Advanced Quantitative Research Methods 7KNIP042

This module forms part of the MRES Clinical Research. The module contributes to your programme of study by providing a solid grounding in quantitative research methods, providing you with skills for designing, conducting and appraising your own and others’ research. This is the first module of the programme and provides a foundation for your research methods training, complemented by the Advanced Qualitative Research Methods module taken in term 2.

The module can also be taken as a freestanding module and is usually taken in the first year by MPhil/Ph.D. students.

Participants will develop:

• Advanced understanding of key approaches in quantitative health research.
• Advanced understanding of the application and use of appropriate quantitative research methods.
• Advanced understanding of stages involved in undertaking quantitative research methods.
• Advanced understanding of stages involved in undertaking quantitative research.
• Advanced critical appraisal skills to interrogate the application of quantitative research approaches and methods.
• Advanced skills in selecting and conducting appropriate statistical tests for quantitative data.

The content of this module will include:

• Research design and data collection approaches.
• Surveys, case-control, and cohort studies.
• Clinical trials.
• Prognostic and diagnostic tests.
• Data types and distribution.
• Access and ethics.
• Hypothesis testing.
• Samples and populations.
• Approaches to analyses: comparisons, regression, correlation.
• Analysis of categorical and continuous data.
• Combining the results of independent studies.

Healthcare professionals

3000 word assignment. Critical appraisal of a quantitative research paper.

18/10, 25/10, 1/11, 15/11, 22/11, 29/11