Demonstrate the ability to retrieve and appraise current research related to the students’ area (s) of study.

Introduction to research methods for health
Number of Words of Assessment Up to 2500 words

Description Identify a topic of relevance to your degree discipline, review relevant literature on this topic, develop a research question and identify a suitable methodology for conducting a piece of research to answer this.
Date Assessment due Monday 11th July 16
Learning Outcomes Assessed Learning Outcome 1: Demonstrate knowledge and a critical understanding of the range of research method (s) used in the student’s area (s) of study.
Learning Outcome 2: Demonstrate the ability to retrieve and appraise current research related to the students’ area (s) of study.
Learning Outcome 3: Identify a health or social care related review topic, place this within the context of an established body of knowledge and develop a coherent research question.

Learning Outcome 4: Demonstrate a critical understanding of the two main research methodologies and select the most appropriate of these to answer your chosen research question
Hand in arrangements Hand two copies of your work – electronic and hard copy.

This copy MUST include a copy of the front sheet of your 4 chosen studies.

Your work cannot be marked without a copy of the front page of each of your chosen studies in an appendix to your essay.

You can cut and paste the front page of each of your studies into an appendix at the end of your essay.
• I want my study topic to be adult obesity within women in the UK.
• Include factors which are the key themes related to the topic from journal articles in the UK.
• Choose four research studies from the journal articles to review and compare the factors affecting obesity within women in the UK.
• I need a copy of the complete four research studies you choose in my coursework; you can put it in the appendices.
• Come up with a new research question related to my topic and add in the coursework.
• Also in the appendices (at the end of the assignment) add a search description or a literature review of how you achieved the four chosen studies and journal articles.
• Please use Harvard referencing.
• There’s an example essay template and step by step guide below:
Marking Criteria
The work has a clear unambiguous Title.
A narrowly defined & well focused review topic has been selected. 10%
The Introduction includes a brief justification of why the review topic is important and outlines the contents of the assignment 150 words. 5%
The literature search is briefly described or given in a table in an appendix. This should give enough detail to allow another person to repeat the steps you took when you did your search – search terms used, data bases searched and results of each search. Give a list of your chosen studies using the Harvard System in an appendix 5%
At least 4 primary research studies are found that relate very closely to the topic chosen (as the source of the themes to be developed for this review).
The 4 chosen primary research studies should be placed in an appendix to the assignment.
Literature reviews should not be included among your chosen studies. Pass / Fail
Between 3 and 8 themes developed from the findings / results sections of your 4 chosen studies ONLY. Themes will outline the main issues identified in the findings / results sections of your chosen studies and discuss these.
1200 words. 30%
New Research Needed: On the basis of your themes, identify any new research that is needed in your topic area. Outline these “gap/s in current academic knowledge”. Please ensure this section of your review is based on your 4 chosen studies only. 10%
On the basis of what you said in the last section, develop a research question that addresses one small piece of the new research that is needed. State this question simply, clearly and coherently. 5%
The two major methodologies are defined. A suitable methodology to answer your research question is identified & this choice is justified. Identify and discuss the population of interest, sampling strategy, sample size & method of data collection. This section will be Referenced using research methods texts. 800 words. 20%
Harvard referencing correctly used throughout.
All articles and research studies included in this work should be referenced in the normal way.
The reference list is organised in alphabetical order according to the family name of the first author.