Overview
The aim of this module is to prepare students undertaking the research project (60 or 30 credit module), and for those interested in developing their academic clinical careers. The module will support students to develop their knowledge, skills and experience of the role of research and development in the NHS in improving patient care and service delivery.
The module will introduce the student to the ethical and governance frameworks within which genomic research is undertaken and a range of research methods and approaches. Students will be required to make effective use of information and critically appraise and draw on evidence to justify and defend their judgements. Students will also develop their knowledge of how to communicate scientific messages to both scientific and non-scientific audiences including patients and the public.
This Module is compulsory for students taking the 30 credit Dissertation (Module 4)
Content
- Ethical and governance research frameworks including: regulation of health research within the NHS; Health Research Authority (HRA) approval; the role of Research Ethics Committees (RECs).
- Good clinical practice (GCP).
- Data storage, security and confidentiality.
- Research methods/approaches including differences between audit and research; qualitative research methods; quantitative research methods; sampling techniques; study design; hypothesis generation and testing; and levels of evidence in human health research.
- Data analysis techniques including: data validity, reliability and appropriateness; qualitative data analysis techniques; application and interpretation of statistical techniques; and power calculations.
- Research and audit process including: literature searching and referencing; patient/user involvement; peer/expert review; dissemination; intellectual property; and monitoring and reporting.
- Critical appraisal methodical approach to critically appraising published research; and meta-analysis
- Communication methods including: comparison of methods of communication scientific writing
- Writing for a lay audience; readability statistics.
Credits
15 Masters level credits
Attendance required
Teaching delivered over 5 days.
Dates
Semester 2
Leads
Dr Elena Odintsova (Senior Lecturer in Cancer Biology, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences)
Dr Nikolaos Efstathiou (Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery)
Prerequisites
This module can be taken as a stand-alone assessed or non-assessed course.
You should have a good honours degree in a life sciences subject, although we will consider applicants with alternative qualifications and professional experience within the health service or other relevant background.
Please contact the Programme Administrator for further information at genomics@contacts.bham.ac.uk