NUR857 (CRN 66890) Advanced Methods in Research and Development in Health and Social Care Module Handbook 2025/26

Contents

Welcome  
1.Module Overview and Communication   
2.Aim and Learning Outcomes   
3.Assessment and Feedback   
5.Learning Resources   
6.Organisation and Management   
Coursework Assessment Rubric / Marking Proforma  

Welcome

Welcome to the Advanced Methods in Research and Development in Health and Social Care (NUR857) module. We trust you will find it stimulating, challenging, and rewarding. This handbook contains all the essential information you need, including module learning outcomes, assessment details, reading lists, lecture schedules, and an overview of the University’s plagiarism policy. Please keep it at hand for reference. Should any changes to policies or programmes become necessary, you will be informed promptly.

This module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and competencies required to conduct research at master’s level within health and/or social care. We will begin by examining the philosophical underpinnings of research, followed by an exploration of the research process with a focus on the relevant paradigms. We will then extend our discussions to the application of research methodologies in various contexts, including the evaluation of public health services and interventions, as well as practice development within healthcare. The module is delivered across Semester 1 over a period of twelve weeks.

All teaching materials will be made available online in advance of each session. To gain the fullest benefit from the module, you are expected to engage actively in academic discussions, debates, and self-directed learning. The first few weeks may introduce new and potentially challenging concepts, so it is essential to participate actively, both during classroom sessions and on the Blackboard Ultra Discussion Boards. If you encounter any difficulties with the module content, please do seek clarification and support without delay.

Once the teaching component has concluded, I will continue to monitor the Discussion Board on Blackboard Ultra and will respond to queries in a timely manner. If you would prefer an individual conversation, I am available by appointment; my contact details are provided in this handbook. We hope you will find this module both informative and engaging, and we look forward to working with you throughout the semester.

1.Module Overview and Communication

2.Aim and Learning Outcomes

Module Rationale

This module builds upon students’ existing understanding of the epistemological and ontological underpinnings of research and development. Its primary purpose is to enhance the ability to critically conceptualise and carry out research, service evaluation, and project development initiatives within the context of health and social care. By applying these principles to the planning and implementation of research, evaluation, development, and improvement work, the module offers a thorough grounding in the ethical and research governance considerations that are integral to practice in this field.

A range of methodologies and models will be examined, focusing on their creation, application, and potential impact in healthcare settings, as well as their capacity to address pressing questions. Throughout the module, students will be encouraged to explore and critically appraise the strengths and limitations of different approaches. Assessment for this module is conducted through coursework.

Overall Aim of the Module

The aim of this module is three-fold:

1.To Equip students with an in-depth knowledge of methodological and philosophical issues underpinning research within health and social care contexts.
2.Foster a critical understanding of the principles and processes involved in service evaluation to improve quality and outcomes in health and social care settings.
3.Enhance students’ ability to critically appraise existing research and its relevance to contemporary challenges in health and social care.

Learning Outcomes

Successful participants will be able to:

1)Identify appropriate questions for health and social care research for healthcare practice.
2)Review relevant theories and practice, to show mastery, to justify the research question, approaches and design.
3)Critically appraise research methodologies or models and relevant methods of data collection and analysis.
4)Evaluate ethical and governance issues and integrate time management dimensions of conducting a project.

3.Assessment and Feedback

Summary Assessment Information

This module will be assessed via two items of assessment

Assessment Guidance

1)Word count includes the title & contents pages, in-text references and citations but excludes tables, reference list and appendices.
2)Your work should include references to relevant journal articles and other good quality information sources and should be properly laid out using the Harvard system of references. We encourage you to make good use of all the support services offered by QAHE such as ACE team or Library team.
3)You should refer to the assessment criteria to provide fuller details of the marking criteria for each classification band.
4)In addition, you should refer to the standard assessment guidelines as presented in your Course Handbook/Support Area, these include guidance & policies on referencing style, plagiarism, etc.
5)The ACE Team can provide useful support for students during the completion of coursework.
6)Coursework must be submitted by the dates specified. Coursework submitted after the
deadline, without prior approval, is not normally accepted. For further guidance on the late submission of coursework, please see the course handbook.
7)Non-compliance with the word limit will result in a penalty being applied.

Coursework Assessment Task

Proposal Justification and Design due on Monday, 1st September 2025 at 12 noon.

ASSESSMENT BRIEF (100%)

Students will submit one piece of work which requires them to select a research service evaluation or project development initiative on a topic of their choosing, relevant to their area of practice. They will be required to justify the choice of their design and to design a coherent question/ aim and place this within a critical understanding of relevant literature. They will also be required to discuss data collection and data management relevant to their project. Consideration of the ethical issues and time management dimensions of conducting the project will also be required. Detailed assessment guidance will be provided via blackboard and during class sessions.

