MW5004 - Midwifery Research – Evaluating Evidence and Practice

What will I learn on this module?

This module builds on learning in year 1 to develop your knowledge of midwifery research and other sources of evidence and apply your skills of enquiry and appraisal. You will revisit research designs and methodologies with greater depth and exploration and consider their appropriateness and impact for the midwifery evidence base. This will also include appraisal of evidence from practice, such as clinical audit, enabling you to further combine clinical knowledge and skills to tailor care to women’s circumstances and needs.
You will be supported to develop your critical appraisal skills to increase your understanding and academic expression of the evidence supporting midwifery practice via discussion of a range of research methodologies, methods and critical appraisal tools. This will include critical appraisal of individual studies and academic papers, as well as the contemporary evidence-base, and consideration of research ethics, consent and service user involvement. How evidence informs development of guidelines and policy will be examined along with how these are applied and understood by stakeholders, midwives, women and families. The use of evidence for quality improvement and practice development tools will be discussed regarding application to future practice and narrowing of the theory to practice gap.
Skills for academic writing, evidence searching and retrieval, and referencing will be revisited, and this module content and further skills developed in identifying and appraising evidence, will feed-forward to developing the required scholarly skills for the year 3 capstone project.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, directed and independent study. Lectures will introduce a variety of concepts and theories related to research processes and generation of academic and practice evidence, and signpost further reading and learning activities. Seminars will give group work opportunities to enhance collaboration skills in research and communication. A range of resources and technology will be used to help consolidate skills developed in the module. There will also be opportunities for reflection on practice experiences to apply current evidence to the clinical situation.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will include feedback from tutors during group work within interactive lectures and seminars, which will allow for knowledge checking and questions to be answered promptly. The seminars will also provide an opportunity for you to receive feedback on how your academic abilities are developing. Resources will be available to you on the electronic learning platform (BBU) and tutors can be contacted for support. A group tutorial will provide academic support focussed on the assessment task.

The University Libraries at both Coach Lane Campus and City Campus offer an extensive collection of material, both hard copy and electronic, access to international databases and training in information retrieval. The module will be supported by University library staff and resources, including study skills support packages. You can access the interactive training via the library webpages or the following link: http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/learning-skills
Ask4Help Online (accessed through your student portal) provides a comprehensive range of answers to frequently asked questions and is of benefit to students as a central point of reference for information about many different topics. Ask4Help face to face service points include those located in both university libraries.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge and Understanding:
1. Apply a range of research retrieval and evaluation strategies and identify research methodologies commonly used in midwifery.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Demonstrate critical appraisal of the design and findings of a range of research relevant to midwifery practice

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
3. Demonstrate an appreciation of ethical considerations in relation to midwifery research and evaluation.
4. Justify how and why women and their families may be engaged in evaluating and researching midwifery practice.

How will I be assessed?

Formative:
Verbal feedback will be provided in taught sessions; opportunities to develop research and analytical/ critical skills are provided and supported with additional peer feedback.

Summative:
A 2500-word essay exploring the contemporary evidence base of an aspect of midwifery care.

MLO’s 1-4; 100%

Marking rubric and qualitative feedback in BBU.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

This module enhances student midwives’ knowledge of and skills in research methodologies, critical appraisal, and evidence-based practice. It supports development of analytical skills essential for evaluating the quality of evidence and applying it to safe, effective midwifery care. Students will be supported to access and connect with contemporary evidence from research and practice to inform and develop their knowledge. It encourages inquiry and professional curiosity and builds academic skills to prepare students for more independent academic work in year 3.

Course info

UCAS Code Z094

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 4 years Full Time

School Healthcare and Nursing Sciences

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2026

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

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All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

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