SH5011 - Researching Health & Social Care (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27, but may be subject to modification | ||||||||
| Module title | Researching Health & Social Care | ||||||||
| Module level | Intermediate (05) | ||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | ||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
This module will deepen your understanding of research methods and methodologies in health and social care contexts. You will engage with different research principles and research designs. You will also engage with contemporary ethical debates about research and practice. You will be provided with opportunities to apply research and academic skills as well as broaden knowledge related to critical thinking and critical appraisal techniques to evaluate the validity, reliability and generalisability of research findings, enabling you to effectively apply evidence in health and social care practice. You will also continue to refine your research interests and the project pathway you intend to pursue in your final year.You will be required to maintain a weekly log of your learning on key components of the research process and module topics covered through tasks completed on a workbook. These weekly tasks serve as the formative assessment for the module. Contents from the workbook will be used to develop your final portfolio, which serves as the final summative assessment on this module.
This module aims to:
- Develop your understanding of methods and methodologies used in researching health and social care
- Equip you with practical skills in generating research questions, formulating research aims and objectives
- Apply academic critical appraisal skills in evaluating different evidence, research designs and approaches, ensuring ethical evidence based decision making in Health and Social Care
- Enable students to identify codes of ethics in Health and Social Care research while placing research in wider policy and practice contexts · facilitate professional development by enhancing your ability to reflect on your research journey and growth
Module aims
This module aims to:
- Develop your understanding of methods and methodologies used in researching health and social care
- Equip you with practical skills in generating research questions, formulating research aims and objectives
- Apply academic critical appraisal skills in evaluating different evidence, research designs and approaches, ensuring ethical evidence based decision making in Health and Social Care
- Enable students to identify codes of ethics in Health and Social Care research while placing research in wider policy and practice contexts · facilitate professional development by enhancing your ability to reflect on your research journey and growth
Syllabus
- Researching health and social care: Understanding research principles, designs and process: methodology and methods in the context of H&SC research (1, 2, 5)
- Understanding codes of ethics in H&SC research: confidentiality; informed consent; defining ‘best’ practice; the ethicalResearcher and Practitioner (4)
- Placing and applying research in wider policy and practice contexts, designing and planning practice-based projects (e.g., evaluating services, interventions, programmes, quality improvements etc using primary, secondary or mixed methods research) (4)
- Development of contemporary research thinking; key elements of practice informed research; (3, 4)
- Approaches of critical appraisal of research designs and evidence : assessing research validity, reliability and generalisability (3)
- Understanding the process of developing research questions, aims and objectives (2)
- Exploring quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research approaches, design and analysis, including creative participatory action research methods (1, 4)
- Dealing with bias and limitations, reflective practice in research, evidence-informed research and practice; reflecting on professional/research development (1, 3,4, 5)
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The module curriculum will be addressed through an integrated programme of lectures, seminars and workshops, with supporting material and exercises, together with the use of student-centred learning resources. Lectures will be used to provide a conceptual framework. Seminars will be relational inter-active/discussion forums, with group activities to address specific issues, and enabling a venue for reflection, discussion and peer-learning. Student-centred assignments will enable students to reinforce and expand their knowledge and skills in research and ethical practice in health and social care. Weblearn is available to support student understanding with access to learning resources including the module reading list. Module staff will be available to provide face-to-face, telephone, and email support to students during and outside timetabled sessions
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understand of research methods and methodologies used in researching Health and Social Care
- Show an understanding of how to develop research questions, aims and objectives
- Use a range of approaches to critically evaluate the relevance and significance of evidence, research designs and approaches
- Identify and interpret key codes of ethics in health and social care research while situating research in wider policy and practice contexts
- Reflect on the research process and your development as a researcher, identifying areas for improvement
Bibliography
Tallis link yet to be created, some of the resources from the below will be used to create it:.
Kara, H. (2020) Creative Research Methods: A Practical Guide. 2nd edn. Bristol: Policy Press