Unit information: Research Methods (Online) in 2021/22

Unit name	Research Methods (Online)
Unit code	MEEDM0043
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Steve Jennings
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This is a core Unit for those progressing to the MSc in Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals. The Unit is important in developing the appropriate knowledge of and skills in research so that students will be able to carry out their dissertation confidently and competently, whatever their background in relation to research may be. For this reason this is a mandatory Unit. The Unit covers an exploration of the basic assumptions underlying the social science research process, critical appraisal of the literature, research design, data collection management and an introduction to data analysis. Participants who have already done research themselves may well have some of the relevant skills, but this unit is important in highlighting the processes of applying them to an educational focus rather than a clinical or scientific one.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit the students will have:

• Developed appropriate research questions, focused on the educational process, within specific professional contexts
• Performed a literature search using relevant journals and databases
• Critically appraised educational research literature
• Designed an appropriate research study within the workplace
• Identified the strengths and limitations of various qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods
• Developed a broader understanding of research issues, including research paradigms and ethical issues
• Developed a reflective approach to their own research

Teaching Information

Online learning includes interactive learning through wiki and discussion boards. Short group synchronous online tutorials and follow up tutorials for those who want to take part.

Assessment Information

An assignment comprising 3,000 words.

Provisional deadlines: within 12 weeks of the first study day for a Unit.

Formative: feedback on study day activities. Peer and tutor feedback on presentation of their draft outline research proposal.

Summative: Students will be required to write a research proposal designed to explore the research focus that they are thinking of for a masters project. The proposal must contain a suitable literature review, justification of methodology chosen, a consideration of research ethics and reflection on their own journey as researcher.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. MEEDM0043).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.