Critically evaluate a body of evidence or research in relation to your chosen environment.

6HC508 Preparing for Research & Evidence-Based Practice

Jan 2025 (T2,Spring)

Assessment Brief

6HC508 Preparing for Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Contents

Module Leader. 3

Description of the assessment. 3

Module Learning Outcomes. 3

Key dates and details. 3

Assessment Content. 4

Formative Assessment. 4

Assessment Presentation. 4

Title Page. 5

Manuscript. 5

Anonymous Marking. 6

Assessment Regulations. 6

Useful Links. 6

Assessment Rubric. 7

Description of the assessment

(Your reports may include tables. Words in the tables within your assignment are included in the word count)

Module Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Critically evaluate a body of evidence or research in relation to your chosen environment.

Key dates and details

Please check module timetable for Assessment and other webinar sessions.

Assessment Content

The following guidelines will help you to submit an assignment which fully meets Learning Outcome 1 and the assessment criteria.

You will provide a 3000-word literature review. You will not collect primary data.

Literature Review

A literature review of research and evidence that provides a background and justification of the chosen research question.

Suggested Structure

Abstract: Concise summary the background, methods, findings, and implications (250 words max)

Introduction: Clarify the definition of key words; clearly address why your chosen topic is worthy of investigation; present what is known and what is not known in your field; demonstrate how your research will fill out the gap

Methods: Report your inclusion/exclusion criteria for your literature review, searched databases, searched words, how many articles were retrieved and how they were narrowed down for the close analysis.

Results: Report coherently what you have found in relation to your research question.

Discussion: Present what your findings may mean, and what practical and research implications may be suggested. Discuss specific future research ideas. Critically review limitations of your literature review. Concisely summarise your work as conclusion.

References: Follow the Harvard style thoroughly (not included in the word count).

Formative Assessment

There will be a formative (not marked) piece of work in order to prepare you for your final summative (marked) piece of work. Prepare a short 500-word synopsis for:

• Stage 1 of the research process: define the research question - a research question that relates to your area of practice and a short justification of why this would improve knowledge and/or practice

THIS IS COMPLETED IN UNIT 5

Your module tutor will read these on the discussion boards. They will not respond directly but will provide guidance in their weekly tutor review within their own thread.

Assessment Presentation

Presentation is an important part of your academic work. Please follow the presentation guidelines below. 

Title Page

Your title page must include: 1) the name of the university, 2) the course title, 3) the module code and title, 4) the name of the module tutor, 5) the word count, and 6) declarations (see below).

Originality statement

‘I declare that this assessment is my own work and that I have correctly acknowledged the work of others using the Harvard referencing. This assessment is in accordance with University guidance on good academic conduct.’

Confidentiality statement (if applicable)

‘I declare that confidentiality of people discussed in this work is maintained; there is no identifiable information of these individuals.’

Manuscript

Your manuscript needs to;

• Include page numbers (pages should be numbered at the top right).
• Be double-spaced
• Have a 1-inch (2.54 cm) margin, Arial, 12 font.
• Maintain the confidentiality of service users/patients/clients and persons associated with them, service colleagues and organisations.
• Include a reference list (Harvard referencing), headed with ‘References’ centred, do not make it bold. Please refer to Cite Them Right - Home.
• Use ‘the author’ to describe yourself (however you can use ‘I’ or ‘my’ etc. in self-reflection e.g., this phenomenon was often present in my practice).

Anonymous Marking

Submissions in Turnitin and Blackboard

You must submit your work using your student number to identify yourself, not your name. You must not use your name in the text of the work at any point. When you submit your work in Turnitin you must submit your student number within the assignment document and in the Submission title field in Turnitin.

Assessment Regulations

The Academic regulations - About us - University of Derby for students define the framework within which teaching and assessment are conducted. Please make sure you are familiar with these regulations, policies and procedures.

Useful Links

Library: Home - Home - LibGuides at University of Derby

Assessment regulations: Assessment Regulations for Postgraduate Programmes - Academic regulations - University of Derby

Request for additional consideration: Student guidance for request for additional consideration policy - Academic regulations - University of Derby

Citing and referencing & study skills: Home - Develop@Derby - LibGuides at University of Derby

Cite them right: Cite Them Right - Home

IT Services(including videos for using different apps and packages): Student Guides – IT Services - University of Derby

About 6HC508 Preparing for Research & Evidence-Based Practice Assignment

The 6HC508 Preparing for Research & Evidence-Based Practice assignment requires students to develop a comprehensive understanding of research methodologies and their application in evidence-based practice within the health and social care sector. The purpose of the assignment is to equip students with the necessary skills to critically evaluate and utilise research in making informed decisions that improve practice and outcomes.

This assignment encourages students to explore various research designs and approaches, enabling them to identify appropriate methods for investigating specific practice issues. By understanding different research paradigms, students will gain insight into how to assess the validity and reliability of research findings and their applicability in real-world settings. This critical evaluation is central to the assignment, as it challenges students to question the strengths and limitations of different research methods.

Additionally, students will be asked to consider the ethical implications of conducting research within the health and social care context. Research in these fields often involves vulnerable populations, and therefore, ethical considerations such as informed consent, confidentiality, and participant protection are vital. This aspect of the assignment highlights the importance of maintaining high ethical standards in research, ensuring that practice is both evidence-based and ethically sound.

Through this assignment, students will also engage with practical elements of research, including data collection, analysis, and the interpretation of findings. The ability to apply research methods in a real-world context is essential for effective evidence-based practice. Furthermore, students will be encouraged to reflect on how research can inform policy and practice improvements, contributing to the overall quality of care and services provided to individuals.

Ultimately, this assignment aims to foster a deeper understanding of the role of research in health and social care, preparing students to integrate evidence-based practice into their professional roles. By the end of the assignment, students should be able to demonstrate competence in planning, conducting, and applying research, with a clear focus on improving outcomes for service users.