SFAK20016U Theories and Research Methods in Social and Clinical Pharmacy

Volume 2020/2021
Education

MSc Programme in Medicinal Chemistry - elective

MSc Programme in Pharmacy (Danish programme cand.pharm) - elective

MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Danish programme cand.scient.pharm) - restricted elective

MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (English programme) - restricted elective

Content

The course covers use of theories and research methods commonly used within the fields of social and clinical pharmacy. These theories and methods are typically from the social sciences and are relevant to most areas where pharmacists work.

The course deals with why, how, and when theories and models are used in the social sciences. It also presents a selection of specific theories and models used in social and clinical pharmacy. Also epistemology and methodological perspectives are presented, e.g. consequences of choosing (or not choosing) epistemic and methodological stand-points.

Further, the course includes a general overview of research designs and relevant methods within social pharmacy and clinical pharmacy. Some methods are taught more in-depth and students also get to use some of them in a minor field study group assignment. These methods are:

  • Qualitative methods: observations, individual interviews and focus groups
  • Quantitative methods: surveys and register-based studies 
Learning Outcome

 

At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Describe central theories and methods within social and clinical pharmacy
  • Explain how theories and research methods are used in social and clinical pharmacy
  • Describe the concepts of epistemology and methodology, incl. the consequences of choosing  epistemic and methodological stand-points

 

Skills

  • Critically assess scientific studies within social and clinical pharmacy
  • In a group, conduct a minor field study, including research question definition, data collection and analysis

 

Competence

  • Design, and implement, a minor research project within social and clinical pharmacy, including applying theory and choosing relevant method(s). 

Robson C. Real World Research. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. 3rd edition or later.

Relevant scientific papers and book chapters

Lectures, seminars, minor field study, individual assignments and group work.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Class Instruction
  • 15
  • Preparation
  • 78
  • Project work
  • 70
  • Seminar
  • 8
  • Guidance
  • 5
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Collective
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Course participation
In order to obtain the course certificate the students should:
- Attend mandatory sessions
- submit individually written assignments, that should be approved prior to the individual oral examination
- in groups be part of a minor field study, including written and oral presentations
- pass an individual oral examination based on the written group report
Exam registration requirements



Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

 

The following elements must be demonstrated to obtain the course certificate: 

 

Knowledge

  • Describe central theories and methods within social and clinical pharmacy
  • Explain how theories and research methods are used in social and clinical pharmacy
  • Describe the concepts of epistemology and methodology, incl. the consequences of choosing  epistemic and methodological stand-points

 

Skills

  • Critically assess scientific studies within social and clinical pharmacy

 

Competence

  • Design a minor research project within social and clinical pharmacy, including applying theory and choosing relevant method(s)