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PHTY40980

Academic Year 2024/2025

Introduction to Research for Health Professionals (PHTY40980)

Subject:
Physiotherapy
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Public Hlth, Phys & Sports Sci
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Olive Lennon
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Fieldwork Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module builds on the student's pre-requisite undergraduate knowledge in research methods and critical appraisal and increase breadth and depth of knowledge with regard to study designs, methodologies, measurement properties and research processes. On overview of ethics and data management principles in research is provided.

The module is underpinned by best practice guidelines in the research arena including the Medical Research Council's framework for testing complex interventions, the Preferred reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA), the Consolidates Standards for reporting trials (CONSORT) and others.

Students will work together in groups to develop a feasible research protocol, examine the ethical considerations relating to their protocol and engage in fieldwork relating to data collection.

Students will justify, by oral presentation, the research question they pose in the context of the available existing evidence, the feasibility of conducting this research and the ethical considerations.

Students will have formal contact with a research mentor who will oversee their fieldwork relating to data collection associated with their proposal. At the end of the trimester, each group will present a fieldwork diary that details a Gantt chart for completing a research project that relates to their proposal, a reflection on the ethical considerations identified, a data management plan, and a summary of fieldwork conducted including times, activities undertaken and data collected.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. demonstrate broad knowledge of research methodologies and ability to critically appraise different research methodologies in the scientific literature
2. develop a justifiable and feasible research protocol including their proposed analysis strategy to address a research question
3. demonstrate appropriate consideration for ethical and data management concerns relating to clinical research
4. present a research protocol to their peers and academics from the university
5. defend their methodology of choice in a research protocol with reference to the contemporary literature, best research practice guidelines and ethical and data management considerations.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to research for health professionals, research integrity in practice, ethical considerations in research and data management/data protection principles.
Research methodologies, appraisal of methodologies and best practice guidelines in relation to systematic reviews, qualitative, survey-based and quantitiative strategies.
Measurement and data properties.
Introduction to data analysis and interactive data analysis workshop.
Designing a research protocol lecture and interactive workshop

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

2
Tutorial

2
Computer Aided Lab

2
Laboratories

8
Specified Learning Activities

2
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Online Learning

2
Total

108

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
lectures
tutorials
workshops
computer-based laboratory tutorials
online content
mentored fieldwork

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Student groups will present a research protocol Week 8 Graded Yes

70

 Yes
Portfolio: Each student presents a research portfolio detailing work undertaken and skills learned, field work, ethics, data integrity training, and provides a draft introduction and methods section for a paper. Week 14 Graded No

30

 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

A workshop for protocol development is included in the module. At this forum peer feedback and formative feedback is provided. During the protocol presentations constructive feedback directly related to the protocol is provided. provisional grades are provided after the assessment and groups are invited to a face to face feedback session, should they request it.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Caitriona Cunningham Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Catherine Doody Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Gráinne O'Donoghue Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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