OT7011 - Research and Evidence in Occupational Therapy

You will have the opportunity to participate in an enquiry-based learning approach that will promote peer and self- coaching to meet the module learning outcomes through exploration of structured and staged skill-based tasks and scenarios. Simulation will play a key role in your learning within a workshop driven module, in developing your professional knowledge, skills, values and behaviours. Staff will introduce you to concepts, information and practical skills and facilitate reflection on your development through self and group directed study

In developing a ‘community of learning’ within a professional framework, you will be expected to attend teaching sessions, be dressed appropriately for practical sessions, behave in a professional manner, and engage and contribute to the learning of yourself and others. You will be encouraged to develop skills in self-reflection and self-awareness to enable autonomous and critical thinking. Independent and self-directed learning will be promoted to enhance your ability to navigate professional and academic challenges.

There will be opportunities for peer learning within your own student group. Additionally supporting your learning by working with public contributors/ Experts by Experience. This will give you the opportunity to appreciate the positive contribution different perspectives can make to your development as a researcher and as an evidence-aware health care practitioner. Equity and diversity issues will be explored and embedded in the module, and you will be encouraged to consider how you can promote and facilitate users of occupational therapy services involvement in research. There will also be profession specific sessions to develop and integrate skills and concepts related to contemporary Occupational Therapy practice in the context of research and evidence-based practice.

You will engage with a range of research rich learning opportunities, related to research methods and skills and evidence-based practice. Working with peers you will consider existing research-related skills and knowledge and begin to develop these within a series of lectures, seminars and interactive workshops related to qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. You will have the opportunity to develop your own skills and knowledge in these approaches. You will develop understanding of governance and ethical issues and develop critical analysis and synthesis skills. This, along with consideration of requirements of research will provide opportunities for peer / staff feedback on your project idea.

In addition to the pastoral support you will receive, the tutors involved in delivering this module will provide guidance and academic counselling to ensure that you are able to confidently engage with the academic and practical rigour of this module. This dialogue will be face to face in workshops with tutorial support available and is an essential aspect of the programme’s assessment for learning strategy. Extensive support is also accessible online as part of the University’s commitment to technology enhanced learning. This employs the use of the e-learning portal, social networking and collaborative tools.

A central feature the academic support available to you is the service provided by the University Library. This 24/7 service caters for all your learning needs, has extensive access to electronic texts and tutorials that will directly support the development of academic skills aimed at improving your critical thinking and communication skills.

There are accessible, inclusive and effective arrangements in place to facilitate your learning, to meet your needs, and to support your wellbeing.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Critical, analytical and research skills to support development of an MSc project proposal.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. An ability to critique research methods.
3. An ability to discuss the value of public involvement.
4. An ability to review and evaluate the evidence base for practice.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. An understanding of the value of research evidence and how it contributes to professional competence.
6. An ability to consider the integration of research skills into practice.
7. An awareness of personal responsibility in promoting evidence-based practice.

The module is assessed by your submission of a project proposal, which will then serve as the basis for your project research ethics submission or systematic appraisal of the literature.

Summative assessment
A project proposal will be based on an area relevant to occupation/ occupational therapy practice, choosing from either an empirical project proposal or systematic appraisal protocol. The proposal is a 4000-word written assignment demonstrating critical, analytical and research skills that will meet learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Formative assessment
There will also be a formative assessment opportunity (outline of your topic rationale, aim and approach) as part of this module to support the development of your summative assessment.

Your summative assessment mark and feedback will be returned to you within the University standard of 20 working days, normally accessed through the module Blackboard (Northumbria University’s Electronic Learning Platform).

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This module will provide you with the opportunity to engage with academic writing, a range of research methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative and consider these in the context of Occupational Therapy practice and wider health and social care to contribute to your development as an evidence-based healthcare practitioner.

Empirical and systematic review methodologies will be introduced and considered in the context of an MSc project option. In this module you will have the opportunity to engage with research ethics, research methodology theory, critically consider data collection and analysis and engage in critical debate about public involvement in research.

The end product of this module will be a project proposal that could be transferable for submission for ethics approval. This module is linked with your MSc research project and will prepare you for involvement in data collection and analysis or systematic review, providing you with a firm foundation for undertaking research as part of your MSc.