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Postgraduate Skills and Evidence

Module description

Postgraduates are informed by research from the forefront of their academic discipline. To appropriately assess and apply this evidence to policy/practice, you need to be able to identify, critically appraise and synthesise best available evidence – quantitative and qualitative - on a given topic. This module therefore provides effective, transferrable postgraduate skills to facilitate evidence based practice.

No pre-requisites or specialist knowledge are required to undertake this module, which is well suited to interdisciplinary learning. Delivery is via expert-led small group learning, interspersed by personal study undertaken at your own pace and supported by our internet resources.

The majority of this module is delivered online, with some content delivered in-person during the Foundation Week.

Module aims - intentions of the module

You will develop a detailed practical understanding of how to critically appraise and synthesise current evidence from a variety of sources, whilst examining how the evidence base thus derived can also be effectively applied to their own area of practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of the design and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research studies
• 2. Demonstrate an independent ability to critical appraise, evaluate and synthesise a contemporary evidence base

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Understand how to appraise the nature of the current evidence base in your own area of professional practice and interpret it in the context or policy relevant questions

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Critically reflect on own learning needs in support of a personal development plan as an advanced scholar and evidence-based practitioner

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

Masters level skills, academic writing and evidence based practice

Personal skills appraisal

Deriving an evidence base

Locating, storing and organising research evidence

Critical appraisal of quantitative and qualitative research

Formal methods of evidence synthesis (e.g. meta-analysis; meta-ethnography)

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Cronin P, Ryan F and Coughlan M. (2008). Undertaking a literature review a step-by-step approach. British Journal of Nursing. 17(1); 38-43.

Bryman A. (2008). Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Garside R. (2013). “Systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research” in Understanding and Using Health Experiences. Zeibland S, Locock L and Calabrese J (eds). Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Web based and electronic resources: Please also see ELE above for up to date electronic resources.

Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Guidelines for Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis in Environmental Management. 2013. Version 4.2 www.environmentalevidence.org/Documents/Guidelines/Guidelines4.2.pdf

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – HPDM028 2020/21 Module Pages

Key words search

Postgraduate skills, evidence based practice, systematic review, literature review, evidence synthesis, quantitative evidence, qualitative evidence, human health, environment.