Research Methods and Evaluation for Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Practice (100203)

Research Methods and Evaluation for Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Practice (100203)

Level ~ Graduate Diploma
Availability ~ Semester 1
Type ~ Core

This unit will develop students’ capacity to be critical consumers of research, especially the evidence base for contemporary recovery-focused, person-centred treatment modalities, including those related to assessment and planning, intervention and evaluation. Students will learn how to locate, evaluate and critique methodological approaches used in recovery research. This unit will explore the similarities and differences to methods commonly adopted in traditional healthcare research, as well as the translation of recovery research into practice.


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the unit, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relationship between evidence-based practice and recovery.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the similarities and differences between traditional research approaches and recovery-oriented research.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of ethical conduct of research and the challenge that may arise in recovery-oriented research.
  • Identify how recovery research may be applied in day-to-day practice.

Weekly Schedule
Week 1 Research and Evaluation in Mental Health Care
Week 2 Evidence-Based Practice
Week 3 Integrating Evidence-Based Practices and Recovery Orientation
Week 4 Asking the Right Questions
Week 5 Locating Current Best Evidence
Week 6 Appraising Current Best Evidence
Week 7 Evidence from Quantitative Studies
Week 8 Evidence from Qualitative Studies
Week 9 Evidence from Systematic Reviews
Week 10 Evidence from Guidelines
Week 11 Using Evidence to Inform Clinical Decisions
Week 12 Engaging Consumers and Carers
Week 13 Ethics in Research
Week 14 Developing an Evidence-Based Practice Culture
Week 15 Independent Study