About This Course
module code:NHS-4250
In person lecture units
These will explain the theory and background to different components of the module and are presented by the
module team with a range of expertise in particular research
approaches and methods.
Directed and Self-Directed study
With guidance provided regarding accessing e-resources that augment module lecture content. In particular the module will provide a structured approach to guiding students to read up on particular methods and to complete further reading.
Tutorials/Group discussions
These will be provide as requested/required to facilitate learning of concepts and methods
Who is this course for?
This short course is suitable for a wide range of healthcare professionals, such as GPs, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Radiographers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and language therapists, and Paramedics.
This course will also be of interest to professionals working in public health, social work, social care and related backgrounds.
Why study this course?
This course provides the learner with the right tools to be able to effectively critique and understand relevant published evidence to inform their practice
How long does this course take to complete?
This short course is spread over 16 weeks, usually during semester 2 of the academic year.
Lectures will be delivered on one day a week, usually on a Tuesday during weeks 1-13.
Weeks 14-16 are dedicated for self-directed learning and preparation for the final assessment in week 16.
The dates of the in-person lectures for 2024 are as follows (on a Tuesday):
• 23 and 30 January
• 6, 13, 20, and 27 February
• 5, 12, 19 March
• 16 April
There will be a lecture between 1-2.30pm and a group tutorial session every other Tuesday between 3-4pm. The rest of the time will include self-directed work (to prepare for assignments).
Assignment deadlines
Part A & B: 15/03/2024
Part C: 10/05/2024
Tutor
Dr Patricia Masterson Algar (Course Lead)
Patricia is a health researcher interested in improving the lives of those affected by a neurological condition. Her research explores the impact that these conditions can have not only on the lives of those affected by them but also on the family as a whole. In 2017 Patricia and her colleagues completed a research project where they designed and evaluated a lay peer support intervention for stroke rehabilitation. Leading from that work Patricia was successful in attracting Welsh Government RCBC Wales post-doctoral fellowship funding. In her fellowship Patricia applied innovative approaches to map the experiences and identify the sources of support of young adults living in families affected by a neurological condition. Patricia has recently joined the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (CADR) where she will continue to develop research focussed on designing and evaluating interventions tailored to support young carers of people living with dementia. She is currently a co-investigator on a randomised controlled trial and feasibility study of the effects of an e-health intervention ‘iSupport’ for reducing distress of dementia carers, especially in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Patricia leads the work package focussed on adapting iSupport to meet the needs of young dementia carers.
Patricia completed a BSc and a Research Master’s degree in Marine Sciences before making a career change and training as an Occupational Therapist in 2009. Her interest in the evaluation and implementation of complex rehabilitation interventions led her to a PhD during which she carried out the process evaluation of the OTCH trial (Occupational Therapy intervention for residents with stroke in UK Care Homes) that investigated the impact of a targeted course of occupational therapy on people living in nursing and residential homes after suffering from a stroke. Patricia was also part of the team based at Bangor University that lead the process evaluation of the PD COMM trial which is a phase III multi centre randomised controlled trial that aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two approaches to speech and language therapy (SLT) compared to no SLT intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease.
The following tutors also deliver sessions on this short course:
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
Research Methods provides you with the knowledge and understanding of research and research methods in healthcare
High quality research and evidence underpins healthcare provision. Developing your ability to understand research and undertake your own research projects will enable you to contribute to the development and improvement of practice in your chosen area.
You will become a ‘critical consumer’ of research, to have sufficient knowledge to contribute in a knowledgeable way to ongoing quantitative or qualitative research and to develop research questions and projects.
It is assessed through three written assignments that include assessing research papers, research tools and for the final assessment, you will develop your own research proposal.
Modules
- Basic research toolkit
- Essential review approaches
- Essential quantitative approaches and models
- Essential qualitative approaches and models
- Advanced approaches
What will attendees get out of the course?
Develop a research proposal following a standard template.
Understand reviewing methodologies to examine particular research questions.
Understand quantitative and qualitative research methods linked to research questions appropriate to a health and social care environment
Develop an appropriate study design and methodology to examine research questions based on review, quantitative or qualitative approaches
Formulate and operationalise review, quantitative or qualitative research questions appropriate to a health and social care environment;
Provide a rationale for choosing and utilising review, quantitative or qualitative research approaches to examine particular research questions;
Course Cost
- Enquiries regarding Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) funding should be directed to bcu.nurseeducation@wales.nhs.uk.
- Funding opportunities may be available for those working locally (i.e. in the north Wales and Powys areas), please contact the relevant module co-ordinator for details.
- All other application and funding related enquiries should be directed to the module co-ordinator .
Please see our Postgraduate Fees and Finance page for further information.
Entry Requirements
Applicants will require a 2:2 or higher, in an undergraduate degree related to the subject area, from a recognised Higher Education Institution.
Applicants will be working in a healthcare related role.
Alternative qualifications might be considered for this short course. Please contact the course lead to discuss further.
Application
How to Apply
Please make sure you read and follow the step-by-step application guide as this will specify which sections of the application form are compulsory for the type of course you want to apply for and save you time.
Please prepare the following information (in a Word document):
- Current employment details;
- Years of experience, and employment history (where relevant)
- Name of staff member and organisation that have approved your funding for this module.
This will speed up the process of completing the application form.
To apply for this course, you need to create an account in our APPLICANT PORTAL
You will need access to the email address you specify while creating your account to confirm it.
Step 2 - Application Tabs (Personal, Info, Contact)
After creating an account, you will see a homepage with several tabs:
- Personal
- Programme
- Info
- Contact
- Education
- Employment
- Language
- Finance
You need to complete all sections before submitting your application.
When a section is complete, a ‘tick’ symbol will appear below it.
- Click on ‘Non-graduating applications / Stand alone Modules’, then select ‘Non-graduating Postgraduate Taught’.
- In the next section, select Non-Graduating Taught Modules in Health(NGGT/HEALTH) Click Save and Continue.
- On the next page, the default for the first question is Full Time. You need to change this to ‘Part time’:
- You now need to input the module code. Research Methods: the code is NHS:4250. This section must be completed for your application to be processed.
- You also need to state the start date. Please make your selection, then click ‘Save and Continue’.
- IMPORTANT: You do not need to write a personal statement to apply for this course. Instead, please upload the document including employment, experience and education information that you have created prior to starting the application that contains the name of your current employer, the number of years of experience you have, and your highest qualification to date. Click Save and continue.
You only need to enter the details of your highest qualification to date, e.g. if you have a postgraduate qualification, please only only include this.
You will be asked for evidence of the qualification. Please either upload a copy of your qualification if it's easily accessible, or upload the Word document again (that you prepared earlier).
Please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘I have no employment history’ (as you have already provided this in your Word document).
If you are HEIW / Health Board funded, please answer the questions as follows:
- How will you finance your studies? Sponsored
- Exact name of funding authority: Health Board
- Country: United Kingdom
- Give details of the amount of the award? Fully funded.
- Sponsorship will cover: Tuition Fees
- Have you been awarded this funding? Please select ‘yes’ * Note that you will be required to upload evidence of the funding. If you wish to confirm ‘yes’ to this question, but do not have any written confirmation to upload, you can upload your Word document here again.
If you are self-funding, please provide all details as appropriate.