Newcastle University

Aims

This module aims to:
• familiarise students with potential designs of studies for clinical research;
• familiarise students with the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods;
• develop familiarity and confidence with different methods of data handling and coding;
• develop skills to interpret data, prepare and deliver a presentation and to facilitate effective reading and critical appraisal of published literature.

Outline Of Syllabus

• Quantitative research
• Qualitative research
• Quality of life in a clinical setting
• Data coding and cleaning
• Data handling and databases
• Statistical analysis of descriptive data
• Interpretation of results
• Interpretation of evidence
• Presentation of data and evidence

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This module will be a mixture of small group teaching and tutorials/workshops. The statistics will be delivered as small group teaching. The study design will be taught as a mixture of small group teaching, tutorials and mini-workshops. Students will get formative feedback at the tutorials and mini-workshops. Teaching will be supported by the Blackboard VLE.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Computer literacy will be assessed in the presentation and coding framework assessment. Written and oral presentation skills will be assessed in the written work and in the presentation. The critical appraisal assessment will test knowledge and understanding of different modes of clinical research and the different components of a research project as well as of differences between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The coding framework assessment will demonstrate an understanding of coding and type variables.