CQUniversity Unit Profile
MEDS21003 Medical Science Research Project 1
Medical Science Research Project 1
All details in this unit profile for MEDS21003 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

The purpose of the Medical Science Research Project 1 unit is to provide you with training in research. You are required to independently undertake an investigation of a research question in an area of medical science. This research question will be fully investigated and reported in written scholarly form in the Medical Science Research Project 2 unit. The research question will be of significance to an area of medical science related to your course of enrolment and will be undertaken under the principal supervision of a member of that course's staff.

Details

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

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite Successful completion of: 48 units of credit of Level One Unitsand 84 units of credit of Level Two or Level Three Units

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 1 - 2018

Distance

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

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 "Have your say" course evaluation.

Feedback

Students appreciated the timely, helpful and constant feedback and mentoring which was done via Q&A, email and zoom tutorials.

Recommendation

Continue the practice of providing detailed feedback and mentoring via email, Q&A and zoom tutorials.

Feedback from "Have your say" course evaluation.

Feedback

Students enjoyed the challenge of choosing and developing their own research topic and completing an early step in the research process, the ethics application.

Recommendation

Continue with scaffolded assessment tasks with the requirement for original topics to be developed to complete the low risk ethics application.

Feedback from "Have your say" course evaluation.

Feedback

Students disliked the inconsistency between some of the markers.

Recommendation

Review of the alignment of the unit Moodle content, assessment instructions and rubric as well as CQU ethics application instruction sheet will be done before the next delivery to try and reduce feedback variability. The practice of providing information via email and conversations around marking criteria to the markers in this unit will continue.

Feedback from "Have your say" course evaluation.

Feedback

Students would like more guidance around statistics and data collection analysis.

Recommendation

Unit coordinator will investigate material to deliver more information around statistics and data collection analysis.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Formulate a research question and specific hypotheses.
  2. Search, analyse and critically appraise data or textual information.
  3. Apply suitable bioethical principles to the proposal.

The purpose of Medical Science Research Projects 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 to be 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
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 70%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - 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
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 70%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Research Methodology, a step-by-step guide for beginners.

Edition: 4th Ed. (2014)
Authors: Ranjit Kumar
Sage Publications
London London , UK
ISBN: 978-1-4462-6996-1
Binding: Other

Additional Textbook Information

This textbook can be used for both MEDS21003 and MEDS21006, Research Project 1 and 2.

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 style: Vancouver

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Ann Quinton Unit Coordinator
a.quinton@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 05 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

1. Review of research basics and ethics

  • Definition of research
  • Research paradigms
  • Research process
  • Rationale for conducting research in the health sciences
  • Bioethical issues
  • Guidelines for ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peoples health research

Chapter

Chapters are from the textbook: Research Methodology, A step-by-step guide for beginners. 4th Ed. Kumar, R. Sage Publications: London.

Chapter 1 and 14

Lecture/s

Lecture notes

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 12 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Finding a research topic and question

  • identify a relevant research topic/focus
  • formulating a research question/problem
  • planning the research
  • reviewing and writing a literature review

Chapter

Chapters 2, 3 and 4

Lecture/s

Lecture notes

Events and Submissions/Topic

Tutorial Tuesday night

7.00-8.00pm QLD time

8.00-9.00pm Sydney and Melbourne time

Week 3 Begin Date: 19 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Determining your study design and basic statistics 1

  • variables
  • measurement scales
  • constructing hypotheses
  • type 1 and 2 errors
  • sample size

Chapter

Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 13

Lecture/s

Lecture notes.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 26 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Selecting a study design

  • quantitative research
  • qualitative research
  • mixed methods
  • sampling

Chapter

Chapter 8

Lecture/s

Lecture notes

Events and Submissions/Topic

Tutorial Tuesday night

7.00-8.00pm QLD time

8.00-9.00pm Sydney and Melbourne time

Week 5 Begin Date: 02 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Time to finish draft of research proposal which is due on Friday of week 5

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment-draft of research proposal Due: Week 5 Friday (6 Apr 2018) 4:00 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 09 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Break week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 16 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Selecting a method of data collection.

