Postgraduate Course: Research Design for Epidemiology (PUHR11118)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course aims to enable students to plan an evidence-based, ethical and feasible epidemiological research project and to critically reflect on the proposal development process. It prepares students for the dissertation component of the MSc Epidemiology programme. |
| Course description |
This course will give students the opportunity to develop some of the practical research skills required to plan and carry out an epidemiological data analysis project. Students will develop skills in proposal development, from research question conception through to detailed methodological design. Students will therefore need to apply learning from earlier core courses in the MSc Epidemiology programme, particularly knowledge and understanding of fundamental epidemiological and statistical concepts. This course will further develop students¿ capacity for self-directed learning, independent enquiry and critical engagement with the academic research literature. The course adopts an applied approach, with students learning about research skills by putting them into practice and by undertaking some of the key steps involved in planning a research project.
Content covered in the course will include:
· Critical literature review
· Defining a research question
· Adopting an appropriate study design and developing a detailed methodological design
· Research ethics, data governance and procedures
· What makes a good study protocol
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 % «br /»
«br /»
Summative assessment will comprise a study protocol. |
| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback on set activities and written detailed feedback via Learn after the summative assessment |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate applied research skills (conduct a critical literature search, develop a research question and translate this into specific objectives, and identify an appropriate and ethical study design)
- Apply understanding of epidemiological and statistical concepts to develop suitable study methodology, from details of study design through to statistical analysis
- Work autonomously by taking responsibility for identifying and researching a topic of their choice
- Critique their own learning and research planning processes, and be able to apply this to future research projects and enquiries
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Reading List
A reading list will be provided on the course virtual learning environment.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1) Practice: Applied Knowledge, skills and understanding. Students will learn to apply epidemiological concepts and skills from earlier core courses to the design of an epidemiological research proposal.
2) Generic Cognitive skills. Students will learn to critically engage with research literature and methodology, in order to identify a research topic and appropriate research method.
3) Communication, ICT and numeracy. Students will have the opportunity to develop communication skills with their peers and senior colleagues through discussion tasks and via regular opportunities for reflection on the design of their research proposal. Critical engagement with literature within a defined topic will strengthen the skills necessary for the critical evaluation of numerical and graphical data.
4) Autonomy, accountability and working with others. Students will develop skills in and capacity for self-directed learning. They will learn how to be reflective in their approach. |
| Keywords | Research skills,Epidemiology,Research design,protocol development,study design,ethics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Caroline Jackson
Tel: (0131 6)51 7872
Email: Caroline.Jackson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lucy Courage
Tel: (0131 6)51 7111
Email: lcourage@ed.ac.uk |
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