Introduction to Study Skills and Research Methods Unit Leader: Dr James Betts Unit Code: HL10040

Objectives: Develop your computer skills Introduce you to the scientific method Expand your understanding of research design Learn to describe and analyse data appropriately Gain the ability to independently assess the value of scientific evidence Improve your ability to write scientifically.

Lecture Schedule Tuesdays 1115 All in room 6W 1.2 (i.e. here) Weeks 1-9. Reading for next week: Greenhalgh 2006 (at least Ch. 3 & 4)

Lecture Schedule WeekTopic Recognising Research Descriptive Statistics II Reliability and Validity Measurement Errors Mid-Term Test Hypothesis Testing Careers Session & Revision. Descriptive Statistics I

Computer Laboratory Classes Thursdays am Room CB 5.13 Thursdays pm Room CB 4.17 Weeks Surnames A-J Surnames K-Z

CPU Lab Schedule WeekTopic Computer Skills I Information Retrievals Introduction to SPSS Descriptive Statistics Computer Skills II Normal Distribution Inferential Statistics I Inferential Statistics II. Information Retrievals

Seminars and Tutorials These are scheduled for on Tuesdays at 0915 Exact time and location dependant on personal tutor Seminars in weeks 4, 7 & 10 (PG) Tutorials in weeks 5, 8 & 11 (Personal Tutor) Topics: Critically Evaluating Scientific Literature

Seminars and Tutorials These are scheduled for on Mondays at 1615 Exact time and location dependant on personal tutor Seminars in weeks 4, 7 & 10 (PG) Tutorials in weeks 5, 8 & 11 (Personal Tutor) Topics: Referencing Styles

Seminars and Tutorials These are scheduled for on Mondays at 1615 Exact time and location dependant on personal tutor Seminars in weeks 4, 7 & 10 (PG) Tutorials in weeks 5, 8 & 11 (Personal Tutor) Topics: Scientific Writing

Assessment Mid-Term Test (40%) –A variety of short answer questions covering the lecture material delivered up to week 7. Coursework (60%) –A range of research scenarios will be described to you in week 6 (5 th November) –You will need to review the area of investigation, analyse the data and evaluate the research design.

Scientific Truth

Research Questions: 1 - Does smoking cause cancer? 2 - Is it safer to give birth at home or in hospital? 3 - Does regular breakfast facilitate weight-loss? 4 - Does homeopathy alleviate backache? 5 - Does the MMR vaccine cause autism? 6 - Do Statins reduce heart disease risk?

Possible Considerations: -Study Population (who, how many & why?) -Experimental Design (what to compare & how?) -Context (where, when & why?) -Intervention (define and justify) -Outcomes (define and justify) -Sources of Bias -Ethics