PYMFSR-Systematic Review

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: k.n.harvey@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module provides students with an understanding of the nature and importance of Systematic Reviews to clinical psychology and wider health contexts. It also provides training and practice in the basic skills required to conduct a Systematic Review. This combination of knowledge and skills will enable students to understand and evaluate evidence-based treatments used in clinical psychology, which will be of use across their programme and in future careers.

Aims:

The module conveys an understanding of the role of Systematic Review for policy and practice in clinical psychology and wider health contexts. It provides an introduction the principles of Systematic Review. The module also aims to transfer key technical and critical skills in the conduct of Systematic Review. This combination of knowledge and skills will enable students to understand and evaluate evidence-based treatments used in clinical psychology, which will be of use across their programme and in future careers.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain the key role of Systematic Reviews for policy and practice in clinical psychology and wider health contexts.


• Describe the key components of a Systematic Review.


• Use search and analytical knowledge and skills to specify a research question.


• Plan, conduct and report a Systematic Review.


• Describe the main steps in meta-analysis/meta-synthesi s.

Additional outcomes:

Students will gain understanding of and skills in systematically reviewing literature, which they will be able to deploy during their research project and dissertation write-up.

Outline content:

Topics will be covered from a list such as:

1. The critical importance of Systematic Review to clinical psychology and the wider health context.


2. How to generate review topics, questions and eligibility criteria.


3. Databases: their availability and how to search them for both primary studies and Systematic Review reports.


4. Search terms, study selection, building a review database, data extraction.


5. Qualit y assessment of primary studies, understanding study heterogeneity and publication bias.


6. Narrative synthesis.


7. Reporting a Systematic Review.


8. Introduction to meta-analysis and meta-synthesis.


9. Critical appraisal of peer-reviewed Systematic Reviews.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures and small group work; practical session.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The assessment comprises a single written assignment:

A 2500 word report comprising:

1. Introduction that provides the rationale for conducting a Systematic Review to address a specified novel research question (the research question will be developed by the student with the support and agreement of the lecturer)


2. Methods section that describes the steps in conducting the proposed SR and outlines the proposed steps in conducting a meta-analysis/meta-synthesis

Formative assessment methods:

The course will include opportunities to practise the techniques required.

Students will receive feedback on their proposed research question.

Students will receive feedback on the PROSPERO protocol they produce for their Systematic Review.  Feedback on this protocol will enable students to improve their Systematic Review (the summative assessment).

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50%

Reassessment arrangements:

If a student fails the assignment, an alternative, equivalent assignment can be submitted.  The assignment and date of submission will be by arrangement with the Module Convenor and/or Programme Director. Students should note however that, given the University regulations on failing credits, it may not be in their interests to resubmit the coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 4 April 2020