Bachelor in Science in Midwifery Honours Degree programme

MW1801 Sources of Midwifery Knowledge (15 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Identify information that could be accessed to enhance own knowledge;
• Allude to salient research and evidence supporting midwifery practice;
  
• Articulate sources of knowledge upon which midwifery practice is based and demonstrate the ability to obtain these;
  
• Identify core texts and evidence;
  
• Describe the stages involved in reading and reviewing research;
  
• Describe the steps in the research process;
  
• Demonstrate keyboard and computer literacy skills;
  
• Adhere to academic convention by citing and referencing the literature (and other materials) as per the School’s Harvard Reference System.
  

Module Learning Aims

The focus of this module is to introduce students to the sources of knowledge that inform midwifery and
midwifery knowledge, in particular. As part of the process students begin to learn the ways in which we
obtain knowledge and differentiate between evidence and research. This module focusses specifically
on sourcing ‘knowledge’, learning to read a research paper and demonstrating an understanding of the
research process at a basic level.

Recommended Reading List

• Cluett E. & Bluff R. (eds.) (2006) Principles and Practice of Research in Midwifery, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, London.
  
• Cronin, P. Coughlan, M. Smith V. (2015) Understanding Nursing and Healthcare Research. Sage Publications, London.
  
• Downe S. (2008) Normal Childbirth: Evidence and Debate, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
  
• Page L. & McCandish R. (eds.) (2006) The New Midwifery: Science and Sensitivity in Practice, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
  
• Proctor S. and Renfrew M. (eds.) (2000) Linking Research and Practice in Midwifery: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice. Balliere Tindall, London.
  
• Rees C. (2003) An Introduction to Research for Midwives, 2nd edn. Books for Midwives Press, Cheshire.
  
• Wickham S. (2006) Appraising Research into Childbirth: An Interactive Workbook. Butterworth Heinemann, London.

* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning.