module specification

Research is a cornerstone of effective practice, enabling professionals to make evidence-informed decisions, advocate for social justice, and contribute to the development of knowledge within the field. This module introduces you to the principles, processes, and ethical considerations of social research. It aims to build foundational skills for understanding, evaluating, and conducting research that informs practice and policy.

Aims of the Module
By the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Understand the role of research practice and policy, including its contribution to evidence-based decision-making and service improvement.
• Identify and critically appraise different research paradigms and methodologies, with an emphasis on qualitative and quantitative approaches relevant to social professions and Social Sciences.
• Gain competence in interpreting and evaluating research findings, including assessing applicability to practice.
• Explore ethical issues in social research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

The module allows you to practice research skills through micro-studies in class. You will be able to engage with research that matches your personal and professional interests. At the end of the module you will have developed important practice skills for future employment including confidently conducting your own research projects and evaluations.

●    What is ‘Knowledge’ and who legitimises it? The role of Western research in colonial knowledge production 
●    Critical Reflection on knowledge production: power, positionality, and reflexivity in research
●    Debates on what counts as ‘knowledge’ in your profession
●    Why research matters for practice and policy
●    Using academic databases and grey literature
●    Critical appraisal tools and frameworks
●    Ethical research principles
●    Creative research methods
●    Understanding research reports and statistical summaries
●    Using Research to Inform Practice: Translating research findings into decision-making
 

This is a term long taught module reflecting the indicative syllabus. The teaching is interactive and requires student participation, active engagement with the learning process and independent study. The learning and teaching methods on this module will include the following approaches:

• Critical engagement with the research literature
• Small group and peer learning
• Personal reflection and reflective writing
• Interactive skills-based workshops: collaborative experiential learning
• Weblearn, video materials & other online educational content

All teaching and learning activities will be dialogical and encourage decolonial thinking and questioning. You will be expected to access educational resources independently, and to work, sometimes with peers, outside of the formal teaching contact hours.

You will be supported and guided to identify relevant (reading) materials to support independent study.

This module is assessed through two components both of which are presented during the module time, minimising the assessment load at the end of the module and ensuring continuous learning and exchange

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
1. Locate and evaluate existing research
2. Use existing research to inform and enhance your professional practice and decision-making.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of research processes and methods.
4. Critically reflect on the process of generating knowledges through research

Students will be able to and supported in using a wide range of existing research and research   methods depending on their research interest. This will be illustrative of knowledge creation through research and the importance of evidence-informed practice.
Additionally, the following core reading will offer students foundational research knowledge and skills:

Thambinathan, V., & Kinsella, E. A. (2021). Decolonizing Methodologies in Qualitative Research: Creating Spaces for Transformative Praxis. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211014766

Bryman, A. (2016) Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press 5th Edition

Newhart, M. and Patten, M. (2023) Understanding Research Methods. An Overview of the Essentials. Routledge, 11th Edition, Part 2:Reading, Reviewing and Citing Literature, pp.47- 100