About this ebook
The book will provide support for those conducting literature-based projects which require the student to review evidence generated through empirical investigations. Evidence-based projects or assignments have, for several years formed the basis of a final year independent study for most honours degrees, and increasing numbers of masters programmes, in health care.
Working from practical examples, exercises and illustrations, explanations will be given in (relatively) straightforward conceptual terms. This book is intended as a practical guide and reference book. Bullet points and illustrations will be used wherever possible, and dense text avoided. A detailed glossary of statistical concepts and terms will be provided as an additional resource for learning.
The emphasis throughout will be to enable the student to transfer their learning to the research reports they are reading. Using fundamental criteria and aided by a list of key questions, students will be able to make an informed judgement about the quality of the research findings. The examples used will be based closely on actual research data, but essential details will be changed. This approach is intended to avoid problems of copyright and overcome the ethical problem of challenging published research in a forum where there is no right of the authors to reply. As follow-up exercises, students will be directed to references where they can test out their learning on ‘real’ examples, guided by key questions.
About the author
Jan Walker worked as a health visitor for eight years before taking a degree in psychology and then a PhD which focused pain in later life. Working as a university lecturer and reader, she taught psychology on a wide range of courses for nurses, allied health, medical and social care professionals, from introductory to masters level. She has held honorary contracts with several pain clinics, helping individuals to identify goals and resources for self management. She has conducted, supervised and published research on the lived experience of chronic pain and other chronic conditions. Jan is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton where she works closely with the Complementary Medicine Research Unit.
