Research methods for inquiry and practice

This unit is designed to build the core of your professional identity as a scientist-practitioner. Moving beyond foundational concepts, it equips you with the advanced skills to critically evaluate new evidence. The central goal is to develop the sophisticated research literacy required for a career of impactful research and evidence-based practice. 

The curriculum provides both a robust common foundation and pathways for specialised expertise. You will begin by developing core competencies, from reproducible data science to qualitative inquiry, before choosing advanced elective modules in areas like complex regression or specialised designs, tailoring your learning to your specific research interests and thesis requirements. 

Learning is centred on hands-on application through streamlined, integrated workbooks using modern statistical software. The assessment strategy is designed to build a comprehensive skill set. You will first hone your critical appraisal skills by evaluating a published research paper. This culminates in the unit's final assessment task: the development of a formal research proposal for your own doctoral study. This proposal provides a direct, timely opportunity to apply the unit's principles of robust, ethical, and clinically relevant research design to your own work, putting the scientist-practitioner model into practice.