Health Research

Contents

Course Structure

These courses are intended for a range of professional staff working in the health services and others working in the health field and comprises 6 taught modules (MA) or 4 taught modules (PgDip) and a project/dissertation. Students take two compulsory
modules in Perspectives in Health Research and Theory and Debate in Health and Medicine, and four other modules chosen from a range of options.

Course Modules

Core modules in the autumn and spring terms of the first year introduce key concepts and approaches in health research. Please click the linked titles for further detailed information.

* Health Research: Questions, methods and choices
The first shared core module `Health Research: Questions, Methods and Choices´ focuses on methodological issues and includes five units on learning that equip students with knowledge on varying methods used in health research today.
* Health Research: Knowledge, Evidence, Policy and Practice
This second core module `Health Research: Knowledge, Evidence, Policy, and Practice´ introduces students to varying theoretical `positions´ in health related research.

The summer term of year one allows students to specialise in their chosen area through one of the pathway modules:

* Health Research offers the opportunity to develop and deepen understanding of health research. You can explore the implications of these ideas for research, theory, policy, and practice.
* Disability Studies offers the opportunity to develop and deepen understanding of the `radical´ social interpretations of disability and disablism available in Disability Studies in the UK - a relatively new and rapidly growing discipline.
* End of Life Care is aimed at hospice and palliative care practitioners of all disciplines who are interested in the use of social science methods to further research.
* Intellectual Disability equips students with essential knowledge and skills to critically appraise evidence and undertake high quality research relevant to the life experiences of people with intellectual disabilities, within the contexts of health and social care.
* Public Health provides training for those working in public health practice who wish to develop a greater level of competency in public health research.

Students working towards the PG Dip or MRes qualifications continue in year two with a focus on their research project. The taught component in the second year includes generic and pathway-specific training in qualitative and quantitative research methods, through a range of research method mini-modules. The project/dissertation is undertaken with individual supervision throughout the second year.