We are increasingly faced with controversial debates occurring in our media, with different groups arguing their viewpoints, and the scientific evidence is often swamped by misreporting or distorted evidence. This subject uses a case-based approach to examine the evidence underpinning current topics of debate in healthcare, and the motivations behind research and reporting of research, including the scientific process, peer-review, conflict of interest confirmation bias and cultural identity. This subject introduces skills in research that minimize bias, and are important in understanding and analysing evidence, including systematic approaches to acquiring evidence, critical appraisal of the literature and descriptive and inferential statistics.
