module specification

SH6008 - Research and Evaluation in Public Health (2025/26)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2025/26
Module title Research and Evaluation in Public Health
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 30
School School of Social Sciences and Professions
Total study hours 300
 
72 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
138 hours Guided independent study
90 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 40%   Research Proposal (2500 words)
Coursework 60%   Critical Analysis (3500 words)
Running in 2025/26

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)		 No instances running in the year

Module summary

1. You will have opportunities to engage with different approaches to research and evaluation;

2. You will link a critical approach to data sources to  own professional knowledge and practices;

3. You will place research in the wider context of policy and professional practice;

4. You will evaluate the role of stakeholders, including service users, in the research and evaluation process; and

5. You will be equipped to develop a robust proposal for further research and evaluation.

Prior learning requirements

In person attendance for semester 1

Online semester 2

Available for Study Abroad? NO

Syllabus

• The policy and professional context to research and evaluation (LO-1)

• Methodological approaches to research (LO-1; LO-2; LO3)

• Primary data collection methods and sources of information (LO-1;LO-2; LO3)

• Evaluating and interpreting examples of research and evaluation (LO-2; LO3; LO-4)

• Service evaluation, service improvement and planning (LO-1;LO-2; LO3, LO5)

• Involving stakeholders, including service users, in the research and evaluation process (LO-2; LO3)

• Identifying biases and limitations in different research and evaluation processes (LO-3; LO-4)

• Developing a research proposal (LO-2; LO-3;LO- 4;LO-6)

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

Teaching will be delivered through face-to-face (SEM1) lectures, interactive workshops and small group work. SEM2 will be delivered mainly online through virtual-conference sessions on Weblearn Collaborate platform.

Significant elements of learning will be provided using resources and evaluation tools on Weblearn. Lecture notes and overheads will also be provided on-line. This will give students access to a wide range of materials relating the subject area and their professional fields. Weblearn will also be used for student group work, exercises and formative assessment.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

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; and

6. Develop a robust research proposal.

Bibliography

Reading list from Talis available here:

https://londonmet.rl.talis.com/modules/sh6002.html