Research Methodologies for Health Care Communication
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ENGL4213 | English | 4 | 20 | Autumn UK, Spring UK, Summer UK |
- Code
- ENGL4213
- School
- English
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK, Spring UK, Summer UK
Summary
This module introduces students to 4 different methodological approaches that can be used to study interpersonal and written communication in health care: i) Discourse Analysis ii) Critical Discourse Analysis iii) Conversation Analysis iv) Corpus Linguistics. Students will be introduced to the assumptions and techniques of these kinds of analysis and will be familiarised with examples of the methods in action in research on health care. Differences and similarities between the approaches will be highlighted. Issues around choice of method, choice of method to suit the research question, and the application of findings will be explored. Throughout the module students will experience what work using these different approaches might involve and consider the practical and theoretical issues raised by these activities. Students will also be encouraged to develop a critical appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of each method and the circumstances in which each is most appropriate.
Target Students
Only available to Distance Learning postgraduate students in the School of English.
Classes
Students will be expected to study 200 hours for this module.
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: 2000 word practical report on the analysis of language
- 50% Coursework 2: 2000 word proposal document for a piece of research
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
to enable students to critically examine different approaches to the study of interpersonal and written communicationto encourage students to explore the links between theory and research design and practiceto develop through practical experience, understanding of and competence in the basic application of the 4 research methods outlined here.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Students should gain knowledge and understanding of
- different theoretical and methodological perspectives and be able to relate them to research design and practice
- the issues involved in selecting a method for a particular form of inquiry.
Intellectual Skills
In online exercises and formal assessments, students should be able to demonstrate that they can:
- critically evaluate published research in health communication through close analysis of texts and arguments
- apply theoretical frameworks to practical analysis.
Professional practical skills
In formal assessments, students should be able to demonstrate that they can:
- Undertake and present written work in a scholarly way
- Articulate with clarity and good understanding the formal and specialised language of this field of study
Transferable/key skills
Students should be able to develop:
- The ability to plan and conduct research into verbal or written interaction through the choice of appropriate methods for their research question
- The use of computer mediated research and expressive skills.
Conveners
- Dr Kevin Harvey
- Prof Alison Pilnick