Overview
Health Administration (HADM) 399: Evaluating Health Research Evidence is a three-credit (one-semester) course designed to help students understand and use health research evidence and strengthen their research knowledge and skills in order to make informed decisions in their practice. These skills include the ability to understand and interpret the research literature and the capacity to translate knowledge into action.
The content, activities, and assignments in HADM 399 are designed for two main purposes: (1) to increase knowledge about the research process and (2) to enhance critical thinking skills as a user of the research evidence. The majority of the course focuses on quantitative research methods because the bulk of health and health services research is quantitative. It is important to understand how to read and interpret quantitative literature. Qualitative and mixed methods are also increasingly used in health services research, particularly for program evaluation and quality-assurance activities. Therefore, qualitative and mixed methods research is introduced in the course, but detailed discussion about this expanding field of inquiry is beyond the scope of HADM 399.
Evaluation
To receive credit for HADM 399, you must complete all assessments, and achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Finding Research Articles | 10% |
| Quiz 1 | 10% |
| Assignment 2: Presenting Evidence from Multiple Articles | 30% |
| Quiz 2 | 10% |
| Assignment 3: Conducting a Research Literature Review | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Bassil, K., & Zabkiewicz, D. (Eds.). (2014). Health research methods: A Canadian perspective. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press Canada.
Study Guide
The online Study Guide includes nine units, each of which provides a unit description and list of learning outcomes. This is followed by either one or two reading or viewing sections, with assigned and recommended readings. The assigned readings are either from the textbook or available online through the course’s Digital Reading Room. The commentary section of each unit may highlight assigned readings and viewings and/or expand on the topic(s) covered in the unit. Each unit contains a self-study section and exercises to enhance the learning process.
Course Information
The online Course Information provides essential information specific to the course and the procedures you should follow to complete the course successfully.
Student Manual
The online Student Manual contains non-course specific information relevant to you as an Athabasca University Student, such as library information, information about your course contract, procedures for writing examinations, etc.