General description

The course is an introductory course for master students. It gives an overview of research principles, methods, ethical and practical aspects of research in public health.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide the students with basic understanding of the following main fields:
a. core principles of scientific research and inquiry
b. good scientific practice and ethical considerations
c. main methodological approaches
d. critical reading of scientific literature
e. the stages of a research process

Contents

- Characteristics of scientific and empiric knowledge
- Scientific inquiry and the relationship between theory and hypothesis
- Methodological approaches - an overview of quantitative and qualitative methods and selected methodological questions
- Critical reading of scientific articles
- Rules of good scientific practice and ethical considerations
- Stages in a research process
- Relationship between the aim of the study, study design and data

Teaching methods

Teaching method	Contact	Online
Lectures	6 h	0 h
Group work	6 h	0 h

Teaching language

English

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Pass/fail.
The students’ understanding of key research concepts is assessed in the learning diaries on a scale of pass/fail

Recommended year of study

1. year autumn

Study materials

Ann Bowling (ed.), Research methods in health – investigating health and health services. Open University Press 2002; Jenkinson C. (ed), Assessment and evaluation of health and medical care. Open University Press 2002. 1997/2002; Shand J., Arguing well. Routledge 2000. Also as electronic publication.

Belongs to following study modules