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
Week Topic
23
4
5
6
7
8
9
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 10.15 am• Room CB 5.13
• Thursdays 11.15 pm• Room CB 4.17
• Weeks 2-10.
Surnames A-J
Surnames K-Z
CPU Lab ScheduleWeek Topic
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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’
www.bath.ac.uk/~jb335/
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 (5th 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