantitative and qualitative
9. Big data and its meaning
10. Development of metrics and the collection/analysis of data to assess system reliability and clinical outcomes to support patient safety
11. Statistics (parametric and on-parametric)
12. Research ethics
13. Judging quality/effectiveness
14. The presentation and dissemination of findings

This module will enable you to develop an in-depth understanding of research methodology and methods. Academic research often favours a polysyllabic terminology, but often what is behind this terminology is entirely compatible with our ‘everyday’ understanding of the world. You will already have many skills required for research from your employment and prior education. This module will provide you the opportunity to sharpen these skills in the pursuit of an advanced understanding of research methodology and methods. This understanding can then be applied within the Master’s Dissertation in particular, but will also be transferable to a breadth of educational and employment settings.

Independent directed learning will be presented on the theoretical perspectives of research that is closely linked to your work in preparation for the assessed elements of the module. The general mode of delivering this module is through directed reading and activities supported through online activities and tutorials with the module leader. Emphasis is placed on the integration of the knowledge and understanding of methodological principles and research techniques. This ensures that all strands of the educational experience combine to nurture a ‘research imagination’ that can be applied in future empirical projects, and when evaluating the evidence produced by others.

Scheduled teaching and learning activities (20):
On-line Lectures, videos, interactive discussion and tutorials

Guided Independent Study Hours (20):
Online tasks and discussion

Independent Study Hours (160):
Assignment Writing, Reading and researching

Blaikie, N. & Priest, J. (2019) Designing Social Research: The Logic of Anticipation. Cambridge: Polity.

Bowling, A. (2014) Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health And Health Services. Maidenhead, Open University Press.

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

Creswell, J. & Creswell, J. (2018) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. London: Sage.

Successful completion of this module will require you to have access to your own Computer and good internet access

Pre-requisites Successful completion of the PGCert