Department for Health, Unit Catalogue 2010/11 |
HL50077: Research project design |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Masters |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Modular (no specific semester) |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description:
| Aims: The aim of this unit is to acquire the skills needed to plan an independent research project. Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding After taking this unit the student should be able to: * Focus research ideas into a feasible research question. * Identify the appropriate reading material, critically evaluate and review literature relevant to a research question. * Critically discuss research methodologies, and determine appropriate design for chosen research project. * Determine appropriate research design(s) and methods for use in chosen research project and critically discuss your choice. * Critically discuss the issues associated with gaining ethical approval for chosen research project. * Prepare a research ethics proposal for submission to an appropriate body * Recognise the necessary elements, and submit a research protocol. These learning outcomes will be taught, facilitated and assessed. Skills: On completion of this unit students should be able to: Intellectual * Differentiate the value of information from different types of study designs and different sources (Taught) * Critically assess research carried out by others, evaluate its usefulness for your own project and use it as a starting point for your research (Taught) * Evaluate a research topic and produce a sustainable research design, effective research proposal, research propositions and research plan (Taught) Professional & Practical * Identify the appropriate use of quantitative and qualitative methods (Facilitated, Assessed) * Perform appropriate data presentation (Facilitated, Assessed) * Search, store, retrieve and integrate citations within your own reports (Taught) * Identify research opportunities and the potential problems in undertaking research in a particular area, or in using a particular method or approach. (Facilitated) * Write an effective critical and evaluative (i.e. not simply a descriptive) review of the research literature on a particular topic. (Facilitated, Assesssed) Transferable & Key Skills * Find and summarise relevant information using IT and develop an evidence based approach to research (Taught, Assessed) * Organise your own activities to achieve a desired outcome within a limited amount of time (Facilitated) * Direct your own learning (Facilitated) * Exercise initiative and personal responsibility (Facilitated) * Communicate research ideas effectively in oral or written form (Facilitated, Assessed) * Demonstrate confidence as informed consumers of published research, able to critically evaluate the relative quality and merits of reported research findings. (Facilitated) * Ability to undertake independent research and to complete a thesis. (Facilitated) * Be aware of ethical issues that arise in the conception, design and implementation of research. (Facilitated) * Devise data collection instruments and procedures for analyzing data for a particular project. (Taught) Content: The unit ensures that the student has the necessary tools and knowledge of their appropriate use to progress with their research project. This will include the following topics: * Introduction to the research process * Identifying a Topic and Defining Your Research Question * Carrying Out a Literature Review * Choosing The Methodology and Methods * Getting Ethical Approval Students will undertake an original piece of work which will comprise a proposal for a viable research project, that has undergone ethical consideration and for which appropriate supervision has been found. |