Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

School: Nursing and Midwifery

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

• Unit Title

  Evidence-based Practice and Research Design

• Unit Code

  MNP6101

• Year

  2018

• Enrolment Period

  2

• Version

  2

• Credit Points

  20

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  Online

• Unit Coordinator

  Dr Olivia GALLAGHER

Description

As clinical leaders nurses are expected to deliver evidence based informed care and to participate in primary research in the production of research evidence. This Unit will lay the foundation for all students to gain knowledge of a range of research approaches, to understand the standards for quality and rigour in research and the skills in operationalising a research study. Drawing on this foundation, students will also develop skills in using evidence to guide them through searching, retrieving, appraising and synthesising published research using appropriate research quality evaluation tools.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Differentiate between a range of research traditions based on methodological and epistemological considerations.
2. Rationalise the standards for rigor and the application of a range of research approaches.
3. Critically analyse the components of research design including the research question, hypothesis, methods, data tools, and outcomes relevant to the identified research problem.
4. Apply this accumulated knowledge and skills to the development of a research proposal.
5. Critically reflect on the ethical requirements within empirical research.

Unit Content

1. Research methods incorporating interpretive, observational and experimental traditions.
2. The principles and application of evidence based practice in relation to nursing and health care.
3. Standards for rigor in inquiry across diverse research traditions.
4. Principles of analysis for qualitative and quantitative data.
5. Elements of research design including the relationship between the research aim and the methods and type of data that will be collected.
6. Conducting a comprehensive review of the literature related to a specific research problem including search methods and document retrieval.
7. Use of appraisal tools to evaluate the methodological quality of published research.
8. The ethical and cultural considerations and obligations in human research.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Learning processes will be structured around the three learning modules and will include Online tutorials and student led Webinar discussion forums and activity based workshops.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Core Reading(s)

• Polit, D., & Beck, C. (2012). Nursing Research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (9th ed., pp. xiv, 802). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.
• Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2016). Nursing Research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. LWW.
• Polit, D., & Beck, C. (2012). Nursing Research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (9th ed., pp. xiv, 802). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.
• Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2016). Nursing Research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. LWW.
• jirojwong, johnson, & welch. (2014). Research methods in Nursing and midwifery pathways to evidence based practice (2nd ed., p. 416). Sydney: Oxford University Press.
• jirojwong, johnson, & welch. (2014). Research methods in Nursing and midwifery pathways to evidence based practice (2nd ed., p. 416). Sydney: Oxford University Press.