(Award available for year: Master of Science)
1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the key principles of health and social care research design.
2. Critically apply advanced knowledge of key approaches and methods in health and social care research (e.g. statistics, qualitative, health economics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and/or informatics and data science).
3. Design high quality quantitative, qualitative and/or mixed methods health and/or social care research projects.
4. Critically appraise applied health and social care research (in relation to design, conduct and findings).
5. Advanced ability to critically apply knowledge to handle, analyse and present health and social care data.
6. Devise strategies for obtaining research funding, applying for ethical approval, presenting and disseminating research findings, and achieving research impact.
7. Design and conduct research that employs techniques to enhance equality, diversity, inclusion and PPI (public and patient involvement) in applied health and social care research.
8. Critically apply knowledge to design, conduct and report an independent, small scale health and/or social care research project.
Skills Learning Outcomes
1. Communicate and present novel research ideas clearly and backed up with appropriate knowledge in both oral and written form (Leeds Skill Matrix: Work Ready Skills – Communication; Academic Skills – presentation skills and academic writing; Enterprise skills – spotting opportunities).
2. Communicate and present analysis of data clearly and concisely, including in the form of a journal style write up (Leeds Skill Matrix: Work Ready Skills – Communication, and problem solving and analytic skills; Academic Skills – academic writing).
3. Search for, evaluate and use appropriate information sources to support your arguments and draw informed conclusions regarding research design and processes, and quality of research (Leeds Skill Matrix: Academic skills – Academic writing, critical thinking and information searching).
4. Proficiency in using a software package to summarise and analyse data (Leeds Skill Matrix: Digital Skills – digital proficiency and productivity).
5. Critical appraisal skills necessary to produce a written and balanced critique (Leeds Skill Matrix: Work Ready Skills – critical thinking; Academic skills – critical thinking).
6. Apply current knowledge regarding inclusive research design and practice in development and implementation of own research project (Leeds Skill Matrix: Sustainability – ethical).
7. Clearly communicate and present a small-scale research project in the style of a journal article (Leeds Skill Matrix: Academic Skills: academic writing, academic language, academic integrity, referencing).
The MSc in Health Research delivers teaching on: the principles of good quality applied health and social care research design; the practicalities of planning, conducting and disseminating research; and skills in managing, analysing and presenting a range of data and culminates in an independent research project.
Our approach employs authentic assessments that echo the real-world activities of health and social care researchers (e.g. designing a research proposal, critiquing and reviewing real-world research examples, carrying out and presenting data analysis and findings, developing funding applications etc). We have designed a range of assessments (formative and summative) that aim to build on in-class group work and practicals to scaffold students to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to become successful practicing researchers with advanced knowledge in key optional topics.
Each core taught module contains a mixture of topics comprising research design and practical skills. Summative assessments for each taught core module have two components to cover the diverse knowledge and skills covered in the modules, while building their knowledge and skills across the four taught core modules. To ensure the assessment is not burdensome across the four core modules we have designed bespoke workbooks, clear frameworks and guidance for components, and ensure word counts for components such as critical appraisals do not exceed 1,500 words.
Each optional module is focused on a particular key area of health and social care research (e.g. qualitative, statistical methods, informatics and data science, systematic reviews, clinical trials, health economics). The optional modules employ a range of formative and summative assessments to authentically assess student’s ability to design and conduct health and social care research.
The research project module focuses on their ability to evidence a research gap (formative assessment short literature review); ability to critically reflect on their own skills and development needs (formative assessment, reflective diary); ability to design a feasible, ethical research proposal (summative assessment 1) and to conduct and produce a written report of their study in a journal article style (summative assessment 2).
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team