Master of Health Studies/
Master of Nursing (MHST/NURS) 711
Advanced Methods for Health Research
Delivery Mode: Paced/home-study online
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Applied Studies
Prerequisite: None.
Introduction
MHST/NURS 711 is a course in a program of study leading to the Master of Health Studies or the Master of Nursing degree. MHST/NURS 711 provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative research methods, with an emphasis on methodological congruence and design strengths and limitations. MHST/NURS 711 will prepare students to continue their study of research methods with MHST/NURS 712 and/or MHST/NURS 713.
Course Goals
After completing this course, students should be able to:
- understand the significance of paradigms in research and how they influence approaches to inquiry;
- understand the varied approaches to research;
- understand the costs and benefits of different research approaches;
- understand the process of deciding how best to answer a research question given potential practical and ethical concerns;
- underscore the importance of methodological congruence in research;
- provide a map of a range of qualitative research methods to show the variety of ways to work qualitatively;
- discuss the features of a variety of quantitative research designs;
- apply his/her understanding to develop beginning qualitative and quantitative research proposals.
Course Materials
MHST/NURS 711 comprises both online and print-based course materials.
Online Materials
- Introduction: Provides essential information about the course materials, the design of the course, and the procedures you should follow to complete the course successfully.
- Schedule: Outlines the timing of course activities.
- Units: There are 9 units in this course.
- Assessment: Outlines the assignments/evaluation procedures of the course.
- Reference: Listing of required readings and web sites included in the units.
Print Materials
The textbooks listed below are used in this course.
Morgan, G., Gliner, J., & Harmon, R. (with Kramer, H., Leech, N., & Vaske, J.) (2006). Understanding and evaluating research in applied and clinical settings. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Richards, L., & Morse, J. (2007). Readme first for a user's guide to qualitative methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Trochim, W., & Donnelly, J. (2007). The research methods knowledge base (3rd ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Atomic Dog Publishing.
Course Structure
In this course, you will access health-related websites worldwide. You will also participate in email and computer conferencing with other students. Students are expected to connect to an Internet Service Provider at their own expense.
Technical Requirements
Computer System
In order to successfully complete this course, you must own or have ready access to certain computer hardware and software programs. For complete and up-to-date information on the minimum computer requirements required to complete the graduate nursing courses, visit the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies technical site.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Perspectives and Possibilities in Advanced Research Methods
In this section of the course you will explore different world views (paradigms) used in research and consider how these world views influence your conceptualization of research problems and methods.
Unit 2: Sampling in Quantitative Research
In this unit you will explore approaches to sampling and the implications that these approaches have for making valid inferences from samples to populations.
Unit 3: Validity in Quantitative Research
In this unit you will study how internal and external validity affect the inferences that can be drawn from data collected in a study.
Unit 4: Designs in Quantitative Research
In this unit you will explore various approaches to research design, ranging from simple descriptive approaches to complex experimental designs.
Unit 5: Beginnings in Qualitative Research
In this unit you will be introduced to the idea of “thinking qualitatively” as the beginning step in learning to do qualitative research. As well, you will be challenged to consider what is meant by integrity in qualitative research.
Unit 6: Method Selection in Qualitative Research
In this unit you will study three qualitative methods: phenomenology, ethnography, and grounded theory.
Unit 7: Designs and Data in Qualitative Research
In this unit you will consider foundational beliefs and guidelines that researchers follow when designing qualitative research.
Unit 8: Rigor in Qualitative Research
In this unit you will address questions related to the integrity and worthiness of qualitative research and explore challenges of translating qualitative research findings into practice.
Unit 9: Emerging Topics in Advanced Research Methods
In this unit you will study mixed methods research, an approach that uses both qualitative and quantitative data to answer research questions. You will consider the methodological congruence and ethical considerations of mixed methods research.
Assessment Structure
To receive credit for MHST/NURS 711, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least 60%. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Conference Participation | 10% |
| Assignment 1 Question and Sample in Quantitative Research |
15% |
| Assignment 2 Design and Data Collection in Quantitative Research |
30% |
| Assignment 3 Question and Participants in Qualitative Research |
15% |
| Assignment 4 Design and Data Collection in Qualitative Research |
30% |
| Total | 100% |
Conference Participation (10%)
Feedback regarding conference participation will be ongoing. Quality of input (not quantity) is the goal. Feedback will focus on the student's ability to provide organized and original contributions that reflect analysis and synthesis of the material presented.
Participation CriteriaParticipation will be measured against the following criteria:
- Complete online contributions during the unit conference timeframe.
- Respond to online discussions at least twice each week.
- Contribute original thoughts or ideas to online discussions.
- Cite relevant resources to validate points made.
- Demonstrate openness to divergent points of view.
- Be respectful of the perceptions of others.
- Integrate material from previous units to formulate ideas and generate dialogue.
- Present responses that follow the rules of grammar and spelling in the online contributions.
Assignment 1: Question and Sample in Quantitative Research
Value: 15%
In Assignment 1, you will identify a research question and begin to develop a “Methods” section of a quantitative research proposal, focusing on your approach to obtaining a sample appropriate to your research question.
Assignment 2: Design and Data in Quantitative Research
Value: 30%
In Assignment 2, you began the development of the Methods section of a quantitative research proposal. You will use the feedback provided from Assignment 1 to continue writing your research proposal by identifying the research design and procedures for data collection and analysis.
Assignment 3: Question and Participants in Qualitative Research
Value: 15%
In Assignment 3 you will identify a research question and begin to develop a “Methods” section of a qualitative research proposal., focusing on your approach to identifying appropriate participants for your study.
Assignment 4: Design and Data in Qualitative Research
Value: 30%
In Assignment 3, you began the development of the Methods section of a qualitative research proposal. Use the feedback provided from Assignment 1 to continue writing your research proposal by identifying the research design and procedures for data generation.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
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Last updated by G. Zahara 01/03/2012 13:58:06
