This course will develop and extend core skills in critical analysis of research evidence including the principles of evidence-based practice and statistics to enable students to critically evaluate evidence, analyse different types of data and understand the principles by which of research is undertaken and evaluated.

Blended learning approach. Taught material available through Moodle. Online lectures and weekly tutorial/workshop sessions face to face.

None

None

Statistics assignment (30%)

An evidence-based research proposal (70%).

The course aims to develop and extend core skills in critical analysis of research evidence, communications, statistical analysis and data interpretation, ethics and the principles of evidenced-based practice in research in order to equip students for their programmes, by enabling them to critically evaluate evidence, cite appropriate references, and understand the principles by which research is undertaken and evaluated.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Critically review papers in the peer reviewed literature based upon the principles of evidence-based practice,

• Critically review, summarise and communicate the literature, drawing conclusions based on the available evidence

• Critically appraise the research process and apply this in the design of a research study

• Explain and illustrate commonly used concepts and terms in statistics

• Select and apply appropriate methods of statistical analysis to simple datasets, with the help of appropriate computer packages.

• Evaluate and critically analyse the use of simple statistical methods in the published biomedical literature.

• Critically appraise the ethical framework within which biomedical research is conducted and apply this in the context of the design of a research study. 

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.