Explore the fundamentals of health research methods.
Whatever your work sector and career ambitions, our fully online Research Design course will give you the skills to conduct and understand research.
Use it to inspire your career choices, gain a strong professional advantage in your work, or simply better interpret the world around you.
- You’ll develop your own health-related research proposal as part of your course, useful for future applications for funding, PhD or Masters study.
- You’ll learn from applied health researchers at our School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, recognised internationally for its research excellence.
Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online course is part of:
- MSc Applied Health Sciences
- MSc Clinical Education
- MSc Clinical Nutrition
- MSc Health Economics for Health Professionals
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- PgCert Research Methods for Health
You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards any of these postgraduate qualifications.
What you’ll study
This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of health research methods, including:
- developing research proposals
- formulating research questions
- identifying appropriate study designs
- collecting data.
You’ll start with science communication and how you disseminate your findings to a range of audiences. It’s really important that you learn how to get your message out.
We’ll then give you all the guidance you need to design the best study possible, from initial idea to completion. We’ll examine professional practice, research ethics, governance and organisation, and show you how to apply these in your own work.
You’ll cover the main study designs used in health research, including experimental, observational and mixed-method designs.
You’ll also gain skills in:
- sampling techniques
- data collection methods for quantitative and qualitative research
- critical appraisal of research.
Create your own research proposal
Guided by your tutors, all experienced researchers, you’ll develop your own health-related research proposal. You’ll work on that all the way through the course. Every week you’ll get tutor support in how to build the next part.
Your proposal will demonstrate your understanding of:
- the principles of quantitative and qualitative research
- key data-generation methods in health-related research
- how to work with different types of data
- quantitative and qualitative approaches to analysis
- potential sources of bias in research and how these can be minimised.
More than just a method of assessing your skills, you’ll be producing a useful document for your future. You can use it if you decide to progress to a Masters, apply for a PhD or apply for a grant. Whatever your professional practice, we can tailor it to suit you.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to…
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Describe and carry out the whole research design and management process, from initial idea and research question through to collecting data and communicating results.
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Apply a personalised skills toolkit in your professional and personal life, learning how to spot and evaluate the best sources of evidence in your field.
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Communicate your research findings to a range of audiences – academic, the media, and the public.
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Distinguish good from poor research, whether this is professionally, or in the news that bombards us every day.
Why study health research online with the University of Aberdeen?
Pioneering research
Be part of a university that’s led the way in nutrition, women’s health, infection control and clinical scanning, transforming lives and medical practice throughout the world.
1st in Scotland
We’re rated 1st in Scotland for Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care in the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
Award-winning research
We’re proud winners of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the highest national honour for a UK university, for sustained excellence in health services research over the last 40 years.
How you’ll study
Online learning
Our Fundamentals of Research Design course is delivered part-time, 100% online. You can study with us anywhere in the world and manage your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
This course is taught at Masters level.
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources at your fingertips, including:
- recorded lectures
- videos
- reading list
- recommended websites
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library
- discussion boards to get to know your colleagues
- plenty of support from your tutors.
Each week you’ll have the opportunity to meet online with a tutor for 1-2-1 support in developing your own research proposal so that teaching and learning are tailored to meet your research interests.
The discussion boards are a great way to develop your research network too. You can share your developing proposal with online colleagues from different work environments and countries, gaining a wide range of perspectives and ideas.
Your tutors
You’ll learn from a team of experienced health researchers and academics from our Institute of Applied Health Sciences.
Your course coordinator
Dr Kirsty Kiezebrink
Kirsty is a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences. She works to increase public engagement in health research and medical science. She also has a voice in shaping education as a member of the University Senate.
View Kirsty’s profileWhere this will take you
Towards a Masters
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:
Masters in Applied Health Sciences
Fast-track your career in healthcare with our uniquely flexible MSc Applied Health Sciences. Study 100% online or combine with on-campus courses at our Foresterhill Health Campus. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View MSc Applied Health Sciences
Masters in Clinical Education
Become an outstanding clinical educator with our distance learning clinical education training. Study online with us and earn your MSc, PgDip or PgCert in Clinical Education while you work.
View MSc Clinical Education
Masters in Clinical Nutrition
Join an online Nutrition degree accredited by the Association for Nutrition. Study the link between diet and health, and how issues of over and undernutrition affect populations today. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View MSc Clinical Nutrition
Masters in Health Economics for Health Professionals
Advance your career in health. Develop sought-after research skills and you build your knowledge of health economics tools and principles. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View MSc Health Economics for Health Professionals
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Join an online Master of Public Health (MPH) you can tailor to your career. Study with experts and choose from a wide range of courses to focus your training. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View Master of Public Health (MPH)
PgCert in Research Methods for Health
Learn to design and carry out healthcare research projects. Study part-time with active health researchers at an award-winning health sciences university. 10% discount for NHS staff.
View PgCert Research Methods for HealthBuild your learning
We have a range of online Health short courses you can use to build your skills.
Many carry credits you can build up into postgraduate qualifications, including Masters degrees:
Careers
Completing a research degree opens up a range of career options in health research. You could work in:
- a lab to innovate, understand medical issues or find a solution to a specific problem
- public and private health environments
- specialist research institutes.
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Free careers advice
We’ll help you explore your career potential and connect with job opportunities around the world.
You can access our free careers service while you study.
From interview training to CV clinics, we’re here with tailored, impartial and professional advice.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, you’d usually have at least:
- a 2:2 (second-class) undergraduate degree
- or relevant experience that supports this level of study.
Apply for this course