Assessment Guidelines

-The assignment may take the form of an individual: written word-processed research design justification and proposal of not more than 6000 words, excluding title page, contents page, tables, reference list and appendices.
-The assignment will be in two parts; A and B. Part A (1,500 words) – Choose a relevant topic, then determine whether it is best explored through a service evaluation, a quality- improvement project or a piece of primary research. Critically appraise all three approaches, drawing on appropriate literature, and explain with evidence why the option you have selected offers the most suitable framework for your chosen topic.
-Part B (4,500 words) – Provide the contextual background to your topic and set out a clear thesis statement. You must then justify the proposed methodology and study design, demonstrating clear alignment between the research aim, objectives and questions. Please  note: if you opt to adopt the research approach, you must employ a primary research  design. Secondary research designs are not permitted for this module.
-Coursework must be submitted by the dates specified. Coursework submitted after the deadline, without prior approval, is not normally accepted. For further guidance on the late submission of coursework, please see the course handbook.
-Completed assignments must be submitted as a Word document via Turnitin by 12 noon on

1st September 2025. This date and time are final.
-Please see Assignment Presentation below for details of how the assignment should be presented.

Assignment Presentation

Assignments must be submitted through Turnitin in Blackboard Learn. The title page should include:
-Student Name:
-Student Number:
-Title of course: PGCert/PGDip/MSc Health Promotion and Public Health
-Module Title: Advanced Methods in Research and Development in Health and Social Care (NUR857) module.
-Module Code: NUR857
-Assignment Title: (add own title)
-Name of Lecturer: (add name of the lecturer)
-Submission Date: (add specific submission date)
-Word count: (add specific word count)
-The Student Declaration of Ownership below must be included at the start of your assignment

I declare that this is all my own work and that any other material I have referred to has been accurately and consistently represented. I have read the University’s policy on plagiarism and understand the definition of plagiarism. If it is shown that material has been plagiarised, or I have otherwise attempted to obtain an unfair advantage for myself or others, I understand that I may face sanctions in accordance with the policies and procedures of the University. A mark of zero may be awarded and the reason for that mark will be recorded on my file.

-Font: size 12 Times New Roman or size 11 Arial
-Allow margins of approximately 2.5cm at the top, bottom and sides of your page
-1.5-line spacing
-Number pages sequentially
-Ulster University Harvard Referencing Guidelines must be used. A copy is available on Blackboard
-Students must adhere to the word limit policy to avoid penalties as follows:

+10% - no penalty
+>10% - 20% - 5% penalty
+>20% - 30% - 10% penalty
+>30% - 40% - 15% penalty
+>40% - 50% - 20% penalty
+>50% - maximum mark of 50

-Students who have written significantly under the word count will have self-penalised as they will not have covered the content adequately. Word counts do not include Tables, Figures, Diagrams, Reference Lists or Appendices. Tables and Figures core to the assignment should be in the main body of the assignment and not in the Appendices.

-Marks will be deducted for failing to submit, without prior approval through the appropriate channels, by the stated time on the day of submission

Coursework – SUMMATIVE FEEDBACK

Detailed feedback and the provisional mark will be given in line with University guidelines via Blackboard Ultra.

Coursework – FORMATIVE FEEDBACK

Students can gain formative feedback on their assessment (not marked) on one occasion. This occurs during study week 8 and will assist students with the development of their research methodology and design proposal. By week 8, a one-page summary of the rationale for the study, your aim (hypothesis, if applicable), question, objectives and research design (font size not less than 10) should be submitted.

Additional Information:

-If you opt to adopt the research approach, you must employ a primary research design. Secondary research designs are not permitted for this module.
-Students are to select topics that do not depend on recruiting hospital patients, as ethical approval from the UK Health Research Authority cannot be guaranteed.
-One of the core purposes of this module is to enable each student to demonstrate an ability to design an appropriate study and justify the chosen methodologies and data-collection methods.
-Although, students may change topics when they undertake the HEP 818 project module in Semester 3, however, continuity is recommended to avoid unnecessary delay, so students are strongly advised to retain their initial topics where possible.
-Also, students’ research need not be confined to the United Kingdom; students may investigate international settings. If you do so, ensure that you can obtain the necessary ethical clearance from the relevant authority in that country without undue difficulty.

6. Organisation and Management

This module, NUR 857, is a 30-credit point module, this requires approximately 300 hours of your commitment, distributed through the following learning and teaching activities over the 15-week semester. For a description of the nature of the learning activities please refer to your weekly learning activities.

Summary of Learning Activities

The teaching and learning plan provides a more detailed overview of content on a weekly basis. Module delivery in this course is delivered across one full day between weeks 1-12. Time will then be given to students to complete self-directed learning and reading and for completion of assessments. Detailed indicative teaching timetable can be found on your Module Overview Information on BlackBoard Ultra.

NUR857 Coursework Assessment Rubric / Marking Proforma

RUBRIC: NUR857 ADVANCED METHODS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Research Design justification & Proposal [2024-2025] 100%