Demonstrate a critical awareness of differing research methodologies and their application for health and social care professionals.

Assignment guidance ODP2003.
To pass this assignment, you must meet the following learning
outcomes:
1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of differing research methodologies
and their application for health and social care professionals. (HCPC
12.1, 12.2, 14.21, 14.23)
2. Demonstrate an ability to critically analyse and appraise research
using an appropriate framework. (HCPC 14.21, 14.22, 14.24)
3. Consider critically how evidence can be utilised to underpin and
inform best practice. (HCPC 12.1, 14.21, 14.24)
4. Demonstrate the ability to adhere concisely to the requirements
contained within the assessment brief.
This guide will take you through the different sections of the assignment,
providing a template to guide you.
Introduction.
Introduce the concept of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), what is it?
How does the use of research fit into it? What is research and why is it
important in healthcare? Why is research and using research important
to ODPs (think about the HCPC standards)? Remember to thoroughly
reference! Learning outcome 3.
Tell your reader what you are going to do during this assignment. You
are going to tell your reader that you are going to critically appraise a
research article and why. What is critical appraisal and why is it
important? What critical appraisal tool are you using and why that one?
What advantages does it have over others? Briefly introduce the article
you have chosen to critique. Please remember that the subject matter
of the paper is not the focus of this assignment. Remember to
thoroughly reference! Part of learning outcome 2.
Introduce the two main research methodologies (qualitative and
quantitative). Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of what
their main features are, why they would be chosen and for what type of
research question? Compare the two and discuss strengths and
weaknesses of each approach. Remember to thoroughly reference! Part
of learning outcome 1.
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Main body: Your appraisal using a critical appraisal tool (CASP).
Learning outcome 2.
• You must read the article and question each area in detail and
answer the questions raised. Please follow the order of your
chosen critical appraisal tool (eg CASP) and keep to the
sections, in order to pass LO2!
• You need to be critical throughout. This means you do not
simply describe what the paper has done and you never take
anything you read as face value! Everything you read and every
decision the author of the paper has made throughout the research
process, ask WHY? What are the advantages and disadvantages
of the approach they have used? Are there alternatives to what
they have done and what are the advantages/disadvantages
compared to the chosen methods? Remember to thoroughly
reference!
• For example: If they are clear/ unclear about a step in the research
process, why is it important to be clear about what they have done
and who says so (reference)?
• For example: If the paper has decided to use interviews for their
data collection, what are the advantages of using interviews for
what they want to find out and for that participant group? What are
the disadvantages? Has the researcher justified why they have
used interviews? What could be the alternatives to interviews for
that project? Would the alternatives have been better or worse and
why?
As a guide, when writing your assignment approximate equal weighting
should be given to addressing each of the following ten points:
1. Is there a clear statement of the aims of the research?
Consider:
What is the goal and aims of the research? Or is there a hypothesis?
Or
is there a research question? Are the aims clearly stated? How do the
aims of the research link to the literature review? Are research questions
stated at the beginning and addressed throughout the study?
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2. Are qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods methodology
appropriate for the research? Part of learning outcome 1. Consider:
Is the reason for using a mixed-methods, qualitative or quantitative
approach made explicit?
How does the approach add value to the study?
Could a different approach have proved more beneficial to the
research?
3. Is the sampling and recruitment strategy appropriate to the
research aims?
Consider:
Has the researcher explained how participants were selected? Are
inclusion and exclusion criteria clear? Is the sampling method
identified? Is the sample size appropriate for the type of research
selected?
Has the researcher/s explained why the participants they selected
were
appropriate to provide the type of data and knowledge required?
4. Is the data collected in a way that addresses the research issue?
Is it clear how data was collected? Has the researcher provided a
rationale for method of data collection? How was the raw data collected?
Has the researcher/s justified the chosen method of data collection?
Are the data collection methods appropriate?
Are the data collection methods detailed and explicit?
5. Are the relationships between researcher/s and participants
adequately
considered?
Has the researcher critically examined their own role, bias and
influence
during formulation of research questions, recruitment and data
collection?
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This section is very important in qualitative research.
6. Have ethical issues been taken into consideration?
Did the researchers state that they had obtained ethical approval and
how was this process carried out?
Has the researcher discussed issues raised by the study i.e.
Confidentiality, consent and the effects of the study on participants?
Are any specific ethical issues identified within the research article?
7. Was data analysis sufficiently rigorous? Consider:
Is there in-depth description of the analysis process?
If thematic analysis is used is it clear how categories and themes were
derived from the data?
Do statistics look true, believable and usable?
Is all of the collected data presented in the findings? If not do the
researchers state why not?
Did the researcher examine their own role in potential bias and
influence during the data analysis?
8. Is there a clear statement of findings?
Are the findings explicit?
Is there adequate discussion of findings?
Has the researcher addressed issues of reliability, validity, rigour and
credibility?
Are findings discussed in relation to the original research questions?
9. How valuable is the research?
Has the researcher discussed the contribution that the study makes to
existing knowledge, practice or policy?
Does the study identify new areas where research is necessary?
Has the researcher discussed whether findings can be transferred to
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other populations?
Conclusion
Conclude your assignment by telling your reader the outcome of your
appraisal. From your findings, is this piece of literature of sufficient
quality, credibility and rigor to inform practice? This is your educated
opinion, based on your appraisal.
Tell your reader what you have learned from doing this assignment.
What skills have you learned that you can take forward in your career as
an ODP?