Research for Professional Practice

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

• Utilise an appropriate search strategy to retrieve, review and critically appraise information and published literature within your field of practice.
• Appraise where different types of research sit within the hierarchy of evidence and the application of evidence to practice guidelines and policy.
• Critically appraise strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative research design, methods, and analysis.
• Demonstrate understanding of the key processes and stages in research, evaluation or improvement methods.
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the key ethical issues in research, the role of ethics committees and research governance.
• Explain the benefits and importance of patient and public involvement in research.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently and take responsibility for seeking guidance in relation to completion of a literature review and project proposal.

Indicative module content includes:

• Study Skills:
  • Critical appraisal and reflection at BSc (Hons) level
  • Project planning
  • Undertaking a literature review
  • Writing a research proposal or improvement project.
• The role of clinical guidelines
• Tools for appraising evidence
• Research ethics, the role of ethics committees and research governance
• Research design, methods, and analysis, including basic statistical terminology
• Evaluation and improvement methods
• The benefits and importance of patient and public involvement
• How research findings and evidence are disseminated.

For the 2023/24 curriculum, our PGT/CPD modules will continue to be delivered using hybrid learning. This means that depending on the subject and content of learning and teaching, modules will mainly be delivered via a combination of face to face and online delivery (both live and asynchronous), as this has worked really well for our practice-based colleagues. It is important to recognise the majority of modules contain face to face contact time and attendance at the University will be required.

Learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Seminars with group discussion
• Individual student supervision
• E-learning.

You will complete a dissertation comprising of either:

• A comprehensive literature review and a research proposal related to an area of interest within your scope of practice. 

or

• A review of current evidence and guidelines on an area of interest within your scope of practice, with a plan for an improvement project consisting of an audit or evaluation of the selected practice.

You will not be expected to undertake the research proposed.

Word count: 8,000 

Take a look at the module reading list.