Conducting healthcare research
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This is the second of two courses that will prepare you to be an ethical and effective healthcare researcher. It builds on the learning in the now-discontinued course K824, helping you to transform a preliminary research proposal into a fully fledged research project plan, which might be carried out as part of the dissertation of the MSc in Advancing Professional Practice. The course covers the practical fieldwork aspects of research planning associated with identifying a study population, sampling, data gathering and data analysis. You’ll also learn about scheduling and resourcing of research work, arranging research access and ethical requirements.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Health and Social Care.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | K825 |
| Credits | 20 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown.
What you will study
This course assumes that the research ideas that you first identified in K824 will be developed further here; and that if you decide to conduct a research project in Dissertation: a research project (K800), this will be founded on work across both the Designing Healthcare Research and Conducting Healthcare Research courses. If you later decide to radically change your research plans for the dissertation, you will be required to prepare a new research proposal for consideration by your research supervisor.
This course concentrates on the practicalities of designing a research project. It is at this second stage that you are required to transform your initial research ideas into an actionable plan that includes sufficient detail to convince the reader that you have thought carefully about how to proceed with the proposed study.
Studying Conducting Healthcare Research should help you to:
- defend your research aim, research question(s) and/or research hypotheses
- identify an appropriate study population and sampling strategy
- make suitable plans for research access and ethics clearance
- plan appropriate data gathering and data analysis methods, making use of existing research instruments where appropriate
- decide what resources you will need
- prepare a schedule for your research over one year and keep relevant records
- indicate how you plan to disseminate your research findings.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- select appropriate data-gathering and data-analysis methods for a research aim or question that can be implemented in a research project involving 600 hours of study effort
- demonstrate insight into the role of the researcher and the likely challenges associated with the proposed project
- engage with relevant stakeholders as part of the research design process
- refine the draft project in the light of feedback from the Designing Healthcare Research module and notes made within the personal development plan
- develop a plan for the ethical conduct of the research project, including the use of key resources, the scheduling of research work and the timing of the literature review
- develop an appropriate sampling procedure for the research, identifying the study population and sample.
Transferable skills
On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
- access, retrieve, interpret and utilise information and evidence appropriately
- demonstrate effective communication skills
- demonstrate personal organisation and responsibility
- exercise effective decision making and initiative
- demonstrate a commitment to care involving service users, carers and supporters.
Vocational relevance
An appreciation of research design is relevant to all healthcare practitioners working for the advancement of practice and the development of an adequate evidence base for what you do. This course is especially valuable for those colleagues who aspire to conduct research of their own in the future or who already contribute to the research projects of others.
Entry
Entry is open to registered healthcare professionals who have current access to practice environments and have successfully completed a first degree in a relevant subject. Students who do not hold a bachelors degree, but who submit evidence of alternative professional achievements and who successfully complete an exploratory assignment assessed by the Health and Social Care Programme Committee will be eligible for non-standard entrance to the course. To study this course you will need to have successfully completed the now-discontinued course K824, which provides introductory teaching on the process of undertaking research.
You do need to have a reasonable standard of spoken and written English to study successfully with us. Poor language skills will make study more difficult, and it will take longer. The normal requirements for English language skills are explained on our website. If you have any doubts about whether your level of English is good enough for you to study this course you may find it helpful to look at our Skills for OU Study site.
Please note that you will need to spend approximately 11 hours a week on your studies over the duration of the course. You are strongly advised not to undertake this course alongside other substantive part-time study.
Preparatory work
You will receive guidance of how to get started online in your first course mailing. This will provide you with information on using your computer for OU study and working with the Computing Guide. For example, it explains how to access and use the dedicated website and online forums. If you have time before the course starts, you can work through this and explore all the online services available to you.
Qualifications
K825 is a compulsory module in our:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Advancing Healthcare Practice (E46)
- MSc in Advancing Professional Practice (F52)
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader; musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Course books and other printed materials. You will have access to a dedicated website through which teaching and library resources are available. Electronic versions of most of the printed study materials are provided on the website.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material. They will mark and comment on your written work, and you can ask them for advice and guidance. We will also offer group telephone tutorials that you are encouraged to attend. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your assignments online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for course that starts in September 2011. K825 is for those who started their studies in February 2010 or earlier. If you started your studies after February 2010 you will need to take Researching and evaluating healthcare practice (K828).
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
Course facts
A postgraduate course in Health and Social Care.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | K825 |
| Credits | 20 |
| OU Level | Postgraduate |
| SCQF level | 11 |
| FHEQ level | 7 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credits
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Your questions
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Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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