SPE8301 : Critical Appraisal of Research Methodologies
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Professor Helen Stringer
- Owning School: Education, Communication & Language Sci
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To use students' critical appraisal skills to evaluate quantitative and empirical research methodologies. To develop students' critical understanding of research methodologies in experimental and clinical contexts.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Critical appraisal of controlled trial research papers
2. Critical appraisal of single case study and cohort research papers
3. Critical appraisal of mixed methods research papers
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 2:30 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 2 | 4:00 | 8:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 136:00 | 136:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The student will formulate a focused clinical question related to their own area of clinical interest (problem solving), search for quality evidence addressing the question (information and computer literacy, planning and organisation), critically appraise the evidence (problem solving, information literacy), draw conclusions from the evidence and make a general recommendation for a study that could be conducted in response to their conclusion (written communication, planning and organisation).
Students will have the opportunity to apply a variety of critical appraisal tools to the scientific and professional literature in their own specialist clinical area representing a range of study methodologies.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 100 | 3000 words - focused clinical question related to own area of clinical interest, critically appraise the evidence & draw conclusions |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The student will formulate a focused clinical question related to their own area of clinical interest (problem solving), search for quality evidence addressing the question (information and computer literacy, planning and organisation), critically appraise the evidence (problem solving, information literacy), draw conclusions from the evidence and make a general recommendation for a study that could be conducted in response to their conclusion (written communication, planning and organistion).
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SPE8301's Timetable