Module Content: Advanced information literacy strategies, academic writing, systematic research appraisal and synthesis, the role of theory and knowledge (epistemology) in research and enquiry, research design and methodological approaches, processes involved in research protocol development, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, ethical principles in healthcare research.Development of research proposal/systematic review protocol/quality improvement project relevant to an area of practice or defined healthcare problem.

Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Distinguish the philosophical underpinnings and theoretical frameworks/perspectives of healthcare enquiry and analyse how these influence the subsequent conduct of research and enquiry
• Critically review, analyse and synthesise pertinent literature, including interpretation of findings
• Formulate appropriate research/review questions or hypotheses relating to a defined healthcare problem
• Explore a variety of enquiry methodologies, data analytical processes and procedures so as to address identified research/review question(s)
• Justify the choice of a research design that addresses the identified research question(s)
• Outline principles of research integrity including ethical guideline.