Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description

Research Use, Methods in Health Communication

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
KSK_223
Branch of Science
Library Science; Media and communications
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Information and Communication Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Structure Unit Manager
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

Deepen understanding and knowledge of research methods in health research, selection criteria for research methods, strengths and weaknesses.

Preliminary Knowledge

Understanding of healthcare issues.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Understanding of the research process, methodology; understanding of the types of data collection, basic principles of conducting research and the role of research in health care.

Skills

1.The ability to design research, to choose the most appropriate methodology; the ability to design questionnaires, to develop guidelines for interviews and discussion groups, the ability to create a report about the results.

Competences

1.Independently conduct and manage research.

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work

-
-
The course includes theoretical lectures, seminars and independent work to ensure an effective feedback on the acquired material and the necessary additional activities. Tasks: 1) Acquaint students with the role of research in health care. 2) Acquire the structure of the research process and basic principles of planning. 3) Study the most commonly used research methods and data collection methods in health research. Student practical tasks are indicated in the section "Topic Layout". In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination

-
-
The sum of all marks forms the final mark. Knowledge will be assessed on a 10-point scale: Participation in lectures – 10%. Summaries – 20%. Group work, seminars – 10%. Practical work/research – 30%. Examination mark – 30% (examination in a test format).

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Structure of the social research process, the role of research in health care.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Research design – quantitative and qualitative research.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

The researched problem, hypothesis, tasks and structure of research questions, data collection process plan. (Summary of previously learned topics.) The task is to choose a relevant topic in health care, prepare a short report on this topic: identifying the research goal, problem, tasks, hypothesis and a short, concise review of other researches in the world carried out in the new context (findings).
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Quantitative research – the design, methods, sampling, questionnaires.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Types of quantitative surveys – observation, analysis of secondary data, internet research.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Principles of quantitative survey questionnaire construction, question formulation, according to the needs of quantitative survey data collection. (Summary of previously learned topics.) The task is to prepare a quantitative survey questionnaire for 1 specific problem in one of the health care areas, identifying the specific target audience of the research and using different types of questions (closed, statement matrices, scale ratings, open).
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Qualitative research methods types of qualitative research interviews and group discussion. Basic principles for the implementation of interviews and discussion groups. Development of guidelines.
  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Data analysis in quantitative and qualitative research.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Data analysis in quantitative and qualitative research. Presentation of student group work – research design, guidelines and survey questionnaires. The task is to prepare individual interview guidelines, no less than 12-15 questions, including questions relevant to the study of motivational, emotional, rational barriers, identifying the target audience, where the opinion of one of the health care problems will be sought.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Development of recommendation research report, report and presentation. The task – the implementation of 3 individual, qualitative interviews, using the previously prepared interview guidelines, recording the main lessons learned in writing.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of the research piloting results, findings on the necessary additions. The task is to prepare a review of research results, data analysis and specific recommendations for possible solutions to health care problems, after conducting individual interviews.
  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of the results of group work, following the previously observed presentation structure. (Research problem, hypothesis, methodology statement, brief overview of the data collection process, main conclusions and findings, recommendations.) The task is a collective, interactive work, presenting your own mini-research and actively participating, commenting and evaluating the work of other colleagues, making recommendations about for the desired improvements in research methodology, impr
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
24 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Punch, K.F. Introduction to Social Research. SAGE Publications, London, 2000

2.

Creswell, J. W. Research Design. SAGE Publications. 2009.

3.

Robson, C. Real world research.A John Wiley and Sons, Ltd, Publication, 2013

4.

Sullivan, T. J Methods of Social Research. Harcourt College Publishrs, 2001., pp.255 – 263.

5.

Kvale, S. “Interviews. An Introduction to Qualitative Research interviewing”, SAGE Publication, 1996., pp.87 – 89; 94 – 108.

6.

Lee, T.W. Using Qualitative Methods in Organizational Research, SAGE Publication., 1998

7.

Bryman A. Social research methods. 2. ed. Oxford [etc.]: Oxford University Press, 2011.

8.

White K., An Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness, Sage Publications Ltd, 2017.

Additional Reading

1.

Furlong, N.E., Lovelace E.A., Lovelace, K.L. Research Methods and Statistics: An Integrated Approach. – Forth Worth: Harcourt Brace & Company, 2000.

2.

Walliman N. Social research methods. London; Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2007.

3.

Kvale S., Brinkmann S. Interviews. Learning the craft of Qualitative research Interviewing. Thousand Oaks; London: Sage Publications. 2009.

4.

Kroplijs A., Raščevska M. Kvalitatīvās pētniecības metodes sociālajās zinātnēs. RaKa, 2004.

Other Information Sources

7.

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Health Research and the Privacy of Health Information: The HIPAA Privacy Rule; Nass SJ, Levit LA, Gostin LO, editors.Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2009.