| Unit name | Researching Health and Social Care: Process, Challenges and Impact |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0078 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Mrs. Wijedasa |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this Unit Important?
Are you interested in conducting, commissioning and evaluating policy-relevant and impactful health and social care research? This unit will build your awareness of the current policy, practice, ethical and legal context and the nature and process of conducting policy-relevant health and social care research. By the end of the Unit, you will be familiar with the whole research cycle, including formulation of policy-relevant questions, sourcing funding, ethics, and the advantages and challenges of different research designs and methodologies, recognising that research, policy and practice considerations and priorities do not always align. The sessions, delivered by expert researchers within the school for policy studies will highlight the latest research, including their pathways to impacting policy, practice and public/individual outcomes. In addition to the in-person interactive sessions, you will be expected to undertake self-directed learning. This unit is designed for those who have an introductory-level knowledge in quantitative and qualitative methods.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is an optional methods unit in TB2. This Unit will be of relevance to those who plan to conduct or commission policy and practice-relevant research. It will enable students to understand the current context of conducting and commissioning policy and practice-relevant research. It will enhance their skills and ability to review and critique different research designs, methods and research output.
An overview of content
The unit will explore the latest research, policy and practice context of conducting health and social care research. You will also examine the impact of ethical considerations and legal and regulatory requirements in conducting health and social care research. This will be followed by a review of the advantages and challenges of different research designs and methodologies in conducting policy and practice-relevant research using examples from the latest research being conducted at the University of Bristol. You will also learn how research is being used by practitioners in the real world, and consider different pathways to research, policy and practice impact.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will understand the latest research, policy, practice, ethical and the legal context of conducting health and social care research when conducting research with the aim to influence policy and practice. You will understand the advantages and limitations of different research designs and methods and how to positively impact policy and practice in health and social care.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
The unit will be delivered through in-person sessions delivered by expert researchers and practitioners in health and social care. This will involve a combination of lectures and group discussions, which will help you extend your existing knowledge and enhance your skills in formulating, conducting and commissioning policy and practice-relevant research.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
You will prepare a 10-minute group presentation to ‘pitch’ a new research study, addressing a current policy and practice-relevant research question in health and social care.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Critical review (3000 words maximum, 100%)
This assessment covers all of the unit learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan:
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0078).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
