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.
And you’ll learn from applied health researchers at our School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, internationally recognised for its research excellence.
What will I 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 learn 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 and every week you'll get tutor support on 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 course, 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 will…
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Have a thorough knowledge of the whole research design and management process, from initial idea and research question through to collecting data and communicating results.
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Build a personalised skills toolkit to carry forward in your professional and personal life, learning how to spot and evaluate the best sources of evidence in your field.
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Understand how to communicate your research findings to a range of audiences – academic, the media and the public.
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Be equipped to distinguish good from poor research, whether this is professionally, or in the news that bombards us every day.
Why study health research online with Aberdeen?
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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.
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1st in Scotland
First for research in Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care in the UK’s most recent Research Excellence Framework.
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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 will I study?
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.
This course is taught at Masters level by experienced health researchers and academics.
Your teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Also available as an app, you can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and mobile device 24/7.
Your course features a range of resources, including:
- recorded lectures
- videos
- a 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.
Course coordinator
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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.
Where will this take me?
Towards a Masters
You can use the proposal you create as part of this course to progress to a Masters or apply for PhD funding.
You’ll also earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards further study, including our:
- PgCert in Research Methods for Health – study online
- PgCert, PgDip or Masters in Clinical Nutrition – study online
- Master of Public Health – study online or on campus.
View all postgraduate Health degrees.
Further short courses
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) degree
- or relevant experience that supports this level of study.
Apply for this course
