CQUniversity Unit Profile
MEDS14002 Medical Science Research 2
Medical Science Research 2
All details in this unit profile for MEDS14002 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Medical Science Research 2 will provide you with further training in research as you continue projects begun in Medical Science Research 1. This unit requires you to independently report on the investigation of the research question proposed. The final journal paper will typically contain the data analyses, results, and discussion in addition to a cogent literature review and hypotheses. It is anticipated that some journal papers may be suitable for eventual publication in an appropriate journal with the academic involved named as co-author. In all stages of the project you must adhere to appropriate ethical and professional standards.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 4
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: MEDS14001 Medical Science Research 1

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

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 70%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 Student feedback

Feedback

Students appreciated conducting research on a real project with real data.

Recommendation

Endeavour to continue offering a real research experience to the students.

Feedback from Student feedback and personal communications

Feedback

Students found working with an active research mentor benificial for their understanding of research.

Recommendation

Endeavour to continue to offer mentors with research experience.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Collect and use data ethically
  2. Critically analyse and interpret research data
  3. Interpret research data and discuss findings professionally
  4. Prepare and present a research report within the required style and format of an appropriate journal in the field of course enrolment.

The purpose of Medical Science Research 1 & 2 is to provide the student with training in developing, conducting, and communicating research across theoretical and applied domains. This requires students to undertake an investigation of a research question in an area of medical science aligned with their course of enrolment and to report the investigation in written scholarly form. The research question investigated may have either theoretical or applied significance but will add to the body of discipline-specific knowledge and meet the performance criteria for the engaged research element of the appropriate professional competency standards.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 70%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
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 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 70%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Jason Steel Unit Coordinator
j.steel@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 14 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

This is a research unit. No text book is prescribed.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Students should be actively engaged in their research project throughout this unit. Research project work (as proposed in MEDS14001 Medical Research Project 1) should be finalised before the end of the term to allow for sufficient time to analyse data and prepare research results for the powerpoint presentation and written report.

Week 2 Begin Date: 20 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 27 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 03 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 10 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 17 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

No formal teaching - independent study/supervised research.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 24 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 31 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 07 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 14 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 21 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Project work for the duration of the term.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Time to finalise your research report, incorporating feedback.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 1- Research Report

Due Date Week 11 Friday (30 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

Week 12 Begin Date: 05 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Time to finalise your research report, incorporating feedback.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic


WEEK 13 Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment 2- Powerpoint presentation

Due Date Review/Exam Week Friday (14 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST

Term Specific Information


The Unit Coordinator is Dr Jason Steel. The best way to contact Jason is via e-mail at: j.steel@cqu.edu.au

It is important to check your student e-mail regularly as updates about the unit will be sent from the Unit Coordinator by e-mail. E-mail is also the easiest way for you to contact your Principal Research Supervisor.

This unit is a 6-credit point unit which requires you to allocate around 12 hours per week towards it. The unit is graded. There are two graded assessment items, a powerpoint presentation of your research findings, worth 30% (with no minimum passing requirements), and a written research report that is worth 70% (with a minimum passing requirement of 50%).

Your Principal Research Supervisor, allocated to you at the start of MEDS14001 in term 1, will guide you through the process of developing a research project and will provide formative feedback and support. Regular tutorial times should be scheduled with your research team and your Principal Supervisor to discuss the progress of your research project. You will be able to ask specific questions, gain feedback and discuss how to best complete the assessment tasks

It is intended that there is potential for an academic publication to be produced from your project.

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment - Research Report, written as a Journal Manuscript

Task Description

Dissemination of knowledge and research discoveries to the scientific communities are essential for global improvements to our technologies and currently accepted practices or standards of care. Researchers must be proficient in conveying their research findings through written submissions to journals or other forms of scientific communication. A scientific manuscript is a formal report of the research and findings. This assessment will provide you with the opportunity to prepare a written manuscript based on the project you have proposed and conducted and its findings.

This manuscript is to be written with your research team and submitted as a single document. The contribution of each team member is to be clearly defined. Each team member will need to contribute a minimum of 750-1000 words towards the manuscript and participate it the editing of the final manuscript (generation of art work, proof reading, etc.).

The manuscript as a whole should be between 3500-5000 words and should include the following section:

  1. Abstract: summary of the research and its findings in a coherent and logical, yet concise way (limit 250 words);
  2. Introduction: definition of the topic and discussion on what is known (literature review), the gaps in knowledge and the significance of the study, and the aim and research questions;
  3. Method: description of the materials, methods and analyses used to answer research questions;
  4. Results: presentation of the findings of the research in a clear and concise way in text, tables and figures;
  5. Discussion: interpretations of the findings and how they compare with literature, what they add and what are the limitations;
  6. Conclusion: summary of the findings, and meaningful and supported suggestions for the application of the findings;
  7. References to the literature used and cited in the manuscript.


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Friday (30 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Assessment grades and comments will be returned within 2 weeks of submission.


Weighting
70%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The marking criteria for this assessment will include:

  • Clarity and accuracy of the title, abstract, introduction and background;
  • Accuracy of the methods/statistical analysis and ethics consideration (if applicable) outlined;
  • Clarity of results and findings and accuracy of reporting;
  • Logic and accuracy of discussion and limitations;
  • Clarity of conclusion and the implication of findings;
  • Referencing, structure, grammar and submission requirements.
  • Adherance to word limit.

You will be assessed on the overall manuscript submitted by the research team as well as your individual contribution to manuscript. Any student who does not contribute to the team’s manuscript will not be awarded grades for this assignment.

Overall group manuscript: 50 marks

Individual contribution: 20 marks


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online submission via the unit Moodle site. Please submit as a word document .doc or .docx

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Collect and use data ethically
  • Critically analyse and interpret research data
  • Interpret research data and discuss findings professionally
  • Prepare and present a research report within the required style and format of an appropriate journal in the field of course enrolment.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment - Powerpoint Presentation

Task Description

You are required to prepare a presentation that outlines your project as if it were to be delivered to an informed audience, e.g. your student peers and members of the CL10 and CG93 course staff. The presentation will:

  • include a brief background to your project;
  • highlight the significance of the study;
  • outline the research question(s) to be answered;
  • describe the project methodology including ethical considerations and data collection and analytical techniques; and
  • describe the results of the study and conclusions drawn.

The presentation should contain a minimum of 10-15 slides.

Further detailed information on how to complete the task is provided via Moodle and Teams.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Friday (14 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Assessment grades and comments will be returned within 2 weeks of submission.


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria include:

  • Clarity and accuracy of presentation of research information (including topic, background, aims, findings) discussion, conclusion and future directions for the research;
  • Clarity and quality of presentation structure;
  • Structure, grammar and submission requirements.



Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online submission via the unit Moodle site. Please submit as a powerpoint file .ppt or .pptx

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Collect and use data ethically
  • Critically analyse and interpret research data
  • Interpret research data and discuss findings professionally
  • Prepare and present a research report within the required style and format of an appropriate journal in the field of course enrolment.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

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?