{"id":10549,"date":"2021-09-21T09:29:44","date_gmt":"2021-09-21T09:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elearning.bmh.manchester.ac.uk\/2022-23\/?page_id=10549"},"modified":"2023-06-16T15:07:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T14:07:33","slug":"master-of-public-health-critical-review-handbook","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/handbooks.bmh.manchester.ac.uk\/2022-23\/shs\/pg\/master-of-public-health-critical-review-handbook\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of Public Health Critical Review Handbook"},"content":{"rendered":"

Critical Review Handbook Masters in Public Health<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Academic Year 2022\/23<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

This handbook is for those of you embarking on the 30 credit Critical Review of the MPH. Refer to Blackboard MPH Programme Community<\/a> \/ Dissertation and Critical Review for additional guidance and support. Use this handbook in conjunction with the Programme Handbook<\/a> and Faculty\/University regulations<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Important Contacts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Course unit leads<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dr Roger Harrison<\/td>\nroger.harrison@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dr Andy Jones<\/td>\nandrew.jones@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Programme Director<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professor Arpana Verma<\/td>\nmph.director@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Programme Administrators<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MPH Admin Team<\/td>\nshs.programmes@manchester.ac.uk<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

Students registered on the MPH programme (not the MRes) have the option of completing a 30-credit Critical Literature Review an alternative to the 60-credit dissertation. This requires students to take ten taught units plus the 30-credit Critical Literature Review (producing the equivalent of 60-credits). The differences in the pathway for this approach, compared with a dissertation are shown in the diagram below.<\/p>\n

(N.B. This option does not apply to MRes students)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What is the Critical Literature Review (CLR)<\/span><\/h2>\n

In its simplest form, the CLR is an extended critical essay focusing on a public health research question or problem. The CLR will need to incorporate:-<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A clear research question\/problem within which some of the sub-questions might include, for example: What is the current knowledge gap; what needs to be found out to fully address the question\/problem focused on in the CLR<\/li>\n
  2. A clear structure\/method for identifying the evidence. This is not to be confused with a more formal and detailed Systematic Review, similar to what the Cochrnae Collaboration, or others, would require.<\/li>\n
  3. Detailed critique and summary of the evidence as a whole, in relation to the original question\/problem and what this means in relation to the context\/setting<\/li>\n
  4. Discussion\/reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence that has been identified to answer the initial question. This then needs to be considered in terms of the strength of the evidence – how much confidence can be placed on these findings? What do they mean? How might it differ in different settings\/contexts?<\/li>\n
  5. What are the implications of what was found \/ what ought to happen next<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Students can (but do not have to) extend work that they have used as part of a previous assessment\/marked piece of work for the MPH. However, the CLR must extend this work, and cannot simply be the same material presented in a different format. Students are encouraged to reference the assignment and provide a brief description (just several sentences) to explain how the CLR extends the original assignment.<\/p>\n

    Intended learning outcomes<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Category of outcome<\/td>\nStudents should be able to:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    A. Knowledge and understanding<\/td>\nA1 Describe a specific public health issue and establish a coherent research-related question that forms the foundation of the critical literature review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    B. Intellectual skills<\/td>\nB1 Use appropriate methodology to obtain the information necessary to address the research question<\/p>\n

    B2 Use appropriate methodology to synthesise the information collected<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    C. Practical skills<\/td>\nC1 Construct a meaningful synthesis and critical interpretation of the results of information\/evidence collected<\/p>\n

    C2 Explore the implications of the findings of the review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

    D. Transferable skills and personal qualities<\/td>\nD1 Demonstrate the ability to be a reflective and self-directed learner, to accomplish a substantial piece of academic work<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Registering for the 30-credit critical literature review<\/span><\/h2>\n

    MPH students will register their preferred option (that is for the dissertation or additional units and the critical literature review) at the start of their final academic year. This process will be similar to that for selecting individual course units. Note that the fees for the critical literature review plus the two additional units, are the same as that for the option of the MPH dissertation.<\/p>\n

    Process flow chart<\/span><\/h2>\n

    We recommend that all students consider the workload implications of the course work for a taught course unit, and their critical literature review. In the majority of cases, part time students are recommended to complete their 10 course units followed by the critical literature review. However, each student will have different circumstances and their own time management plans to consider. Students also need to take in to consideration the workload implications for selecting a course unit which runs in Semester 3 as this is a time when many people complete this final part of the programme.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Do not leave it too late<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \"See<\/td>\nOnce a student has formally registered for the Critical Literature Review, they have to submit this by the Sept at the end of the academic year<\/strong>. In other words, students need to plan carefully for this work, alongside the additional units they must complete.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Submitting your idea<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Students need to complete a short title form to indicate the title and a very brief outline of what they will be focusing on. There are five fixed dates<\/strong> when students can submit the title form. The title forms will not be processed between these dates. These dates reflect the academic timetable, and help account for assessment times and holidays. However, make sure you plan as much time as possible for working on your actual critical literature review. The earlier you start in the academic year, the better.<\/p>\n

    Title Form submission dates<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The Blackboard area for the Dissertation and CLR will include a calendar with the dates\/deadlines for each of the opportunities you have to submit your title form (do not<\/strong> confuse this with the submission date for the completed piece of work which is always a date in the first week in September).<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/h2>\n

    Academic supervision<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Students will be allocated an academic supervisor soon after registering for the CLR. Students are responsible<\/strong> for making contact with, and introducing themselves to, their allocated supervisor.<\/p>\n

    Role of the supervisor<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The role of the supervisor is to support a student\u2019s academic development. Remember the project is the work of the student and not that of the supervisor. Students will have different needs for support and guidance. Some of the areas a supervisor might help with include:<\/p>\n