This practical and academically orientated paper aims to upskill health professionals in the science of research methods, particularly those related to mental health research.
| Paper title | Research Methods: Mental Health |
|---|---|
| Paper code | PSME406 |
| Subject | Psychological Medicine |
| EFTS | 0.25 |
| Points | 30 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (Distance learning) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $3,018.75 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- PSMX 406
- Limited to
- MHealSc, PGCertHealSc, PGDipHealSc
- Eligibility
Applicants must be graduates or hold an appropriate health professional qualification requiring at least three years' full-time tertiary study.
- Contact
- Teaching staff
Convenors: Professor Lois Surgenor
Associate Professor Joseph Boden- Paper Structure
- This paper is arranged around three main themes:
- The first theme examines fundamental concepts on social science research
- Following this, the course content moves to more specific research paradigms and models used in research
- The third part of the paper involves developing an individual research proposal
- Teaching Arrangements
The Distance Learning offering of this paper is a combination of remote and in-person teaching.
Four 2-day block courses in Christchurch. Attendance at all block courses is compulsory.
- Textbooks
- There are no official prescribed texts for this paper. A variety of general texts pertaining to research methods can be located in the Canterbury Medical Library. Required readings will be supplied directly to the class.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Critical thinking, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Recognise the importance of research in mental health and its relevance to the work of all disciplines of health professionals
- Develop skills in the critical scientific appraisal of the research literature pertaining to mental health
- Master some of the special conceptual tools of research, including logic and reasoning
- Understand the basic principles of measurement. This includes knowledge of scales, managing bias and missing cases, reliability and validity, and test construction
- Gain knowledge of relevant research designs in mental health. This includes sampling and survey designs, cross-sectional and longitudinal research, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), single-case design, introduction to meta-analysis, selected qualitative methods
- Gain knowledge of relevant statistical concepts and procedures. These include descriptive statistics, power analysis, univariate tests of significance, simple multivariate tests (regression, etc)
- Understand the ethical issues involved in clinically related research
- Gain some knowledge of the areas of research undertaken in mental health and their relevance to clinical practice
- Know how to formulate a research question that may arise from one's clinical work
- Develop a scientific basis for decision making in professional areas
- Design one's own preliminary proposal, putting into practice the skills developed in this paper
This paper will be offered subject to numbers, so early enrolment is recommended
Assessment
| Two short assignments | 2 x 15% |
| A research seminar | 30% |
| A research proposal | 40% |
Further Information
Associate Professor Lois Surgenor
Department of Psychological Medicine
University of Otago, Christchurch
PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand
Tel 64 3 372 6733
Email lois.surgenor@otago.ac.nz
