PL3RES-Research Methods

Module Provider: Clinical Language Sciences
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr George Pontikas
Email: g.pontikas@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module prepares students to engage with research through practice in data collection, data analysis and interpretation; critical analysis of research literature, and an appreciation of research ethics, audits and governance.



The module also provides practical skills by covering basic statistical analysis with a software package (SPSS).

Aims:

To provide students with an understanding and working knowledge of research methods appropriate to Speech & Language Therapy. Including research design, methods of data collection, statistical and qualitative analyses, principles of ethical research and research governance.

To apply this knowledge to (a) the analysis, reporting and interpretation of quantitative data and (b) the writing of a research proposal, including ethical considerations.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Accurately deploy established techniques of analysis (statistical analysis procedures) to provided data sets;


• A conceptual understanding of research methods and design that enables the student accurately describe, analyse and interpret a set of data;


• To appreciate the ethical and research governance issues for conducting research with human participants;


• A systematic understanding of how to critically evaluate and comment upon resea rch literature at the forefront of disciplines relevant to SLT.

Additional outcomes:

• Literature search, bibliographic and IT skills;


• Development of academic writing skills;


• Practice critically evaluating the evidence base for a topic.

Outline content:

Research methods, design, and statistics in preparation for conducting research in an area of speech and language therapy. Lectures will cover basic research methods and designs, with consideration of how they are applied in different contexts. Data collection, organisation and analysis are discussed. Sessions are run on qualitative research (collection and analysis of data), ethics and research governance. Separate lab classes run in Autumn and spring term. During lab classes, students learn how to use software for data analysis (SPSS); run, interpret and write up different kinds of statistical analyses.

Towards the end of Autumn and in Spring, emphasis in lectures moves to critical reading and evaluation of research in the literature. This uses the knowledge gained during Autumn term, allowing interpretation of reported results alongside critical analysis of designs, reporting and interpretation in published papers.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching is spread across two terms (Autumn and Spring). Autumn focuses on developing knowledge of empirical research, hypothesis testing and statistics. Qualitative research, ethics and research governance is introduced. Lectures at end of Autumn and in Spring focuses on critical analysis.



Teaching uses a flipped learning approach. A series of weekly screencasts will be made available which will provide the core content in conjunction with online activities to allow students to test their knowledge and understanding. The screencasts will be supplemented by weekly seminars which will be used for activities to enhance students’ engagement with the content (e.g., critical review of research papers, drafting research designs etc). In addition, SPSS labs provide directed practice (worksheet based) using SPSS software for data analysis and interpreting data from those analyses.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20
Seminars	16	4
Practicals classes and workshops	14	4
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	10	30
Wider reading (directed)	30	10
Preparation of practical report	10
Essay preparation		32	20
Total hours by term	100	80	20
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	20
Report	80

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Lab Report (see assessment brief, 80%): demonstrate skills in analysing and interpreting data. Data provided to students and analysed in lab classes and independently. Submitted as a lab report. Student selects analysis to be completed for identified research questions/hypotheses. Provides a brief critical evaluation of literature and an introduction to the report / study. Student completes analysis and then writes up results (with graphs / tables) and brief interpretation/discussion of results. Lab report submitted Monday Week 7 Spring term.

Ethics coursework (word limit is section by section, see assessment brief; 20%): demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and research governance issues for conducting research with human participants. Students complete a short ethics application based on a project provided. This covers the background literature and study rationale, study procedure, study design and planned analysis, timeline, ethical and data governance issues and a description of how risks are managed.  Ethics form submitted: Week 2 Summer term.

Formative assessment methods:

Lab class exercises – weekly activities to complete with software, correct answers released after the lab for comparison.

Online quizzes - alongside lab classes but can be done at any time. Revision of core concepts in statistical knowledge.      

Critical analysis of literature – group work and comparison of own reading and notes against model answers for critical analysis of research papers.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40% overall average and pass each individual assessment:

40% in Lab Report

40% in Ethics

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 8 April 2021