1. Primary sources

  • observation
  • interview
  • questionnaires

2. Secondary sources

3. Collecting data using attitudinal scales

Chapter

Chapters 9 and 10

Lecture/s

Lecture notes

Events and Submissions/Topic

Tutorial Tuesday night

7.00-8.00pm

Week 7 Begin Date: 23 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Selecting a sample

  • validity
  • reliability
  • bias
  • time frame
  • budget constraints

Chapter

Chapters 11 and 12

Lecture/s

Lecture notes

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 30 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Basic statistics 2 for research proposals 

  • parametric
  • non-parametric statistics
  • sensitivity and specificity
  • risk
  • qualitative data analysis

Chapter

Lecture/s

Lecture notes.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Tutorial Tuesday night

7.00-8.00pm

Week 9 Begin Date: 07 May 2018

Module/Topic

Ethics

  • participant information sheet
  • consent form
  • risk appraisal
  • recruitment
  • information protection
  • dissemination of results

Chapter

Lecture/s

Lecture notes.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 14 May 2018

Module/Topic

Communicating the results.

  • developing and using tables
  • answering the clinical question

Chapter

Chapter 17

Lecture/s

Lecture notes.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Tutorial Tuesday night

7.00-8.00pm

Week 11 Begin Date: 21 May 2018

Module/Topic

Time for final research proposal write up

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Tutorial Tuesday night

7.00-8.00pm

Week 12 Begin Date: 28 May 2018

Module/Topic

Time to finish final research proposal, due Friday of week 12

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment-final Due: Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 4:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 04 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

The unit coordinator is Dr Ann Quinton (Sydney). The best way to contact Ann is via email at:

a.quinton@cqu.edu.au

It is important to check your student email regularly as updates about the unit will be sent from the unit coordinator by email.

Ann's phone number is 02 93245008 however she is often in the sonography labs so an email is the best way to organise a time to speak.

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 assessment items, a draft proposal worth 30% where feedback will be provided to enable you to produce the final research proposal which is worth 70%.

Tutorials will be offered in the evening to enable students on clinical placement or working to attend. You will be able to ask questions, gain feedback and join in discussions on how to best complete the assessment tasks.

This unit will make regular use of the required text: Research Methodology, a step-by-step guide for beginners (4th Ed.) by Ranjit Kumar. Sage Publications.

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment-draft of research proposal

Task Description

The first written assessment is a draft of your final research proposal. As a draft the main aims are for you to learn how to search and review the literature, start thinking about your research topic, your research question and how you will go about answering your research question. The draft will also provide you with the opportunity to gain feedback. A research proposal is a detailed written outline of planned research that allows you, the researcher to clarify and organise your thoughts on your research. It includes the study aims (research question/s) and hypothesis, a brief literature review (as compared to a detailed literature review which would be required for the research paper or thesis), project plan which considers research methodology, study design, selection criteria, data collection, statistical analysis and ethical considerations.

The content of the draft proposal is 500 words ±10% (excludes references, the full text articles, and the CQU Human Research Ethics Committee Negligible and Low Risk Review Process and Application Form which will be appendices).

The content of the proposal will include:

  1. Proposed title (15 words).
  2. Keywords (3-5).
  3. Background. Upload at least 3-5 relevant full text articles (appendix). You will write the draft proposal which will include an outline of the background to your research and how your reading of these articles has established the need for further research. The literature should also help inform your research question and methodology.
  4. Research question/aim.
  5. How you will go about answering your research question. This means writing an outline of the research design and plan. Dot points for the research design and plan are fine for the draft proposal.
  6. Upload CQU Human Research Ethics Committee Negligible and Low Risk Review Process and Application Form (OoR11-0025 HREC low risk application form-version5) which can be found on the unit Moodle site, and use this to decide if your application is considered low risk or not. Only fill in pages 3 & 4 at this stage. Include a sentence in your research design and plan about whether the proposal is low or high risk and why.

