BSc Speech and Language Therapy / Course details

This course unit runs in the first semester of the first year of study and is the introductory series of lectures within the clinical research strand that continues into year 2 and year 3. This course unit will introduce students to the most common quantitative and qualitative methodologies used in speech and language therapy related research.  

Students will be supported to engage with research design and basic descriptive statistics through critical discussion and exercises designed to provide practical, direct experience. There will be opportunities for students to actively engage with elements of the research process.

The course unit will cover the following content:

• Components of the research process
• Ethical considerations
• Basic statistical processes 

The unit aims to:

• Introduce students to fundamental principles and methodologies for quantitative and qualitative data collection in clinical research
• Encourage students to think about the role and importance of clinical research for health care professionals, specifically speech and language therapists
• Provide students with an understanding of common methodological approaches and basic descriptive statistics used in clinical research
• Identify potential ethical issues in research and the ways that these can be addressed 

Learning and teaching processes utilise a combination of whole group lectures, follow up workshops and directed independent study.  

To support independent study, resources including lecture slides and recommended reading will be provided. Independent study tasks and online tests will be available for students to self-assess their learning and identify areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Research active speech and language therapists are invited to a research talks session where they present their research projects relevant to speech and language therapy. This provides students a unique opportunity to synthesise learning into real world scenarios.  

• Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between clinical research and clinical practice.  
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles and practice of NHS research ethics and research governance, with particular consideration of the needs of clinical populations.  
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of sampling, statistical power, type I and II errors.  
• Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between primary and secondary research with consideration of the links to sustainability.
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of quantitative and qualitative research designs used in speech and language therapy research. 

• Consider the value and limitations of a range of research designs.  
• Understand, manipulate and present basic numerical and statistical data.
• Engage in self-directed learning that will promote professional development.
• Critically evaluate published research findings in terms of the design and methods used and their appropriateness to speech and language therapy. 

• Use appropriate methods to search for published research findings and original sources.
• Identify appropriate data collection methods for clinical research for both quantitative and qualitative approaches
• Use appropriate technologies and software for data entry, basic analysis and presentation of results in clinical research 

• Effectively communicate research concepts and ideas in written and verbal forms.
• Develop digital literacy skills using appropriate software e.g. word processing and data analysis
• Independently gather, organise and synthesise material from various sources 

• A mark and individual, detailed tutor written feedback will be provided following the assignment.
• Following the multiple-choice tests students will be presented with correct answers and have opportunities to self-evaluate their performance and understanding.
• During the weekly small group tasks in workshops students will have the opportunities to self-evaluate their performance and understanding during tutor facilitated peer discussion.
• Throughout the unit, students will have the opportunity to self-evaluate their work and understanding against class discussions and tutor comments. 

• Bishop, D.V.M., & Thompson, P. (2023). Evaluating What Works: An Intuitive Guide to Intervention Research for Practitioners (1st ed.). Chapman and Hall/CRC. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003453079
• Pring, T. (2005). Research Methods in Communication Disorders. London and Philedelphia: Whurr Publishers.