Overview
The purpose of the Medical Science Research Project 2 unit is to provide you with further training in research as you continue projects begun in Medical Science Research Project 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
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite - MEDS21003 Medical Science Research Project 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 - 2017
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 Student feedback
Assessment structure was good, with assessment 1 flowing into assessment 2
Assessment 1 can be further enhanced to give more feedback and prepare the students more effectively to undertake assessment 2
Feedback from Student feedback
Prompt returns of assignments and comments for feedback
More feedback to be given on assessment items and answer the relevant questions about research. This can be enhanced with regular tutorials and emails.
Feedback from Student feedback / online tutorial
More resources to help students undertaken their own research proposal. E.g students doing a narrative review had a document explaining what it was, perhaps have something similar to help guide students doing research
More resources, online lectures and exemplar papers to be included in the unit.
Feedback from Student feedback / emails
Access/ help for statistics for students doing research
Introduction to medical statistics to be included in unit (either this unit or MEDS21003)
Feedback from student feedback
The blackboard collaborate tutorials are not very well utilised.
More regular tutorials and online discussions. More encouragement to participate via zoom.
Feedback from Student feedback
Recorded videos with detailed instructions rather than an "attend the tutorial and ask questions" method would work better as students are unable to attend the tutorials due to clinical placements
More recorded lectures explaining the various research topics to be incorporated
- Collect and use data ethically.
- Critically analyse and interpret research data.
- Interpret research data and discuss findings professionally.
- Prepare and present a journal paper within the required style and format of an appropriate journal in the field of course enrolment.
The purpose of Medical Science Research Project's 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 | 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 - 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: Fourth (2014)
Authors: Ranjit Kumar
SAGE publishing
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9781446269978
Binding: Paperback
Designing Clinical Research
Edition: 4th edn (2013)
Authors: Hulley, SB, Cummings, SR, Browner, WS, Grady, DG, Newman, TB
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Philadelphia Philadelphia , PA , USA
ISBN: 9781608318049
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.aziz@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Familiarise yourself with assessment task in Moodle and think about a topic choice
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Start literature review to determine if the topic of the paper is suitable.
Contact unit coordinator with the topic choice to confirm you are on the right track.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Contact unit coordinator by 5 pm on Friday 21/07/2017 about your topic.
Module/Topic
Literature search to determine if there is enough literature to allow progress on your topic, considering the feedback.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Wednesday 26th July 2017 at 7 pm (QLD time)
Module/Topic
Refine your research topic from feedback.
Review Medical statistics.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Start outlining the structure of your paper and working on this whilst still collecting literature.
Review Medical statistics.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Wednesday 9th August 2017 at 7 pm (QLD time)
Module/Topic
Enjoy the brief vacation week.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Make progress on paper. You should have written the detailed outline of the paper by now
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
You should have the first draft of your paper outlined by now and can start the write-up - whilst still searching for literature. You may need to develop tables/images.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Wednesday 30th August 2017 at 7 pm (QLD time)
Module/Topic
Contact unit co-ordinator again to ensure you are progressing well.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
You have almost 2 weeks until submission - you need to consider writing your first draft to allow time for editing.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Wednesday 13th September 2017 at 7 pm (QLD time)
Module/Topic
Finish writing paper.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Feedback and correction/editing of the paper.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Wednesday 27th September 2017 at 7 pm (QLD time)
Module/Topic
Feedback and correction/editing of the paper.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
If you wish to continue with your research and submit the paper to a journal, contact the unit coordinator with the final version of your paper.
Dr. Aamer Aziz is the unit coordinator for the MEDS21006 unit. The best way to contact Aamer is by email at a.aziz@cqu.edu.au. Aamer's CQU telephone number is 07 4940 7478. Aamer's office hours are 9 to 5 Monday to Friday but he is often in labs, so please use email whenever possible.
