Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The University College Cork offers a module titled "Advanced Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals" (MH6014). This module is designed to provide healthcare professionals with advanced research skills, enabling them to critically evaluate and conduct research in their field.

Module Content

The module covers a range of topics, including:

• Advanced information literacy strategies
• Academic writing
• Systematic research appraisal and synthesis
• The role of theory and knowledge (epistemology) in research and enquiry
• Research design and methodological approaches
• Processes involved in research protocol development
• Data collection, data analysis, and interpretation
• Ethical principles in healthcare research

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Distinguish the philosophical underpinnings and theoretical frameworks/perspectives of healthcare enquiry and analyse how these influence the subsequent conduct of research and enquiry
• Critically review, analyse, and synthesise pertinent literature, including interpretation of findings
• Formulate appropriate research/review questions or hypotheses relating to a defined healthcare problem
• Explore a variety of enquiry methodologies, data analytical processes, and procedures so as to address identified research/review question(s)
• Justify the choice of a research design that addresses the identified research question(s)
• Outline principles of research integrity, including ethical guidelines

Practicalities

Assessment

The module assessment consists of:

• Continuous Assessment (200 marks)
  • 3,000-word research proposal assignment (180 marks)
  • E-tivities (20 marks)

Pass Standard

The pass standard for this module is 50%.

Requirements

To be eligible for this module, applicants must:

• Be practising nurses with evidence of current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI)
• Have achieved a pass result in a postgraduate research methods module equivalent to NU6005 Evidence-Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (10 credits)
• Meet the English language requirements if their main language is not English

Fees and Costs

The fee for this module is 900, which includes the 35 application fee.

Why Choose This Module

This module is a core component of several programs and is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the advanced research skills necessary to critically evaluate and conduct research in their field.

Additional Information

The module is taught through a combination of lectures and online learning, with a total of 20 hours of direct class contact and 180 hours of other activities, including required reading, assignment preparation, and self-directed learning. The module runs from September to November, and the teaching mode is part-time.