Postgraduate Skills and Evidence
| Module title | Postgraduate Skills and Evidence |
|---|---|
| Module code | HPDM028 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Ruth Garside (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 9 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
Postgraduates are informed by research from the forefront of their academic discipline. To appropriately assess and apply this evidence to policy/practice, you need to be able to identify, critically appraise and synthesise best available evidence – quantitative and qualitative - on a given topic. This module therefore provides effective, transferrable postgraduate skills to facilitate evidence based practice.
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No pre-requisites or specialist knowledge are required to undertake this module, which is well suited to interdisciplinary learning. Delivery is via expert-led small group learning, interspersed by personal study undertaken at your own pace and supported by our internet resources.
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The majority of this module is delivered online, with some content delivered in-person during the Foundation Week.
Module aims - intentions of the module
You will develop a detailed practical understanding of how to critically appraise and synthesise current evidence from a variety of sources, whilst examining how the evidence base thus derived can also be effectively applied to their own area of practice.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of the design and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research studies
- 2. Demonstrate an independent ability to critical appraise, evaluate and synthesise a contemporary evidence base
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Understand how to appraise the nature of the current evidence base in your own area of professional practice and interpret it in the context or policy relevant questions
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Critically reflect on own learning needs in support of a personal development plan as an advanced scholar and evidence-based practitioner
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
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Masters level skills, academic writing and evidence based practice
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Personal skills appraisal
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Deriving an evidence base
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Locating, storing and organising research evidence
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Critical appraisal of quantitative and qualitative research
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Formal methods of evidence synthesis (e.g. meta-analysis; meta-ethnography)
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 135 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning & teaching activities | 15 | All student taught sessions: - Face-to-face scheduled lectures in week 1, then lectures, Q&A sessions, small-group discussions in tutorials and seminars in synchronous sessions on Teams/Zoom. - Small-group discussion in tutorials and seminars in person in week 1, and then synchronous group discussion on Teams/ Zoom - Workshops involving face-to-face classroom teaching in week 1, and then by synchronous sessions on Teams/Zoom |
| Guided independent study | 35 | Session preparation and follow up work utilising resources provided on ELE including asynchronous structured materials (such as short pre-recorded lectures, podcasts, asynchronous workshop activities, discussion forum posts and so on) |
| Guided independent study | 100 | Reading and assignment preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class discussions and small group work activities | Each taught session | 1-3 | Facilitator and peer feedback in class and via synchronous or asynchronous online discussion. |
| Personal skills audit | Discussed in a taught session | 4 | Facilitator and peer feedback in class |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical appraisal | 25 | 750 words | 1,2 | Written |
| Systematic review literature review | 75 | 2000 words | 1-3 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical appraisal (25%) | Critical appraisal (750 words) | 1, 2 | Typically within six weeks of the result |
| Systematic review protocol(75%) | Systematic review (2000 words) | 1-3 | Typically within six weeks of the result |
Re-assessment notes
Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral:
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Cronin P, Ryan F and Coughlan M. (2008). Undertaking a literature review a step-by-step approach. British Journal of Nursing. 17(1); 38-43.
Bryman A. (2008). Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Garside R. (2013). “Systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research” in Understanding and Using Health Experiences. Zeibland S, Locock L and Calabrese J (eds). Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Web based and electronic resources: Please also see ELE above for up to date electronic resources.
Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Guidelines for Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis in Environmental Management. 2013. Version 4.2 www.environmentalevidence.org/Documents/Guidelines/Guidelines4.2.pdf
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – HPDM028 2020/21 Module Pages
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 15/12/2015 |
| Last revision date | 26/04/2022 |