Module Overview
This module is aimed at students who are qualified health professionals and is
designed to enable you to consolidate and further develop the knowledge and skills
gained during previous modules, and specifically to carry out the study you designed
in your Proposal module.
The module will begin during your study block in January 2023. Please see the
module timetable for details of taught sessions. These sessions will address gaining
ethical approval (if undertaking primary research), data collection and data analysis.
Sessions will also address writing for publication. Practical computer labs on data
analysis strategies, will be arranged at a time that fits with your own data analysis
needs (ie after data has been collected). In addition to support provided by the
Module Leader an individual supervisor will be allocated to provide up to 8 hours of
one-to-one support through email, Teams and other forms of communication agreed
by the student and supervisor. Ongoing support will be provided
through bb.tees.ac.uk
Students will receive formative feedback on their ethical approval documentation for
their proposed project. This feedback will highlight any necessary changes to their
sampling strategy, data collection, management and storage processes and any
additional documentation required. Data collection for the final project cannot begin
until full ethical approval has been granted.
The summative assessment consists of a detailed written account of the research
project as a journal article for your specified journal, together with a file of evidence
including: confirmation of ethical approval/release and full data analysis. The
dissertation will normally be submitted in Module Week 40 (normally Programme
Week 92) and carries 100% of the mark for this module.
Writing the Dissertation as an article for publication it is hoped that, in consultation
with your supervisor, you will continue to seek publication for your work upon
completion.
Module Aims:
The module aims to enable you to:
Consolidate and synthesise learning from all previous modules.
Carry out a research study, which can be: a systematic review, or a
quantitative or qualitative study using primary or secondary data collection
techniques.
Learning Outcomes
Research, Knowledge and Cognitive Skills
Analyse and evaluate ethical and legal issues relevant to the project in order to
gain ethical approval.
Appraise and synthesise evidence to support decisions and apply them to a
range of academic and professional areas.
Professional Skills
Undertake a negotiated self-managed research project relevant to the students
area of professional practice
Evaluate the implications of their research findings for practice and future
research.
Personal and Transferable Skills
Prioritise and organise own work schedule to meet deadlines and manage time
effectively.
Make effective use of digital environments in carrying out a research projec
Produce a detailed and coherent report utilising evidence from a range of
sources.
Assessment
The summative assessment consists of a detailed written account of the research
project as a journal article for a specified journal chosen by you, together with a file
of evidence including: confirmation of ethical approval/release, full data analysis.
(max 8000 words collectively)
The processes of recruitment and/or data collection must not commence prior to full
Teesside University ethical approval/release.
Assesses all learning outcomes and will provide 100% of the mark for this module.
The dissertation will normally be submitted in Week 40 of the module on Thursday
October 3rd 2024 and will assess all learning outcomes.
Assessment Criteria
Summative Dissertation Project (100%)
The following criteria will be used to assess the final Dissertation:
For a Quantitative or Qualitative Journal Article and File of Evidence
(max 8000 words)
Produce a journal article written in the format identified by the specified
journal publishers (a copy of the guidance for authors should be included in
the appendices).
Provide a file of evidence that must include:
An appropriate set of aims and objectives.
A critical justification of the methods of sampling and data collection.
A critical justification for the data analysis process.
A full analysis of the data, presented in a meaningful format.
Evidence of appropriate ethical approval/ethical release. If this is not included,
a mark of 0% will be awarded.
For a Systematic Review Article and File of Evidence (max 8000 words)
Produce a journal article written in the format identified by the specified
journal publishers (a copy of the guidance for authors should be included in
the appendices)
Provide a file of evidence that must include:
An appropriate set of aims and objectives linked to the focussed question.
A comprehensive search strategy clearly linked to the PICO/PIO elements of
your focussed question.
A critical discussion and completed data forms relevant to the following
stages:
Article selection process
Critical appraisal process
Data extraction process
Data analysis process
A full analysis of the data in a meaningful format.
Useful Reading
Aveyard, H. (2007) Doing a Literature Review in Health & Social Care: A
Practical Guide. Berkshire: Open University Press. (Despite the title this offers a
practical and accessible guide on the critical review process).
Craig, J.V. & Smyth, R.L. (2007) The Evidence-Based Practice Manual for
Nurses. 2nd ed. London: Churchill Livingstone.
Denscombe, M. (2010) The Good Research Guide. 4th ed. Buckingham: Open
University Press.
Hicks, C.M. (1999) Research Methods for Clinical Therapists: Applied Project
Design and Analysis. London: Churchill Livingstone.
Holloway, I. (2005) Qualitative Research in Health Care. Maidenhead: Open
University Press.
Saks, M. & Allsop, J. (2007) Researching Health: Qualitative, Quantitative and
Mixed Methods. London: Sage. (Includes an excellent chapter on using
documents in health research).
Altman, D.G. (1991) Practical Statistics for Medical Research. London:
Chapman & Hall.
Bowling, A. (2002) Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and
Health Services. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Brett Davies, M. (2007) Doing a Successful Research Project: Using
Quantitative or Qualitative Methods. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
Fowler, J., Jarvis, P. & Chevannes, M. (2002) Practical Statistics for Nursing
and Health Care. Chichester: Wiley.
Greenhalgh, T. (2010) How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence Based
Medicine. 4th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone.
Holloway, I. & Wheeler, S. (2002) Qualitative Research in Nursing. Oxford:
Blackwell Science.
Krippendorff, K. (2004) Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its
Methodology. London: Sage.
Kumar, R. (2011) Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for
Beginners. 3rd ed. London: Sage.
Neuendorf, K.A. (2002) The Content Analysis Guidebook. London: Sage.
Polgar, S. & Thomas, A. (2008) Introduction to Research in Health Sciences.
5th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone.
Prior, L. (2003) Using Documents in Social Research. London: Sage.
Punch, K.F. (2000) Developing Effective Research Proposals. London: Sage.
Robson, C. (2011) Real World Research: A Resource for Users of Social
Research Methods in Applied Settings. 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell.
Rugg, G. & Petre, M. (2007) A Gentle Guide to Research Methods. Berkshire:
Open University Press.
Salkind, N.J. (2011) Statistics for People who (Think They) Hate Statistics. 4th
ed. London: Sage.
Sapsford, R. & Jupp, V. (2006) Data Collection and Analysis. 2nd ed. London:
Sage.
Silverman, D. (2013) Doing Qualitative Research. 4th ed. London: Sage.
Sim, J. & Wright, C. (2000) Research in Health Care: Concepts, Designs and
Methods. Cheltenham: Stanley Thornes.
Taylor, M. & Claire (2007) Evidence-Based Practice for Occupational
Therapists. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell.
Walliman, N. (2013) Your Undergraduate Dissertation: The Essential Guide for
Success. 2nd ed. London: Sage.
Journals
N/A
Electronic
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP)
http://www.casp-uk.net
Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/index.htm
*The site addresses are correct at the time of submission but are subject to
change.