Access to the internet is required to undertake this unit, as unit materials, tutorials and updates will be provided via Moodle, email and Zoom tutorials. You may need a camera and microphone to participate in the Zoom online sessions. Weekly resources will include access to relevant websites, activities and readings. To give yourself the best chance of success with this unit please ensure that you undertake all the readings and activities. There will be Zoom tutorials on alternating Wednesdays from week 1. These will be posted on the moodle site with enough notice. They are not compulsory to attend but are highly recommended. These will be recorded and available for review.
1 Written Assessment
The two written assessments are intended to provide you with an opportunity to write a research paper written at a level to allow it to be published in a scientific journal. If you have undertaken data collection as part of the MEDS21003 then you can continue to develop that line of research and write a paper on that topic. If you have not undertaken any data collection before now you can write a narrative literature review paper on a new or modified topic. The topic of the paper should be suitable for your discipline. At least 20 journal articles will need to be cited throughout the paper.
In this assessment item, you will be required to submit an annotated bibliography and a rough draft of your proposed paper with a word limit of 2000 +/- 10% (1800 - 2200 words).
- The assessment submission should have a title, at least 4 keywords, at least 10 references, a brief critique of the references (annotated bibliography), a valid clinical question and a rough draft of the outline of the paper.
Communication with the unit coordinator is required throughout the term to ensure you are progressing in the right direction.
Further detailed information on how to complete the assessment task is provided to you throughout this unit and on Moodle and discussed throughout the term by Zoom tutorials.
Vacation Week Friday (18 Aug 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Submission via Moodle site
Week 7 Friday (1 Sept 2017)
Feedback will be provided on the assessment.
Assessment criteria for research project MEDS21006
Title:
- Does the title reflect the theme of the paper?
- Choice of title.
- Spellings and grammar.
- Appropriateness of language.
Keywords:
- Minimum of 4 keywords included.
- Choice of keywords - are they unique.
- Are the keywords relevant to the paper?
- Will the searchers find what the keywords describe?
- Do the keywords describe the paper?
References:
- References are in APA style.
- Relevance and reliability.
- Citation index (quality of references).
- Impact factor of the reference source journal.
- How important is the reference in research field and the author.
Critique of the references:
- Demonstrates a wide range of reading which is relevant to the research question
- Academic rigor.
- Clear and concise description of paper
- Relevant information extracted.
- Concise summarization of important findings, central theme and scope.
- Evaluate the authority and background of the author.
- Comment on intended audience.
- Contrast and compare this work with another reference used.
- Concise summarizations of the limitations of paper.
- Description of quality and relevance of the paper.
- Describe how it is useful for your research.
- Contextualises the problem – relates literature to problem or issue.
- Demonstrates ability to search, assess and manage literature information and demonstrate critical thinking and position research within the conception framework of the discipline.
- Amount and quality of data or information is sufficient, well presented systematically, intelligently interpreted and relevant.
Clinical Question:
- Validity of research question.
- Precise and unambiguous.
- Relevance to literature.
- Reflects the purpose of the paper
- Describes the context in which the question arises
Draft of the paper:
- Describes the motivation for the study
- Summarises the findings
- Discusses the importance of the findings
- Provides a roadmap for readers
- Demonstrates originality and creativity of topic and contribution to the field
- Analysis is appropriate, aligns with the question and hypothesis raised, shows sophistication, is iterative and relates to literature
- Author cogently expresses insights gained from the study and study limitations
- Critically analyses in an objective and coherent manner
Written style, presentation and communication
- Synthesises information into a unified and coherent whole – internal consistency and logical flow – there is clear progression from research question through to conclusion
- Written in a style that is culturally and ethically aware.
- Written in scholarship style and presentation.
- Independently written and can foster intellectual debate.
- Demonstrates creativity and originality
- Appropriate language, clear, accurate and to maximum effect
- Outstanding command of grammar and spelling and editing is thorough
- Collect and use data ethically.