Further detailed information on how to complete the task is provided to you under the assessment tab in Moodle.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (6 Apr 2018) 4:00 pm AEST

Online submission via the unit Moodle site.


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Friday (20 Apr 2018)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The criteria to receive a Pass are as follows:

  • The title should be clear and concise, reflect the topic and engage the reader.
  • Keywords should reflect the topic.
  • 3-5 full-text (PDF files) up-to-date relevant articles are uploaded.
  • The outline of the background to your research and need for further research are clearly discussed.
  • The research question clearly identifies a population or problem or issue of interest and a proposed outcome or measure and relates to the title.
  • An outline of the research design and plan is relevant to the title and aim, clearly explained and establishes the need for research in the chosen area.
  • Consideration of risk level is clearly stated in the research plan.
  • Pages 3 & 4 of the CQU low risk ethics clearance form are completed and document is uploaded.
  • In-text referencing is correctly and appropriately used and reference list supplied.
  • Sustained academic voice and appropriate plain English research language used.
  • Correct spelling and grammar.
  • The word limit is adhered to.
  • A marking rubric is available to students on the unit Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please submit as a word document .doc or .docx

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Formulate a research question and specific hypotheses.
  • Search, analyse and critically appraise data or textual information.
  • Apply suitable bioethical principles to the proposal.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment-final

Task Description

In this assessment you will complete the "CQU Human Research Ethics Committee Negligible and Low Risk Review Process and Application Form" pages 6-12. This is an authentic form of assessment as you will be able to submit your research proposal to the CQU Office of Research for ethics approval if you wish to do the research project.

The length of your research proposal will be 1800 words ± 10% (some of these sections involve ticking a “Yes/No” box or answering “not applicable”). The word count excludes the reference list, Participant Information Sheet (PIS) and Consent Form.

The content of the proposal will include:

  1. Research title (15 words) and key words (3-5)
  2. Lay person description (200 words)
  3. Research methodology (300 words)
  4. Research aim/s and significance, includes background and literature review (800 words)
  5. Risks (ethical considerations)
  6. Recruitment of participants
  7. Consent
  8. Information protection
  9. Dissemination of results (sections 5-9, 500 words)
  10. References (Vancouver style)
  11. Appendices (PIS and Consent Form)

Further detailed information on how to complete this task is provided to you throughout this unit and under the assessment tab in the unit Moodle site.

If your research proposal is considered high risk, before you undertake your research you will need to complete a Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) https://hrea.gov.au/ which then goes before a full Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). This process will take considerably longer to gain ethics approval. The information you put together for the low risk research proposal assignment will be able to be used in the HREA high risk application, however the HREA asks for more information. I would suggest you speak to your discipline specific supervisor if you need to go down this path to complete your research.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 4:00 pm AEST

Online submission via the unit Moodle site


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Monday (11 June 2018)


Weighting
70%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The criteria to receive a pass are as follows:

  • The research title should be clear, concise and reflect the topic. Keywords should reflect the topic.
  • Lay person description is relevant, brief and avoids technical jargon.
  • Research methodology, aim/s, significance, background to research and literature review are relevant with up-to-date literature from peer reviewed journals cited as evidence.
  • Ethical considerations including risks, recruitment of participants, consent, information protection and dissemination of results are addressed and discussed.
  • All sections of the Low Risk Ethics Application are answered.
  • Appropriate Participant Information Sheet and Consent Forms are included.
  • In-text referencing is correctly and appropriately used and reference list supplied.
  • Sustained academic voice and appropriate plain English research language used.
  • Correct spelling and grammar.
  • The word limit is adhered to.

A marking rubric is available to students on the unit Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please submit as a word document .doc or .docx

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Formulate a research question and specific hypotheses.
  • Search, analyse and critically appraise data or textual information.
  • Apply suitable bioethical principles to the proposal.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

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?