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SLT-30027 - Module Specification
School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

SLT-30027 - Planning Research and Service Evaluation
Coordinator: Maxine Winstanley
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Year 2 of the programme

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed in Years 1 and 2 of the MSci Speech and Language Therapy programme, preparing you to plan and undertake research and service evaluations. It provides opportunities to develop the competencies required to complete the process of applying for ethical approval, and to design an appropriate research methodology, including a coherent data collection and analysis plan.


Aims
This module aims to provide students with opportunities to gain knowledge and skills in identifying and formulating a research design to answer a specific research question. The module further aims to introduce students to methods used to, and develop the skills required to, evaluate current healthcare practice/services.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Formulate and justify a research question, providing a clear outline of an appropriate research design and key ethical considerations relevant to its implementation.: 1
Justify appropriate methods of analysis for anticipated data, demonstrating how these align with answering the proposed research question.: 1
Justify the choice of an appropriate research design to address a defined service evaluation need.: 2
Synthesise service evaluation findings and provide recommendations for clinical practice.: 2
Manipulate, analyse and present data from a service evaluation.: 2

Study hours

~26 tutor led hours which includes:
~ 12 hours of lectures,
~ 8 hours of workshops,
~ 4 hours of seminars,
~ 2 hours of assessment preparation.
124 hours Independent study hours comprising:
~ 60 hours assignment writing

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Proposal weighted 70%
Outline Research proposal
An outline research proposal (1700 words) and the preparation of any documents required for ethical approval.

2: Workbook weighted 30%
ONLINE WORKBOOK
Students will complete a series of five online tasks, released via the Keele Learning Environment at designated points throughout the module. Each task will comprise no more than five questions and will focus on a specific aspect of service evaluation (Understanding what service evaluations are, justifying a design to address a service evaluation need, manipulating and managing data, synthesising findings and providing recommendations for practice). Each task is designed to take no more than one hour to complete. The marks will be evenly distributed across the five tasks.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026