- Critically analyse and interpret research data.
- Interpret research data and discuss findings professionally.
- Prepare and present a journal paper within the required style and format of an appropriate journal in the field of course enrolment.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Written Assessment
The two written assessments are intended to provide you with an opportunity to write a research paper written at a level to allow it to be published in a scientific journal. If you have undertook data collection as part of the MEDS21003 then you can continue to develop that line of research and write a paper on that topic. If you have not undertaken any data collection before then you can write a narrative literature review paper on a new or modified topic. The topic of the paper should be suitable for your discipline. The paper should be 4000 +/- 10% (3600 to 4400) words long with the word count excluding the unstructured abstract and references. At least 20 journal articles will need to be cited throughout the paper.
In this assessment item you will be required to submit the complete paper. Feedback will be given after submission and grading, which may be used to further edit the paper for publication.
Communication with the unit coordinator is required throughout the term to ensure you are progressing in the right direction.
Further detailed information on how to complete the assessment task is provided to you throughout this unit and on Moodle and through Zoom tutorials.
Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2017)
Assessment criteria for research project MEDS21006
Introduction
- Includes problem statement
- Makes clear the research question to be addressed
- Describes the motivation for the study
- Describes the context in which the question arises
- Summarises the findings
- Discusses the importance of the findings
- Provides a roadmap for readers
- Demonstrates originality and creativity of topic and contribution to the field
Body of paper
- Is comprehensive and up to date
- Shows a command of the literature
- Demonstrates a wide range of reading which is relevant to the research question
- Contextualises the problem – relates literature to problem or issue
- Includes a discussion of the literature that is selective, synthetic, analytical and thematic
- Demonstrates ability to search, assess and manage literature information and demonstrate critical thinking and position research within the conceptual framework of the discipline
- The methodology is well explained, unambiguous, logical and practical.
- Results are well presented either as narrative or tabulated.
- Analysis is appropriate, aligns with the question and hypothesis raised, shows sophistication, is iterative and relates to literature
- Amount and quality of data or information is sufficient, well presented systematically, intelligently interpreted and relevant
- Author cogently expresses insights gained from the study and study limitations
- Critically analyses in an objective and coherent manner
Conclusion
- Draws conclusions from study and relates to major points arising from research
- Conclusion summarises the findings, provides perspective on them, refers back to the introduction, ties everything together, discusses the study’s strengths and weaknesses, discusses the implication and how the study enhances the knowledge in the profession and makes recommendations for applications for the discipline and discusses future directions for research
- Critical analysis is insightful and well supported and demonstrates sound critical judgement in all aspects
- Conclusion has statement of validity – significance is strongly justified
Written style, presentation and communication
- Synthesises information into a unified and coherent whole – internal consistency and logical flow – there is clear progression from research question through to conclusion
- Written in a style that is culturally and ethically aware
- Critically analyses own work in an objective and reflective manner
- Data and findings are presented astutely, creatively and effectively
- Uses visual presentation to maximum effect – best presentation approach for purpose and audience
- Written in scholarship style and presentation
- Findings are communicated in a style that incorporates specialist and non-specialist audiences and are very clearly articulated but demonstrates critical judgement
- Independently written and can foster intellectual debate
- Contributes information that is relevant and of value to the field concerned
- Demonstrates creativity and originality
- Appropriate in-text referencing
- Accurately and complete reference list
- Appropriate language, clear, accurate and to maximum effect
- Outstanding command of grammar and spelling and editing is thorough
Contribution to the field
- Relative to limited time available for research project – meticulous, substantial exploration of limits and strengths
- Far reaching contribution to current knowledge or contribution to development of current theory, research or practise
- Collect and use data ethically.
- Critically analyse and interpret research data.
- Interpret research data and discuss findings professionally.
- Prepare and present a journal paper within the required style and format of an appropriate journal in the field of course enrolment.
- 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?
