University of Essex

HS602-5-AT-SA:
Developing Critical Appraisal Skills

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Health and Social Care (School of)

Campus: Southend Campus & Apprenticeship Location

Term: Autumn Special

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 03 October 2024

End date: Friday 13 December 2024

Credits: 30

Last updated: 07 March 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

FDSCB745CA Nursing Associate,
FDSCB745OD Nursing Associate

Module description

This module will help you to understand basic research concepts and develop a range of theoretical and practical appraisal skills by taking a critical perspective about the way research is designed and undertaken in the 'real world' of evidence-based health and social care practice.

You will learn about different types of research and the kind of evidence they provide by applying what you learn to your professional practice to inform evidence-based decision making.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:

To develop a range of theoretical and practical appraisal skills that are applied to student’s own professional practice, via an evidence-based practice (EBP) approach.

Module learning outcomes

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

Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the research process.

Demonstrate understanding of the different approaches (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods).

Demonstrate implications for informing practice as part of evidence-based practice (EBP).

Undertake a systematic search to identify appropriate evidence to answer a practice-based question.

Demonstrate understanding of appropriate critical appraisal tools and apply these to identify strengths/weaknesses and sources of methodological bias -including ethics in a variety of research papers.

Make informed judgements about the implications of different types of evidence for clinical decision making as part of EBP.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module is worth 30 credits, requiring around 300 active learning hours to develop knowledge and understanding of module topics and ability to apply practical appraisal skills based on an evidence-based practice (EBP) approach.

Taught sessions (recorded and available via Listen Again) are delivered using directed and independent learning - full details on Moodle.

Bibliography

Burck, C. (2005) ‘Comparing qualitative research methodologies for systemic research: the use of grounded theory, discourse analysis and narrative analysis’, Journal of Family Therapy, 27(3), pp. 237–262. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2005.00314.x.
Sawatsky, A.P., Ratelle, J.T. and Beckman, T.J. (2019) ‘Qualitative Research Methods in Medical Education’, Anesthesiology, 131(1), pp. 14–22. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000002728.
Ma, Lin-Lu (2020) ‘Methodological quality (risk of bias) assessment tools for primary and secondary medical studies: what are they and which is better?’, Military Medical Research, 7(1). Available at: https://mmrjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40779-020-00238-8.
Östlund, U. et al. (2011) ‘Combining qualitative and quantitative research within mixed method research designs: A methodological review’, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48(3), pp. 369–383. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.10.005.
Aveyard, H. et al. (2023) A beginner’s guide to evidence-based practice in health and social care. Fourth edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2397005/.
Aveyard, H., Sharp, P. and Woolliams, M. (2015) A Beginner’s Guide to Critical Thinking and Writing in Health and Social Care. 2nd edn. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6212113.
Clark, T. et al. (eds) (2021) Bryman’s Social Research Methods. Sixth Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/974675.
H. Baxter (2001) ‘Understanding research: 1 Methodologies used to answer research questions’, Journal of Wound Care, 10(7), pp. 269–272.
Study designs — Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM), University of Oxford (no date). Available at: https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/resources/ebm-tools/study-designs.
Howick, J. (no date) ‘Introduction to Study Design’. Oxford, UK: Center for Evidence-Based Medicine. Available at: https://www.cebm.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CEBM-study-design-april-20131.pdf.
‘Research Guides: Evidence Based Practice: 1. Ask: PICO(T) Question’ (no date). Available at: https://libraryguides.nau.edu/c.php?g=665927&p=4682772.
‘Library Services: Search Skills: Referencing and plagiarism’ (no date). Available at: https://library.essex.ac.uk/searchskills/ref.
Stillwell, S.B. et al. (2010b) ‘Evidence-Based Practice, Step by Step: Searching for the Evidence’, AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 110(5), pp. 41–47. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000372071.24134.7e.
Stillwell, S.B. et al. (2010a) ‘Evidence-Based Practice, Step by Step: Asking the Clinical Question’, AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 110(3), pp. 58–61. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000368959.11129.79.
Bennett, S. and Bennett, J.W. (2000) ‘The process of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy: Informing clinical decisions’, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 47(4), pp. 171–180. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1630.2000.00237.x.
De Brún, C. (2013) ‘Finding the Evidence: A Key Step in the Information Production Process’. The Information Standard. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/tis/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2014/09/tis-guide-finding-the-evidence-07nov.pdf.
CASP CHECKLISTS - CASP - Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (no date). Available at: https://casp-uk.net/casp-tools-checklists/.
Critical Appraisal tools — Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM), University of Oxford (no date). Available at: https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/resources/ebm-tools/critical-appraisal-tools.
Long, A.F. et al. (2005) ‘HCPRDU Evaluation Tool for “Mixed Methods” Studies’, pp. 1–3. Available at: https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/output/1454734/hcprdu-evaluation-tool-for-mixed-methods-studies.

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	HS602 Summative Workbook (ANA - SA)	12/12/2024
Coursework	HS602 Summative Essay (ANA - SA)	12/12/2024	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

Supervisor: Ms Sarah Lee, email: sjlee@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Sarah Lee

Contact details: Jennifer Weston @ hscsouapp@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: No

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Dr Victor Abu

Institution: London South Bank University

Academic role: Senior Lecturer

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 12 hours, 12 (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

Department website: Health and Social Care (School of)

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Module Directory

HS602-5-AT-SA:Developing Critical Appraisal Skills