module specification

This module provides opportunities for students to consolidate and extend their research knowledge & skills to be critical users of research for evidence-based practice.  It will provide students with the opportunity to utilise sound scientific understanding to interrogate research databases to identify relevant and appropriate research evidence to answer clinical questions The module covers practical skills and tools for critical analysis of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies used in service quality improvement and clinical research.

Lectures will be utilised to introduce principles of research methodologies, frameworks, application to practice, and critically appraisal tools. This will provide a foundation for evidence synthesis group discussions, where students will apply this knowledge to critically appraise research papers to identify answers for clinical questions. Where appropriate, established researchers will be invited to share their experiences with the students, to provide practical insights into conducting research.

No Pre-requisite.
Available for Study Abroad? NO

• Appraisal of the sources of knowledge and epistemology concerning the field of practice (LO1)
• The relationship between knowledge, research, theory and practice (LO3)
• Theories and paradigms of research
• Reviewing literature and the critical analysis of existing research (LO2)
• Generation of new knowledge through the research enquiry, commencing with the development of a research questions and hypotheses (LO1)
• Developing a systematic literature search (LO1)
• Different research approaches (quantitative & qualitative), designs and data analysis for different questions (Designing appropriate research) (LO3)
• Methods of data collection, sample selections (LO3)
• Principles of information governance and the safe and effective use of health and social care information (LO4)
• Reliability, validity, and applicability of the research results (LO3)  
• Ethical issues that arise when undertaking research, the role and function of the local research ethics committee (LO4)
• Statistical analysis of data generated through research and basic software packages for analysing data (LO3)
• Levels of evidence and critical appraisal tools such as Risk of Bias (RoB), appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS), Critical appraisal skills programme (CASP)  (LO2)
• Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data (LO3).

The teaching approach will consist of guest lectures, guided study, specialist skills training sessions, small group seminars.

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Systematically search and identify appropriate research to answer clinical questions in practice.
2. Critically evaluate qualitative and quantitative research for evidence-based practice, research in clinical practice and quality improvement using recognised critical appraisal tools.
3. Apply a critical understanding of the principles and applications of scientific enquiry to investigate problems in clinical practice and evaluate and improve service.
4. Critically reflect on the appropriateness of research including ethics and governance.

Two pieces of coursework will be used to assess this module: Group evidence synthesis and a research proposal.

Critical Appraisal Essay
This 2000-word critical appraisal essay will assess students’ ability to apply critical appraisal tools to systematically appraise a research paper to judge its trustworthiness, and value in making decisions about practice.  This element will contribute 60% of the module mark and assess LO 2, 4. Students will have a formative opportunity to practice writing critical appraisal and receive feedback before the actual assessment is due.

Group research evidence synthesis presentation
This group research evidence synthesis will assess students’ ability to work in a research team to gather appropriate evidence, synthesise it to identify any implied gaps for evidence-based practice and propose suitable research questions. A group-based approach to this coursework will give students the opportunity to develop team working skills working with colleagues, extend their critical appraisal skills to judge the trustworthiness, value, and relevance of published research. This element will contribute 40% of the module mark and LO 1, 3. There will be a formative opportunity to practice evidence synthesis as a part of the learning and teaching approach before the actual assessment.

Electronic Reading List
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/B42FEB55-4867-7A07-69D4-E9CAC5431047.html

1. Bowling, Ann. EBOOK: Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services, McGraw-Hill Education, 2014.
2. Carter, R. E. & Lubinsky, J. (2016). Rehabilitation research: principles and applications. (5th Ed.). St Louis, Miss: Elsevier. 
3. Green, J and Thorogood N (2014). Qualitative Methods for Health Research. London: Sage 3rd Edition.
4. Greenhalgh, Trisha. How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2014.
5. Jones-Devitt, Stella, and Smith, Liz. Critical Thinking in Health and Social Care. London: Sage Publications, 2007.
6. Portney LG and Watkins MP (2020). Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to evidence-based Practice, Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company, 4th Edition
7. Field, Andy. Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. London: Sage Publications, 2009. Introducing Statistical Methods.