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Research Design & Analysis provides an overview of the entire research process: identifying research questions, planning an appropriate study to collect suitable data to answer those questions, data analysis and interpretation and presentation of results. A large part of the module is an exercise in small groups using simulated data. Each group plans and designs a study and analyses a bespoke dataset to reach their own conclusions. This activity is supported by lectures and structured practicals on relevant topics.

The overall module aim is to provide practical experience of planning a research project, designing a study, analysing data in Stata and interpreting results and making recommendations. The study is intended to help students consolidate knowledge and techniques acquired in Term 1 through applying demographic, epidemiological and statistical principles to a practical problem. Students will also find the module good preparation for independent research.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the module a student will be able to:

1. Identify the steps involved in planning and conducting a research project;
2. Formulate research questions and testable hypotheses;
3. Plan a study that will test the proposed hypotheses, using an appropriate study design, sample size and mode of data collection;
4. Appreciate the principles involved in designing and selecting samples for community surveys;
5. Draw conclusions from the results of data analyses, using appropriate tabulations of the data and basic methods of statistical analysis.

Mode of delivery

This module is delivered predominantly face-to-face. Where specific teaching methods (lectures, seminars, discussion groups) are noted in this module specification these will be delivered by predominantly face-to-face sessions. There will be a combination of live and interactive activities (synchronous learning) as well as self-directed study (asynchronous learning).

Assessment

The assessment for this module has been designed to measure student learning against the module intended learning outcomes (ILOs) as listed above. Formative assessment methods may be used to measure students’ progress. The grade for summative assessment(s) only will go towards the overall award GPA.

One part of the assessment for this module, the exam, will be on Moodle and taken under exam conditions. The poster component is marked during an in-person presentation (over Zoom for those studying online) The other part of the assessment, the poster, is based on a group work activity and the whole group will receive the same grade. We operate a peer marking scheme for this part of the assessment which may adjust the grades for individual students to reflect differing levels of contribution to this component.

Credits

• CATS: 15
• ECTS: 7.5

Module specification

For full information regarding this module please see the module specification.