HS947-7-AU-CO:
Theory and Method in Health Research

The details
2025/26
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Tuesday 07 October 2025
Tuesday 02 December 2025
15
21 December 2022

 

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

 

(none)

Key module for

MPHDC84K48 Applied Psychology,
PHD C84K48 Applied Psychology,
MPHDB99K48 Health and Organisational Research,
PHD B99K48 Health and Organisational Research,
DOCTB90460 Health Care Education,
DOCTB90060 Health Service Management,
MPHDB70K48 Health Studies,
MPHDB79748 Health Studies,
PHD B70K48 Health Studies,
PHD B79748 Health Studies,
DOCTB74060 Nursing,
MPHDB79K48 Nursing Studies,
PHD B79K48 Nursing Studies,
DOCTB93060 Occupational Therapy,
MPHDB93K48 Occupational Therapy,
PHD B93K48 Occupational Therapy,
MPHDL43K48 Public Health,
PHD L43K48 Public Health,
DOCTB71260 Public Health (Health Visiting),
DOCTL59260 Social Care Education,
MPHDL40K48 Social Policy,
PHD L40K48 Social Policy,
DOCTL59060 Social Services Management,
DOCTB62060 Speech and Language Therapy,
MPHDB62K48 Speech and Language Therapy,
PHD B62K48 Speech and Language Therapy,
MPHDL50K48 Social Work,
PHD L50K48 Social Work,
MPHDQ1CK48 Language and Communication Science,
PHD Q1CK48 Language and Communication Science

Module description

Applied health and social care research is underpinned by a variety of theoretical assumptions. This module provides opportunities to critically examine some key philosophical ideas that inform research, using a blended learning approach to extend knowledge and current understanding of the research process

Module aims

How knowledge is viewed determines ways of thinking about the research process. It is important to understand the interrelationships between key elements of the research process to allow the logical combination of ontology and epistemology as part of a robust research process. This module provides opportunities to examine key theoretical/philosophical ideas and explore how they can be applied to inform present and future research projects and better understand the foundations of scholarly work.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, the [learner] will be able to:

Select and justify a research perspective and methodology for a given research topic and be able to select scholarly sources to inform and support argumentation

Identify and discuss some key philosophical/theoretical assumptions that inform
different approaches and methods in health research

Critically consider how different approaches produce different types of knowledge and evidence and the implications of this

Compare and contrast some key philosophical/theoretical ideas and consider
strengths and weaknesses of different approaches

Module information

This module will explore methods (research techniques/procedures); methodology (research strategy that links method to desired outcome); theoretical perspectives (philosophical position that informs methodology and provides context) and epistemology and ontology (what constitutes valid knowledge/how it is obtained and what constitutes reality/how existence is understood). A blended learning approach uses multiple methods to deliver learning by combining face-to-face interactions with online activities – to provide opportunities to develop and consolidate existing knowledge and understanding about the philosophical foundations of the research process.

Applied health and social care research Is informed by different theoretical approaches; each comes with implicit/explicit assumptions about how research will generate new knowledge. Research requires both theory and methods – it is therefore important to understand how they are related and informed by (philosophical) assumptions about the world, how it operates and how we can claim to know this. A blended learning approach - with peer support - provides opportunities to become a more reflexive researcher and develop existing knowledge and critical awareness of key philosophical ideas that underpin the research process.

Learning and teaching methods

This module is taught using a blended learning approach. Five taught seminars are supplemented by e-learning and Moodle resources.

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   3,000 word assignment     

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
Ms Jennie Todd, email: jtodd@essex.ac.uk.
Jennie Todd
jtodd@essex.ac.uk. Contact details: David Bidwell Student Administrator E: cpd@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Elaine Lehane
University College Cork
Senior Lecturer
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 3 hours, 3 (100%) hours available to students:
0 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)

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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