SFKKB9081U Research Methods in Social and Clinical Pharmacy

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences - elective, MSc in Medicinal Chemistry - elective, Cand.Scient.Pharm. - elective, Cand.Pharm. - elective
Content
The course will:
  1. give a general overview of research designs and relevant methods within social pharmacy and clinical pharmacy.
  2. give hands on experience with relevant methods such as interviews, questionnaires, documentary analysis, clinical trials, registry studies and epidemiological studies.
  3. enable the students to select and use qualitative and quantitative methods including triangulation.
  4. teach the students to design and plan a research project, by transforming a given problem into a research question, critically choosing an appropriate method and systemizing and analyzing data with focus on data quality.
  5. contain research ethical subjects such as scientific misconduct.
Learning Outcome

Formål / Objective

The objective of this course is to develop the participants' methodical and practical skills in phrasing research questions in social and clinical pharmacy and designing an evidence based study using quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.

Målbeskrivelse / Course outcome

After completing the study unit the students are expected to have gained a thorough and practical knowledge of how to phrase research questions in social and clinical pharmacy and choose the appropriate research design. Furthermore the students will master the selection of, and the use of, both qualitative and quantitative research methods within clinical pharmacy and social pharmacy projects. Such skills will have relevance for Master's thesis and future paid employment within the field of medicine.
Literature
Ann Bowling. Research Methods in Health. Open UniversityPress, 2009. ISBN9780335233649
Knowledge of the phases of the research process, literature search, critical literature scrutiny and scientific communication. Basic knowledge of conducting questionnaires surveys and interviews. Familiarity with project assignments.
•Lectures: 14 hours
•Class teaching: 28 hours
•Submission of method assignment: 4 hours
•Exercises/assignment: 21 hours
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 28
  • Lectures
  • 14
  • Practical exercises
  • 81
  • Preparation
  • 83
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination
Written assignment
Prøveform / Examination type:
Written method assignment and oral presentation for fellow students (PowerPoint presentation). Oral presentation as opponent for another project.

Prøvedesign / Examination design
Written assignment plus oral presentation.
The method assignment is worked out individually. The assignment contains questions and a method exercise – and consists of a written part (min. 8 pages, max. 10 pages; 1 ½ line spacing; 12 pt.) and a PowerPoint presentation (min. 8 slides). An overall evaluation of the written and oral work will be carried out at the exam.
Exam registration requirements
Satisfactory participation in the course. This refers to attendence, oral presentations as well as active participation in group work.
Aid
Written aids allowed
All written and approved pocket calculator
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

Beskrivelse af prøven og bedømmelse / Description of examination and assessment criteria

Beståkrav / Pass criteria

The student must be able to:
  1. transform a given problem into a research question.
  2. argue for choice of design and method.
    3. design a project plan.
    4. either analyse the data or describe the intended way of analysing the data.
    5. critically discuss the pros and cons of the design/method/analysis choices with focus on validity and reliability.
    6. act as an opponent for another project plan (making an oral presentation)
The oral presentation (of their own project plan) must reflect the written assignment, and the presentation must be logically constructed.