This course will enable you to plan and appraise systematic reviews on complex topics. On successful completion you will be familiar with the purposes, designs, and strengths and weaknesses of different systematic review approaches and have a critical appreciation of evidence-informed policy and practice. This course provides participants with critical and technical skills essential for organisations working in the field of evidence-informed policy and practice.
The course will:
- introduce you to the core principles underlying all systematic approaches to reviewing research, and the ways in which systematic reviews vary – from different purposes and research questions, through to methods for synthesising and presenting both quantitative and qualitative data
- support you to try out and reflect upon various review stages, including formulating a review question and inclusion criteria, systematic searching and screening, critical appraisal of reports, and planning review design and management
- enable you to consider the contexts in which reviews are produced and used, and gain more general insights into research methodology and knowledge production
This module complements the progressively advanced Research Engagement, Participation and Impact and the Systematic reviews: meta-analysis, qualitative synthesis, and mixed methods synthesis modules.
'If you want to carry out a successful systematic review, this is the course for you!'
H Noble, City University
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Entry requirements (for those seeking MSc credits in 2016/17):
- Direct entry requirements: Second-class degree in health, education or another area of social science or social policy, or other professional qualification e.g. for teaching, police force, health care, social work.
- Qualifying tests/papers for applicants not meeting direct entry requirements: If you have qualifications other than those specified above you may be eligible but we may ask you to take a qualifying test.
Module title: Systematic Reviews: diversity, design and debate (dates)
Master's programme: MSc in Systematic Reviews for Public Policy and Practice; MSc in Social Policy and Social Research
Name of module tutor: Rebecca Rees and Mukdarut Bangpan
Assessment method (for those seeking MSc credits): Coursework
Credits (for those taking the module as an MSc course): 30
* 'Systematic reviews: diversity, design and debate' was previously known as 'Systematic reviews for policy and practice'