southampton

Module overview

Understanding research, the appropriate use of qualitative and quantitative methods and how to interpret results is fundamental to being able to critique an evidence base. The Clinical Research Skills module teaches you how to apply qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches when carrying out research or evaluating a service and to understand them when considering the results reported by others.

Our online module is delivered using a blend of live teaching and pre-recorded sessions. You are expected to attend all live sessions which allows you to engage with our expert teachers and your fellow students and benefit from rich discussions. Practical workshops in our live sessions will allow you to work through data analysis techniques and use specialist software in a supported environment. Our recorded sessions allow you to learn at your convenience within each teaching week. Engaging with our blended learning each teaching week allows you to build on and synthesise your learning as you go.

This module is taught once a year and typically involves approximately 10 hours of student engagement per week. The module will take place during the following weeks:

Teaching & guided learning: 01/11/24-13/02/25
Self-directed learning: 01/11/24-27/02/25

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

This online module is a blend of live teaching and recorded sessions providing a flexible learning environment that gives you control over your studies. You should plan your time so that you can attend our live teaching and make the most of being able to take part in rich discussions, practical exercises, and interact with the teaching staff and your fellow students.

A variety of online learning and teaching methods will be adopted to promote the development of a wide range of skills Specialist lecturers from a range of academic and health care research backgrounds will ensure a breadth and depth of perspective is offered, giving a good balance between background theories, principles and practical analysis options.

As well as the formal live teaching, live practical workshops and recorded sessions, we offer group online tutorials to support your learning. There is a basic statistics guided e-learning package with self-assessment available as an online package for students to take advantage of in their own time. Students should complete this component, and assessment will be formative with built-in assessment and automated feedback.

Study time
Type	Hours
Teaching	47
Independent Study	150
Tutorial	3
Total study time	200

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

1. Full reading list:. Additional resources can be found on our Talis reading list which you can access from the module’s Blackboard site

2. e-Books. There are many e-books available from the University of Southampton library in both allergy and related academic subjects (e.g. reflection, study skills, communication skills). Access the online site: https://www-lib.soton.ac.uk/.

Internet Resources

UCLA Statistical Computing Resources.

How to read a paper.

MRC Regulatory Support Centre (e-learning on research governance).

Electronic Statistics Textbook.

Turning research into practice.

The Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

Understanding Health Research on-line critical appraisal tool.

Statistics e-learning.

Textbooks

Pope, C. and Mays N. (2020). Qualitative Research in Health Care. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.

Flick, U.. Design Qualitative research. SAGE publications.

Allen, AK (2012). Research Skills for Medical Students. SAGE publications.

Campbell M.J., Machin D. & Walters S.J. (2007). Medical Statistics: A Textbook for the Health Sciences.

Assessment

Assessment strategy

The assessment for the module provides you with the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes (1) by demonstrating the depth and breadth of your knowledge of research methodologies, along with (2) showing higher cognitive skills and your ability to make sound judgements.

Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods will be assessed formatively. There will be three summative components to the assessment data analysis for i) qualitative and ii) quantitative methods and iii) the development and written presentation of a guided research proposal. The pass mark for the module and all assessed components is 50%.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Assessment of Qualitative and Quantitative methods

Assessment Type: Formative
Feedback: Automated feedback will be provided via the online assessment system or during the live sessions as activities are completed.
Final Assessment: No
Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Data Analysis	30%
Project proposal	40%
Data Analysis	30%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Data Analysis	30%
Data Analysis	30%
Project proposal	40%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External

Clinical Research Skills