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Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management

Research Philosophies in Health Sciences

HSC706 · Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals — Week 3 of 16

CourseHSC706
Week3 of 16
SemesterII
TutorOnline in the course chat

This week’s topics

Research Philosophies in Health Sciences

  1. Ontology and epistemology
  2. Positivism and post-positivism in clinical research
  3. Interpretivism and social constructivism
  4. Pragmatism in health services research
  5. Research Paradigms - Positivism, Interpretivism and Pragmatism - helpful overview for thesis
  6. Ontology and Epistemology - simple overview for thesis
  7. Research Paradigms & Philosophy: Positivism, Interpretivism and Pragmatism Explained (With Examples)

What you will be able to do

  • 2.1 Critically evaluate a range of research philosophies.

Activity

Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: critically evaluate a range of research philosophies.

Study materials

Videos

  • Research Paradigms - Positivism, Interpretivism and Pragmatism - helpful overview for thesis · YouTube · Carol Forde-Johnston · 10 min · for registered students
  • Ontology and Epistemology - simple overview for thesis · YouTube · Carol Forde-Johnston · 11 min · for registered students
  • Research Paradigms & Philosophy: Positivism, Interpretivism and Pragmatism Explained (With Examples) · YouTube · Grad Coach · 15 min · for registered students

Further resources

  • Research Methods Knowledge Base (Trochim, hosted by Conjointly) · Reading · Other, textbook · for registered students
  • Scientific Inquiry in Social Work (DeCarlo, Open Social Work Education) · Reading · Other, textbook · for registered students
  • MIT OpenCourseWare 15.347 Doctoral Seminar in Research Methods I (Fall 2004) · Reading · MIT OpenCourseWare, course · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
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: Foundations of Healthcare Research and Evidence
  • Week 2: Critical Appraisal of Health and Social Care Literature
  • Week 3: Research Philosophies in Health Sciences
  • Week 4: Methodological Approaches and Study Designs
  • Week 5: Research Ethics and Governance in Care Environments
  • Week 6: Formulating the Research Proposal
  • Week 7: Data Types, Sampling, and Collection Strategies
  • Midterm: Midterm evaluation
  • Week 9: Quantitative Healthcare Data Analysis
  • Week 10: Qualitative Analysis and Data Synthesis
  • Week 11: Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Practice Translation
  • Week 12: Applying Research Methods for Healthcare Professionals in p…
  • 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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