Overview
This is a postgraduate unit which aims to provide you with training in research. You will be taught the foundation skills and knowledge to independently undertake an investigation of a research question in an area of medical science. This research question will be fully researched and reported in written scholarly form in Medical Science Research Project 2. The research question will be of significance to an area of medical science related to your course of enrolment and your investigation will be undertaken with principal supervision from a member of that course's staff.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 - 2019
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 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
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" unit evaluation
Students liked the regular prompt feedback via emails and the Q&A forum, and the zoom tutorials.
Continue to provide prompt feedback to students via emails and Q&A forum, and continue with zoom tutorials.
Feedback from "Have your say" unit evaluation
While most students understood and appreciated the value of the assessment items, some failed to understand the reasoning behind doing an ethics application.
Provide reasoning behind the choice of an ethics application for the assessment in the introductory video. Impress upon students that the initial steps in doing and/or learning about research are finding a topic, reviewing the literature to find a gap in knowledge, writing a literature review and filling in an ethics application. Knowledge of the research process is a valuable tool for health professionals and will provide skills for life long learning. The CQU Low Risk Ethics application is an authentic assessment item that covers all these basic requirements and can be submitted for review if the student wishes to pursue the research.
Feedback from "Have your say" unit evaluation
Some students did not appreciate that differences in opinion are part of science and research so there will always be differences in feedback when each assessment involves a unique proposal and different markers.
Continue with the practice of providing information via email and verbal conversations with the markers to try and standardise feedback. In the introductory video provide students with information on the process of discovery of new knowledge (research) and how that often results in differences of opinion and how that can be used as part of the learning process.
- Formulate a research question and specific hypotheses.
- Search, analyse and critically appraise data or textual information.
- 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 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
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: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Copies can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
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.
a.quinton@cqu.edu.au
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
Tutorial Tuesday night
7.00-8.00pm AEST
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
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
Tutorial Tuesday night
7.00-8.00pm AEST
Module/Topic
Selecting a study design
- Quantitative research
- Qualitative research
- Mixed methods
- Sampling
Chapter
Chapter 8
Lecture/s
Lecture notes
Events and Submissions/Topic
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 AEST
Module/Topic
Break week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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
Module/Topic
Basic statistics 2 for research proposals
- parametric statistics
- 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 AEST
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
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
Module/Topic
Writing a scientific paper
Time to finish writing up your research proposal
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Time to finish writing your research proposal
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Tuesday night
7.00-8.00pm
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator is Dr Ann Quinton (Sydney). The best way to contact Ann is via email at:
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 9324 5008 however she is often in the sonography labs so 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.
You will be allocated an academic mentor early in the term who will guide you through the process of developing a research project and who will mark your assessments. You will be able to ask them specific questions about your project.
It is intended that there is potential for an academic publication to be produced from your project.
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.
1 Written Assessment
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, how you will go about answering your research question and start thinking about the risk level of your research project. The draft will also provide you with the opportunity to gain feedback so you can complete the Course Work Ethics Application (assessment 2). 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) that critiques the literature and allows you to identify a gap in knowledge to research, project plan which considers research methodology, study design, selection criteria, data collection, statistical analysis and ethical considerations.
The content of the draft proposal is 1000 words ±10% (excludes references, the Ethics Checklist and the full text articles (the full text articles will be uploaded separately).
The content of the proposal will include:
- Proposed title (15 words).
- Keywords (3-5).
- Background. 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.
- Research question/aim.
- How you will go about answering your research question. This means writing an outline of the research design and plan (methodology).
- Fill out and insert the Ethics Checklist (which can be found on the unit Moodle site) into your word document, and use this to decide the risk level of your application. Include a section in your research design and plan (one to three sentences) about whether the proposal is low or high risk and why.
- Insert your reference list into the word document.
- Upload at least 3-5 relevant full text articles (appendix).
Further detailed information on how to complete the task is provided to you under the assessment tab in Moodle.
Week 6 Tuesday (23 Apr 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Online submission via the unit Moodle site.
Week 8 Tuesday (7 May 2019)
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.
- 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, operational in nature and clearly explained, and establishes the need for research in the chosen area.
- Consideration of risk level is clearly stated in the research plan.
- Ethics Checklist is completed and document uploaded.
- 3-5 full-text up-to-date relevant PDF file articles are 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.
- Formulate a research question and specific hypotheses.
- Search, analyse and critically appraise data or textual information.
- Apply suitable bioethical principles to the proposal.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Written Assessment
In this assessment you will complete the CQU Coursework Ethics Application Form (Version 3). 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. Your project should be at a level where there is potential for an academic publication to be produced.
The length of your research proposal will be 1800 words ± 10% (some of these sections involve ticking a “Yes/No” box). The word count excludes the reference list, Participant Information Sheet (PIS) and Consent Form, and any other necessary relevant attachments (eg online survey, interview questions, external approval).
The content of the proposal will include:
- Project title (15 words) and key words (3-5)
- Data collection dates
- Lay person description (250 words)
- Research aim/s and significance, includes background and literature review
- Data collection methods
- Methods
- Justification of research design (includes data analysis, sample size and statistical power if appropriate)
- Risks (ethical considerations)
- Location of research
- Funding and finance
- Recruitment of participants
- Consent
- Information protection
- Dissemination of results
- References (Vancouver style)
- Appendices (PIS and Consent Form-compulsory), any other relevant attachments if applicable (for example online survey, interview questions, external approval forms)
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.
Week 12 Monday (3 June 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Online submission via the unit Moodle site
Exam Week Monday (17 June 2019)
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 aim/s, significance, background to research, literature review and methodology 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 Coursework Ethics Application are answered.
- Appropriate Participant Information Sheet, Consent Forms and other relevant documentation 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.
- Formulate a research question and specific hypotheses.
- Search, analyse and critically appraise data or textual information.
- Apply suitable bioethical principles to the proposal.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
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?
