Overview
This unit has been developed for you to begin your journey in the expansive field of research. This unit will introduce you to some fundamental principles of research practice and allow for a greater appreciation of research methodology, critical appraisal and basic statistical analysis. This unit will utilise the principle that ‘reading research’ should be the first goal of any research course. You will be given research articles to read in preparation for all weekly lectures and offered the opportunity to undertake formative assessment utilising the lecture material and the pre-lecture readings. You will also learn how to utilise various critical appraisal techniques to allow you to confidently use research findings to help you make evidence-based clinical decisions. By the end of this unit, you will be equipped to not only embark on more rigorous research related units and be prepared to undertake the foundations of an Honours or Masters level research project but also be able to understand how research can be used to make evidence-informed clinical decisions.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Completion of 96 credit points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2022
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Have Your Say
Some students found the research terminology confusing and felt that plain English explanations would have allowed them to better understand the content.
It is recommended that the new Unit Coordinator ensure that the language used in this unit is clear and understandable to the target audience.
Feedback from Have Your Say
Some students felt that both the content and the assessments should be refreshed to ensure a positive learning experience
It is recommended that the new Unit Coordinator create new content and assessments for the next offering.
- Critique the advantages and disadvantages of various research designs used in primary and secondary research
- Evaluate research using standardised and non-standardised critical appraisal methods
- Analyse basic research data and provide appropriate summaries for further evaluation
- Compose a research question in order to develop a collaborative proposal to investigate a selected field of enquiry
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualised and patient-centred framework.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 50% | |||||
| 2 - Online Test - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | |||||
| 4 - Online discussion forum - 0% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Online Test - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Online discussion forum - 0% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Clinical Epidemiology, How to Do Clinical Practice Research
Edition: 3rd (2006)
Authors: Haynes, Tugwell, Sackett, Guyatt
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN: 9780781745246
Binding: Paperback
Essentials of Research Methods in Health, Physical Education, Exercise Science and Recreation
Edition: 2nd (2003)
Authors: Berg, Latin
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
ISBN: 978-0781738026
Binding: Hardcover
Researching complementary and alternative medicine
Edition: 1st (2006)
Authors: Jon Adams
Routledge
ISBN: 978-0415367752
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.deluca@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Lecture: Introduction to research literacy for health professionals and ethics in research
Online tutorial: Introduction to research literacy and course outline
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Lecture: Clinical epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine
Online tutorial: Evidence-based medicine
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Lecture: Developing a research question and searching the medical literature
Online tutorial: PICO and Library training videos
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Lecture: Critical appraisal
Online tutorial: Critical appraisal
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Lecture: Research study designs
Online tutorial: Critical appraisal (2)
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture: Quantitative studies - Non experimental
Online tutorial: Mid-term online quiz
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Mid-term online quiz: Due Wednesday 24th August 2022
Mid-term online quiz Due: Week 6 Wednesday (24 Aug 2022) 11:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Lecture: Quantitative studies - experimental
Online tutorial: Quantitative studies - experimental
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Lecture: Quantitative data analysis
Online tutorial: Quantitative data analysis
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment: Critical appraisal and CASP Randomised Controlled Trial Checklist
Due 5pm, Friday 9th September 2022
Critical appraisal and CASP submission Due: Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Lecture: Qualitative research
Online tutorial: Quantitative data analysis
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Lecture: Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
Online tutorial: Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment: Research into Practice Seminar online forum post and written reflection submission
Due 5pm, Friday 25th September 2022
Research into Practice Seminar online forum post and written reflection submission Due: Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Lecture: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs)
Online tutorial: Clinical Practice Guidelines and AGREE II Instrument
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Lecture: Writing a journal paper
Online tutorial: Get ready to write - BYO journal paper and end of term test revision.
Chapter
Relevant material will be available on Moodle.
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
No lecture
No online tutorial
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Invigilated end of term test: Due Thursday 13th October 2022
09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Computer Lab: Brisbane 01/1.07; Mackay 06/G.26
End of term test Due: Review/Exam Week Thursday (13 Oct 2022) 11:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
The mid-term online quiz will be open in Moodle on Wednesday 24th August 2022, in Week 6. The mid-term online quiz will be open in Moodle for 24 hours. Once you start the mid-term online quiz, the quiz in Moodle will be open for 60 minutes after which time your answers will be submitted automatically.
The quiz will involve a mix of question types including multiple choice, short answer and matching styles. The quiz will assess content taught across weeks 1-5 (not including week 6). The quiz is worth 20% of your total grade.
1
Other
Week 6 Wednesday (24 Aug 2022) 11:00 am AEST
The mid-term quiz will be open in Moodle from 11am on Wednesday 24th August 2022. The mid-term quiz will be open in Moodle for 24 hours. Once you start the mid-term quiz, the quiz in Moodle will be open for 60 minutes after which time your answers will be submitted automatically.
Week 7 Wednesday (31 Aug 2022)
Multiple choice and matching style questions will be returned to students once the quiz is closed, with short answer questions returned to students within one week.
The assessment criteria will involve selecting or providing the most accurate and correct answers to the questions posed in this mid-term online quiz.
- Analyse basic research data and provide appropriate summaries for further evaluation
- Compose a research question in order to develop a collaborative proposal to investigate a selected field of enquiry
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
2 Portfolio
No Assessment Task Description
Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 11 Wednesday (28 Sept 2022)
Students need to critically appraise a (pre-determined) peer-reviewed, journal publication. The assessment will include submitting a clear and cohesive piece of academic writing (500 words (+/- 10%)), complemented by a CASP Randomised Controlled Trial Checklist.
- Critique the advantages and disadvantages of various research designs used in primary and secondary research
- Evaluate research using standardised and non-standardised critical appraisal methods
- Compose a research question in order to develop a collaborative proposal to investigate a selected field of enquiry
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualised and patient-centred framework.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
3 Online discussion forum
This assessment will encourage you to attend the CQU Chiropractic Research into Practice (RiP) seminar series, over the duration of the CHIR13012 unit. Alternatively, you can watch a recorded RiP seminar. You are required to provide a ~500 words, written reflection of the RiP Seminar you attended/viewed. This should be saved as a PDF file and uploaded to Moodle by 5pm on Friday 23rd September, 2022 (Week 10). You will also post a reflection of the RiP Seminar you have viewed to the RiP Seminar Series Moodle Forum for peer review.
Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022) 5:00 pm AEST
Upload a written reflection, saved as a PDF file, to Moodle, and post in the RiP Seminar Series Moodle Forum
This is a Pass/Fail assessment. You must, during the Term, post in the RiP Seminar Series Moodle Forum and upload a written reflection, saved as a PDF file, to Moodle by Week 10 to Pass this Unit.
- Critique the advantages and disadvantages of various research designs used in primary and secondary research
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
4 Online Test
This end of term test will be undertaken in a CQUni computer lab on whichever campus that you are enrolled. The test will involve a mix of question types including multiple choice, short answer and matching styles. The test will assess all theoretical content taught across weeks 1-12. The test is worth 30% of your total grade.
Review/Exam Week Thursday (13 Oct 2022) 11:00 am AEST
Exam Week Thursday (20 Oct 2022)
Multiple choice and matching style questions will be returned to students once all students have completed the quiz, with short answer questions returned to students within two weeks.
The assessment criteria will involve selecting or providing the most accurate and correct answers to the questions posed in this end of term test.
- Evaluate research using standardised and non-standardised critical appraisal methods
- Analyse basic research data and provide appropriate summaries for further evaluation
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualised and patient-centred framework.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
