Modules

Core Module Information
Module title: Research Knowledge and Skills for Midwifery Practice
SCQF level: 08:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: MID08125
Module leader: Connie McLuckie
School School of Health & Social Care
Subject area group: Midwifery
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added
Description of module content:

As a qualified, autonomous midwife, you will be expected to practise in ways that are informed by the best available evidence, support women’s informed decision making, and meet professional and ethical standards. This module focuses on how research is used in practice and is designed to help you feel more confident and capable in interpreting and applying research evidence to midwifery practice. Throughout the module, you will explore different types of research evidence relevant to midwifery and related fields. You will learn how to access and make sense of research findings, understand what they mean for practice, and recognise their strengths and limitations. The emphasis is on developing research literacy — being able to engage with evidence confidently and appropriately.A key part of the module is understanding the relationship between research, clinical guidance, and everyday decision making in maternity care. You will examine local, national, and international research and guidance (such as NHS Board, NICE, and WHO guidance) to see how research evidence is brought together to inform recommendations that shape midwifery practice. This will help you understand why care is delivered in certain ways. The module also focuses on supporting women’s evidence-informed decision making. You will consider how research and research-informed guidance is communicated in practice, how risks and benefits are discussed, and how midwives support women to make informed choices that reflect their values, circumstances, and preferences.You will explore the role of midwives as contributors to the knowledge base for practice and policy. This includes understanding how midwives are involved in research, audit, evaluation, and service development, and why these activities are important for improving maternity care and shaping future practice.
Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Develop insight into the knowledge and understanding of the skills required to analyse and interpret research evidence.

LO2: Discuss local, national and international research and scholarship in midwifery and related fields and use this knowledge to inform decision making and develop practice.

LO3: Explore research data findings to support women's evidence-informed decision making.

LO4: Discuss the importance of midwives' contribution to the knowledge base for practice and policy through research.
Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2025/6, Trimester 3, Blended,
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: Blended
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Jenny Patterson
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Face To Face Lecture 20 Lectures will take place face to face on campus at the scheduled times. These sessions are designed to support the specific learning outcomes of this module. The in person format provides the opportunity for direct interaction, discussion, and immediate feedback. Lecture slides and supporting materials will be uploaded to the VLE to enable you to review the content after the session.
Face To Face Seminar 20 Seminars will be designed to help you explore and apply the theory introduced during lectures, and to consolidate your knowledge and understanding. Seminars will cover topics relevant to the module content. They will directly support your preparation for the module assessment and your development as an independent and reflective learner.
Online Guided independent study 156 Each week reading materials and resources will be issued on the module VLE. You are expected to read and reflect on the essential reading material, which will be drawn into the seminar and tutorial sessions. Resources to help you to read and take productive study notes created by the University's Academic Skills team can be accessed on the module VLE.
Face To Face Tutorial 4 Tutorials will be run throughout the module in the form of journal clubs, developing your familiarity and confidence with research papers. The aim is for tutorial groups to be small to aid discussion and understanding.
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Portfolio 100 1~2~3~4 Exam Period , WORDS= 3000 / 20 This summative assessment will be made up of 4 individual and identifiable components, totalling 3000 written words or 20 minutes of narrated slides. Each element of the portfolio aligns directly to a learning outcome and supports students’ development as confident and discerning users of research evidence in midwifery practice. Each element of the portfolio will have its own clear and structured guidance for students to follow and students will have been prepared for the assessment via the module seminar and tutorial content as well as a structured formative assessment process. Portfolio content:Element 1: Demonstrating insight into the interpretation of primary research, via a short critique of a midwifery relevant research paper of students choosing, for example research into prolonged pregnancy or induction of labour.Element 2: Exploring how local, national, or international guidance is informed by research evidence and how this guidance supports midwifery decision making, via examination and discussion of a midwifery relevant guideline of students choosing, for example Induction of Labour NICE Guideline.Element 3: Examining how research and guidance can be communicated to women to support informed choice and shared decision making in practice, via a midwifery relevant topic of students choosing, for example induction of labour versus expectant management at term.Element 4: Discussing the role of midwives in contributing to research, knowledge generation, and policy development within maternity care, via a mini research proposal designed to address a knowledge gap or problem identified by the student, for example the effect of different ways of presenting risk on womens' choices around management of prolonged pregnancy.
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
MID08125 Research Knowledge and Skills for Midwifery Practice
 

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