HS240-5-FY-CA:
Professional Enquiry

The details
2025/26
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus & Apprenticeship Location
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Tuesday 03 March 2026
Tuesday 28 April 2026
15
12 March 2025

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC B939OD Occupational Therapy (Degree Apprenticeship)

Module description

This module focuses on facilitating an understanding of evidence in its widest sense; evidence and using a variety of sources leading to research design, analysis and synthesis. This module will focus on: the development of literature searching, synthesising literature within a critical review and identification of a specific topic for professional enquiry.


The development of students' understanding of research will be facilitated through the use of practical experience in collecting and handling a variety of data. The implications of the nature and overall quality of professional research literature as potential 'evidence' to inform practice will be considered.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:



  • To develop students' understanding and appreciation of research and evidence-informed practice, building on knowledge of research paradigms and basic literature search skills introduced earlier in the programme.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Demonstrate the ability to search for, analyse, critique, and synthesise research relevant to the student’s profession.

  2. Critically evaluate the appropriateness of different research approaches and their importance to using and developing evidence-based practice.

  3. Identify a specific topic and evaluate the evidence base in relation to this selected topic

Module information

This is an advanced module where the students will provide clear rationale for the evidence they have chosen based on the critique of the literature. Students are expected to select a topic relevant to their own profession and inter-professional specific interest.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via classroom based interactive and practical lectures designed to introduce new ideas and revisit familiar concepts.

Lectures:

  • Keynote lectures based on specific topics.
  • Revisiting literature searching.
  • Introducing critical appraisal tools and skills.
  • Re-visiting familiar research concepts.

Independent:

  • Preparation for assignment.
  • Independent Literature searching.

Seminars

  • Practical activities to develop critical knowledge and understanding

Tutorials:

  • Practical sessions applying skills to assignment task

Skills:

  • Advanced literature searching skills

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   OTDA - Summative: Written assignment   21/04/2026  100% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Mrs Alicia Smith, email: a.smith@essex.ac.uk.
OT Team
hsccolapp@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Mrs Rachel Jane Starkey
University of Manchester
Senior Clinical Lecturer
Dr Jane Hibberd
University of East Anglia
Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 45 hours, 42 (93.3%) hours available to students:
3 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Health and Social Care (School of)

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.