Research Methods for NIHR (and beyond)
NIHR Research Methods is a tailored, online, 10-week professional development course, designed for aspiring researchers and academics. It was developed for NIHR research students but is highly applicable across a broad spectrum of healthcare professional keen on developing their research methods knowledge ahead of embarking on projects or enabling to better appraise the research they read.
In this course you will explore a range of commonly used research methods used in healthcare including service evaluation, quantitative and qualitative methodologies. You will be exposed to a wide range of teaching material from textural descriptions, practical demonstrations with worked examples and short videos. You will be given links to recent papers in a variety of healthcare setting where the methodologies described are reviewed in context. You will have the chance to test your understanding through short quizzes, fill in the missing words and other interactive exercises.
Complete in just 10 weeks, while balancing your studies with a busy professional life. Throughout, you will have a chance to network in real-time and off-line with likeminded professionals through discussion boards, hopefully fostering valuable professional relationships and knowledge exchange. This course is a stepping stone to your next stage of research enabling continuous career growth and long-term success in academic healthcare roles.
By the end of this research methods course, you will be able to:
1. Critically appraise medical journal articles through a structured system
2. Be familiar with study and trial design including case control study, observational cohort study, randomised controlled trial, systematic review, and meta-analysis.
3. Develop an understanding of quantitative methodology including being able to recognise types of data, hypothesis testing, estimation, accuracy, precision, validity and comparing groups.
4. Recognise the different types of qualitative methodologies commonly used in healthcare research and think about which one to use when.
5. Evaluate yourself through interactive learning exercises
6. Reflect on your learning journey and consider your next steps
Course dates: TBC, (Please register for interest to get updates.)
Duration: 10 weeks of core study (3-6 hours self-paced independent learning per week) plus an intro / orientation week and a week to wrap up. You will also have ongoing access to the materials for 3 months afterwards.
CPD hours: 16
Format: Online Flexible Study
Course Fee: TBC, please contact Libby Thomas for further information: libby.thomas@qmul.ac.uk
This course is ideal for mid-career clinical professionals looking to develop their research skills. It is a refresher for those who already have an MSc, or for those people needing further understanding into the key role research plays in clinical care and develop themselves towards their own research project. It’s suited to individuals across all health professions and disciplines who are committed to academic growth and developing their academic and research potential.
This course is designed and developed in collaboration with the Emergency and Resuscitation MSc faculty, a multidisciplinary team of experts in research methods and closely working alongside the digital education team to ensure that online learning experiences are of high quality to meet the demands of busy healthcare professionals.
- Receive research methods training designed by research methods experts working in healthcare and leaders in online healthcare education, equipping you with practical, real-world research methods skills you can immediately apply to your role in healthcare, backed by case-based learning
- Collaborate with like-minded healthcare professionals through online discussions and depending on cohort timings, peer learning sessions.
- Create a personalised research methods journal to keep and develop which you can apply your learning directly to your academic development journey
Meet the team
Ben Bloom
Dr Ben Bloom is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, and Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine at Queen Mary University of London
Email: b.bloom@qmul.ac.uk
Libby Thomas
Dr Libby Thomas is a Senior Clinical Lecturer on the Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine programme at Queen Mary University of London. She is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at King's College Hospital, having worked at the Trust since 2004. She has a PhD in Medical Education and Simulation.
Email: libby.thomas@qmul.ac.uk
Ana Marques
Programme administrator.
Email: a.marques@qmul.ac.uk
- Text, videos and interactive learning sessions
- Recorded panel discussions from healthcare practitioners & experts
- Relevant and applied literature acting as case studies too apply your skills immediately
- Reflective writing on your research methods and academic development.
"The best part of this course was gaining the skills to critically appraise literature and high-quality evidence from clinical bias. I have a greater understanding of both quantitative and qualitative methods, which will be invaluable for my clinical research role and further when I completing my own research."
Hannah, Clinical Research Nurse