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Unit information: Research Methods in 2023/24

Unit name Research Methods
Unit code BRMSM0002
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Dr. Jones
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

None

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

None

Units you may not take alongside this one

None

School/department Bristol Medical School
Faculty Faculty of Health Sciences

Unit Information

This unit introduces key quantitative and qualitative research methods as applied to public health. It aims to enable students to develop an understanding of the role and importance of both approaches to inquiry and when they might be appropriate. Students will gain a practical understanding of survey and questionnaire design and some key methods of qualitative data collection and analysis. The unit will provide an overview of the key principles of randomised controlled trials (RCT) and equip students with the skills to critically appraise trial methodology. It will also introduce systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs, with the aim of ensuring that students can recognise the implications of being non-systematic, non-comprehensive, non-rigorous or non-transparent in putting together evidence syntheses. The key knowledge and critical appraisal skills acquired during this unit will be transferable to all epidemiological and public health research designs.

Your learning on this unit

On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

  1. Describe the principles of survey and questionnaire design and validation
  2. Explain common challenges in the design and analysis of RCTs and describe how they are addressed to minimise bias in the resulting evidence
  3. Understand and contribute to the key stages of a systematic review
  4. Apply knowledge of the main methods of qualitative sampling, and data collection and analysis

How you will learn

There will be 10 teaching weeks. Teaching will include learning activities including lectures, small group work, discussions, individual tasks, and practical activities.

Directed and self-directed learning will include activities such as reading, accessing web-based supplementary materials, critical analysis and completion of assessments.

How you will be assessed

Formative assessment will support student learning by using informal questioning, quizzes and group work in lectures and tutorials. These will form assessments for learning and will not contribute to the final unit mark. Feedback will consolidate learning for the summative assessments.

Summative assessment: There are four summative assessments for this unit:

  • Written questionnaire design exercise (ILO 1; 10% of unit marks)
  • Term-time closed book exam to conduct a critical appraisal of a randomised controlled trial (ILO 2; 25% of unit marks)
  • Written report on systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (ILOs 2-3, 30% of unit marks)
  • Written report demonstrating understanding of qualitative research methods (ILO 4, 35% of total mark)

An overall score of 50% will be required to pass the unit.

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. BRMSM0002).

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 University 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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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