Research Methodology for Health and Social Care

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit a learner should:

1 Understand the purpose and role of research within health and social care

2 Understand the research methodologies relevant to health and social care

3 Be able to identify a suitable topic and produce a plan for a research proposal

4 Be able to conduct the research and present the findings

5 Be able to evaluate the research project

6 Understand the implications of and ethical issues related to using research in health and social care.

P1 explain the purpose and role of research for the health and social care sectors

P2 describe the key elements of research methodologies

P3 identify a research topic and carry out a literature search

P4 carry out the primary research and collect and record appropriate data

P5 present and report findings in a relevant format, identifying sources of bias or error

P6 discuss the findings of the research in relation to the original hypothesis

P7 outline any possible improvements to the research, referring to any relevant implications and ethical issues.

M1 justify the choice of topic and hypothesis

M2 review the research methods chosen in relation to the results obtained, any sources of bias or error and ethical considerations

M3 analyse the findings of the research in relation to the original hypothesis

M4 discuss the possible implications that the research results may have on current practice.

D1 discuss how the methodology of the research project could be altered to reduce bias and error

D2 analyse the purpose and role of research in the sectors, drawing on the piece of research undertaken.