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Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management

Role and Purpose of Research in Health and Social Care

HSC506 · Research Methods in Health and Social Care — Week 1 of 16

CourseHSC506
Week1 of 16
SemesterII
TutorOnline in the course chat

This week’s topics

Role and Purpose of Research in Health and Social Care

  1. Evidence-based practice
  2. Service improvement and policy development
  3. Research versus audit and evaluation

What you will be able to do

  • 1.1 Explain the function of research in health and social care.

Activity

Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: explain the function of research in health and social care.

Study materials

Videos

  • KT Social Care Project Seminar: Mind the Gap - Getting Research Into Policy and Practice · YouTube · LSE · 89 min · for registered students
  • Carolyn Clancy: Evidence-based decision making in health care · YouTube · Nuffield Trust · 8 min · for registered students

Further resources

  • Scientific Inquiry in Social Work (DeCarlo, Open Social Work Education) · Reading · Other, textbook · for registered students
  • The Magenta Book: Central Government guidance on evaluation (HM Treasury, 2026 update) · PDF · GOV.UK, guidance; 160 pages · for registered students
  • Magenta Book Annex A: analytical methods for use within an evaluation (HM Treasury) · PDF · GOV.UK, guidance; 60 pages · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
Week 2
Course chat

Admitted students ask questions on this week’s page in the student portal: an AI assistant trained on the course answers first, and during the course’s timetabled classes Connect to your tutor brings your tutor into the chat, who may start a call if needed.

Open this week in the portal
Course plan
  • Week 1: Role and Purpose of Research in Health and Social Care
  • Week 2: Research Methodologies and Paradigms
  • Week 3: Data Collection Methods, Tools, and Techniques
  • Week 4: Data Quality, Validity, and Reliability
  • Week 5: Scoping the Topic, Aims, and Critical Literature Review
  • Week 6: Ethics and Governance in Health and Social Care Research
  • Week 7: Research Design and Project Planning
  • Midterm: Midterm evaluation
  • Week 9: Data Collection and Fieldwork Implementation
  • Week 10: Data Analysis and Presentation
  • Week 11: Synthesising Findings, Critical Reflection, and Practice Re…
  • Week 12: Applying Research Methods in Health and Social Care in prac…
  • Week 13: Assignment workshop: research, planning and referencing
  • Week 14: Assignment workshop: drafting, feedback and improvement
  • Week 15: Review and coursework completion
  • Final: Final assessment and submission
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