U11751 Researching Health and Wellbeing Module Handbook SEM2 2025 | CCCU

Module aims

The aims of the module are to facilitate students’ learning about how to conduct a small-scale research study and to enhance students’ research understanding of a variety of research methodologies. Additionally, through students critically reflecting on the research experience, the module aims to develop the critical skills necessary to evaluate research evidence which underpins public health and health promotion knowledge and practice.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of research methodologies and methods.
2. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the research process.
3. Critically analyze the ethical dimension of empirical research.
4. Demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and ability to complete a small-scale research study.

Assessment briefs:

Research Report – Assessment deadline date: 23rd April 2025 by 2.00 p.m.

Write a 3000-word research report of the study you completed with your group. The report should include the following subheadings:

• Abstract
• Title
•  Introduction and Brief Literature Review
• Methodology & Methods (including design, participants, data collection & analysis)
• Ethics
• Results
• Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendations.

In your research report, you must include as appendix: the ethic check list, information letter, consent form and questionnaire (where applicable).

Group Presentation (equivalent to 1000 words)

For this assignment you need to present a critical reflection on your experience during the research. The aim of the presentation is to analyse your decision as a researcher. Using the support of appropriate research references, analyse the strengths and weaknesses of your research. What could be changed or improved if this was to be done again?

The following points need to be covered by the group with equal division of work between the members.

• Comment on whether the background literature provides clear understanding of work previously done in this area, whether there is a clear rationale offered for doing the study. Finally, comment on the clarity, appropriateness and transparency of the aims and objectives/hypotheses.
• Identify the research question and comment on its clarity.
• Is the method used the best approach to answer this question?
• Review the results, discussion, conclusion, and recommendations.

NB. Although it will be delivered as a group, you will be assessed on YOUR section of the presentation, NOT as a group.
Please support all the above points with up-to-date literature.

Learning Materials/Resources:

PowerPoint slides and information will be provided weekly on blackboard under Learning Resources.
Further reading and information will be provided each week. The Faculty Librarians will be able to assist with accessing journals and articles.

• Bowling, A. (2023) Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services. 5th edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press. (available as an e-book through the university library) Core module textbook
• Brookfield, C. (2022) Plan your dissertation. Los Angeles: Sage.
• Flick, U. (2023) An Introduction to Qualitative Research. 7th edition. London:
  Sage.
• Gray, D.E. (2021) Doing Research in the Real World. 5th edition. London:
  Sage.
• Green, J. and Thorogood, N. (2018) Qualitative Methods for Health Research.
  London: Sage.
• Hart,    C. (2018)    Doing    a Literature    Review:    Releasing the Research Imagination. London: Sage.
• Hennink, M., Hutter, I. and Bailey, A. (2019) Qualitative Research Methods. 2nd
  edition. London: Sage.
• Jacobsen, K.H. (2021) Introduction to Health Research Methods: A Practical Guide. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Jensen, E.A. and Laurie, C. (2016) Doing Real Research: A Practical Guide to Social Research. London: Sage
• McClean, S., Bray, I., de Viggiani, N., Bird, E. and Pilkington, P. (2020)
  Research Methods for Public Health. London: Sage. Core module textbook
• Robson, C. (2014) How to Do a Research Project: A Guide for Undergraduate Students. 2nd edition. Wiley.
•  Robson, C. and McCartan, K. (2015) Real World Research. 4th edition. Oxford:
  Wiley.
• Saks, M. and Allsop, J. (2019) Researching Health: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods. London: Sage. Core module textbook
• Searle, C. (2018) Researching Society and Culture. 4th edition. London: Sage.
•  Thomas, G. (2022) How to do your research project: a guide for students. 4th edition. London: Sage.