module specification

 1. Provide opportunities to engage with different approaches to research and evaluation;
2. Link a critical approach to data sources to the students’ own professional knowledge and practices;
3. Place research in the wider context of policy and professional practice;
4. Evaluate the role of stakeholders, including service users, in the research and evaluation process; and
5. Enable students to develop a robust research proposal
6. Enable students to critique evaluation studies in relevant areas of professional practice

Blended learning – Semester 1 day taught session, Semester 2 – online.

The policy and professional context to research and evaluation
Methodological approaches to research
Primary data collection methods and sources of information
Evaluating and interpreting examples of research and evaluation
Service evaluation, service improvement and planning
Performance measurement and management
Involving stakeholders, including service users, in the research and evaluation process
Identifying biases and limitations in different research and evaluation processes
Developing a research proposal & critique evaluation studies in relevant areas of professional practice All LO1-7

Teaching will delivered through lectures, interactive workshops and small group work.
Second semester learning will be provided using resources and evaluation tools in a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Lecture notes and overheads will be provided on-line. This will also give students access to a wide range of materials relating the subject area and their professional fields. The VLE will also be used for student group work, exercises and formative assessment.

 1. Place research and evaluation in wider policy and practice contexts relating to the students’ professional field;
2. Apply and interpret a range of research methods;
3. Critically evaluate research and evaluation, and the data sources that inform these;
4. Reflect on the  limitations and biases in carrying out research and evaluation;
5. Evaluate the role of stakeholders, including service users, in the research and evaluation process;
6. Develop a robust research proposal
7. Critique evaluation studies in relevant areas of professional practice

 The assessment will include both formative and summative elements. Formative elements will include online tests and the submission of draft work. This will feed into the summative assessment, which is in two parts:

1 A Research Proposal (2500 words) (this relates to LO1.- placing  research and evaluation in wider policy and practice contexts relating to the students’ professional field; LO2 - applying and interpreting a range of research methods, LO 3 - Critically evaluating research and evaluation, and the data sources that inform these; LO6. - developing a robust research proposal in relevant areas of professional practice)

2 A Critical Review of an Evaluation Study relating to the student’s own professional field (3500 words) (this relates to LO3 - critically evaluating research and evaluation, and the data sources that inform these;  LO4 -  reflecting on the  limitations and biases in carrying out research and evaluation; LO5 - evaluating the role of stakeholders, including service users, in the research and evaluation process; LO7 - critiquing evaluation studies in relevant areas of professional practice)

 Core:
Birley, M. (2011). Health impact assessment: principles and practice. Abingdon: Earthscan.
De Vaus D. (2014) Surveys In Social Research. New York:  Routledge
Guest, G and Namey, E. (eds) (2015) Public health research methods. Thousand Oaks, California; London: SAGE
Goertz, G., & Mahoney, J. (2012). A tale of two cultures: Qualitative and quantitative research in the social sciences. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press

Norman K. Denzin and Yvonna S. Lincoln (2017) The Sage handbook of qualitative research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Smith. S, Sinclair D., Raine. R & Reeves. B. (2005) Health Care Evaluation (Understanding Public Health) Paperback – 1 London:  Open university Press

Tsang C.   & Cromwell. D (2016) Health Care Evaluation (UK Higher Education OUP Humanities & Social Sciences Health).London:  Open university Press

Additional: 
Bryman,A. (2016) Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Dawson, C. (2009). Introduction to research methods. A practical guide for anyone undertaking a research project (4th ed). Oxford: How To Books. 
Denscombe, M. (2010). The good research guide for small-scale social research projects (4th ed).  Buckingham: Open University Press.