Research Methods Unit
(15 credits)
The aim of the unit is to:
- produce students who are competent in issues related to the design, execution and interpretation of clinical and clinically-related research. The latter may include medical education, public health and basic-science areas such as genetics, microbiology or biomaterials
- provide students with critical appraisal skills so that on a life-long basis they will be able to apply these skills to assess any research evidence that comes before them
Learning objectives
By the end of the unit students should be able to:
- discuss the importance of research in a clinical or clinically-related discipline
- understand the structure of, and be able to differentiate between, the common types of epidemiological studies
- critically evaluate the literature
- write a protocol for a research study
- understand key issues relating to ethics and research governance
- define evidence based dentistry and recognise the role of secondary research in EBD (including systematic reviews)
Description of the unit
The unit is a 15 credit, interactive online unit which provides students with an introduction to key material required for the design, execution and interpretation of clinical and clinically-related research and the production of a high quality dissertation.
The unit runs throughout semester one, and includes three face-to-face sessions which will be used to consolidate the online material and provide the students with an opportunity to discuss the topics in person.
Topics covered include:
- Library skills
- Epidemiology (key concepts and different epidemiological study designs)
- Critical appraisal (appraisal tools and practical application)
- Dissertation skills (time management, academic writing and reference management)
- Designing a study (protocol development, types of data, basic statistics)
- Ethics, research governance and data protection
- Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
- Evidence based practice (implementing research findings)
Face-to-Face Sessions
These are mandatory for all students taking Research Methods (except Distance Learning students):
Recommended Books for the Research Methods Unit
Basic Epidemiology
By R. Bonita, R. Beaglehole, R. and T. Kjellstron (Eds), 2nd Ed.
Published by the World Health Organization, 2006.
This textbook provides an introduction to the basic principles and methods of epidemiology. It describes different research study designs and considers basic biostatistics.
Available electronically:
Quantitative methods for health research: a practical interactive guide to epidemiology and statistics
By Nigel Bruce, Daniel Pope and Debbi Stanistreet, 2nd Ed.
Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2018
ISBN 9781118665268 (pdf) | ISBN 9781118665404 (epub)
Available electronically:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781118665374
An excellent, comprehensive textbook covering a wide range of health research methods. Important introductory chapters on epidemiology are followed by a series of chapters that define and explain different quantitative research study designs and associated statistical tests.
How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine
By Trisha Greenhalgh, 5th Ed.
Published by Wiley-Blackwell, 2014
ISBN 9780008801093 (ePub)
Available electronically:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/reader.action?docID=1642418
A highly acclaimed guide on how to critically appraise published research and how to put the findings into practice. This book explains what to look for in different types of papers and how best to evaluate the literature and then implement the findings in an evidence-based, patient-centred way. Helpful checklist summaries of the key points in each chapter provide a useful framework for applying the principles of evidence-based medicine in everyday practice.
The Pocket Guide to Critical Appraisal
Iain Crombie, 2nd Ed.
Published by BMJ Publishing Group, 2007
ISBN 9781405146516 (pbk)
A concise and practical guide to the assessment of medical research. The first section of the book introduces the rationale behind critical appraisal, discusses the questions to be asked of each section of a paper and identifies the common pitfalls in published research. The second section tackles the five main genres of medical research in detail: surveys; clinical trials; cohort studies; case control studies; and review papers.
Understanding and Conducting Research in the Health Sciences
By Christopher Cunningham, Bart Weathington and David Pittenger
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013
ISBN 9781118595107
Available electronically:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/manchester/reader.action?docID=1211851
This book provides step-by-step coverage of the research process including research design, statistical considerations, and guidance on writing and presenting results. Presents real-world applications of the discussed methods.
Planning for Medical Research. A practical guide to research methods
By Derek Lowe
Published by Astraglobe Limited, 1993
ISBN 9780952283905
This is a useful and practical guidebook which identifies most of the issues concerning design and analysis of research. It is not an in depth textbook but provides practical clarification of the main issues which are important in any piece of research and, ideally, should be read before undertaking any research since it may help you avoid the most obvious pitfalls.
Using Research in Practice
By Jacqui Hewitt-Taylor
Published by Palgrave Macmillan, 2011
ISBN 9780230278646
A very accessible and practical book describing how to interpret and make use of research for practice. This book supports the critical appraisal and evidence based medicine course materials.
Evidence Based Dentistry for Effective Practice
By Jan Clarkson, Jayne Harrison, Amid Ismail, Ian Needleman and Helen Worthington
Published by Martin Dunitz, London, 2002
ISBN 1841841994
This book covers all the issues surrounding evidenced based decision making in dentistry, issues not only about the amount of evidence but also its quality. The book sets a new agenda and provides readers with a set of skills not conventionally included in professional training.