Module overview
This module introduces you to evidence in practice and begins to equip you with skills to search for, understand, critique and use different types of evidence in practice.
You will:
- undertake literature searches and explore the range of literature that can be used as evidence in practice;
- develop academic skills in critical appraisal and academic writing;
- work collaboratively with your peers to consider how to apply literature as evidence in practice.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Interpret basic journal and conference findings in order to support clinical reasoning.
- Demonstrate basic academic skills in the areas of searching for, selecting and critiquing evidence (for an area of practice) in order to enhance personal knowledge and understanding of practice.
- Understand basic statistical and qualitative concepts in order to be able to interpret findings and consider how they might be applied in practice.
- Identify the importance of appropriate evidence to support practice and high quality service user care.
- Receive and/or give feedback to peers in a respectful, non-judgmental and empowering manner.
- Recognise your responsibility in being well-informed about practice (a chosen/specific area) in order to demonstrate safe, effective practice in line with our professional code of conduct and Health and Care Professions Council.
Syllabus
- Introduction to evidence in practice, sources of evidence and applying evidence in practice.
- How to search for, select and analyse evidence with opportunities to access centralised resources such as library services, study skills websites and online library study skills, and generalised databases and profession specific resources eg RCOT.
- Critical appraisal when reading, writing and discussing evidence.
- Reading, understanding and using the evidence.
- Ethical practice.
- Introduction to statistical and qualitative concepts in order to understand published findings in journals, conference proceedings and other such resources.
- Introduction to critical/academic writing skills including referencing.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Methods will include:
- Short lectures/seminars to introduce concepts and processes.
- Self-directed study to prepare for journal club activities.
- Individual and/or group activities specifically supported by experts e.g. library staff, module tutors.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 |
| Seminar | 38 |
| Independent Study | 92.5 |
| Assessment tasks | 20 |
| Guided independent study | 35 |
| Total study time | 187.5 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Other. You will be able to access a variety of other resources via the modules blackboard site.
Textbooks
Hicks,C (2004). Research Methods for Clinical Therapists: applied project design and analysis. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Robson,C & McCartan, K (2015). Real World Reserach. Chichester: Wiley.
Walker, D (ed) (2014). An Introduction to Health Sciences Research. A Practical Guide. London: SAGE.
French. S, Reynolds, F & Swain, J (2001). Practical Research: a guide for therapists. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Pope, C and Mays, N (2020). Qualitative Research in Health Care. London: Wiley - Blackwell.
Bell, J & Waters S (2018). Doing your Research Project. Open University Press.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Class discussions
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Tutor feedback given during journal club discussions
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Critical Analysis | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Critical Analysis | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: External