Research Methods in Health Sciences H (11690.1)

Please note these are the 2025 details for this unit
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Research Methods in Health Sciences H
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Intensive
Online
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.25 6 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Sport And Exercise Science Undergraduate Honours Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
The unit is designed to strengthen student research knowledge, and research skills. A blended learning approach is taken and applied in a problem-based setting so that students complete tasks to support their own research interests.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Design a research project that answers a specific question;
2. Communicate project ideas in a form acceptable to the field of study;
3. Source, synthesize and critically appraise research in an identified appropriate research field; and
4. Evaluate the gaps in knowledge that are meaningful and relevant to a real-world scenario.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - apply their knowledge to working with Indigenous Australians in socially just ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2025 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 05 February 2024 Intensive Dr Joe Northey
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 29 July 2024 Online Dr Richard Keegan
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 Intensive Dr Joe Northey
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 Online Dr Ben Rattray
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

There are no specific required texts. Additional resources will be provided through the Canvas site.

Recommended

There are no recommended texts, although the University library has a wide range of resources likely to cover the student's research topic and research methodology. The LearnOnline (Canvas) site is used to direct students towards useful resources. 

The University library has a wide range of resources likely to cover the student's research topic (e.g. journal access) and research methodology (e.g. tutorials on using bibliographic tools and statistical software, performing literature searches etc. - see http://canberra.libguides.com/researchers).

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Extensions to due dates will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, where the delay was determined to be beyond the candidate's control. The candidate can apply in writing to the unit convenor as early as possible for an extension equal to the time unavoidably lost. The letter from the candidate must detail the reasons for the extension request (including supportive evidence such as a medical certificate) and justify the length of the proposed extension. A letter from the candidate's supervisor expressing strong support for the extension must also be provided. 

Candidates enrolled in the Honours program are not permitted to postpone or defer their studies without formal approval. 

Submission of Assessment Items

The Literature Review and Project Plan – Research Proposal should be submitted as both a pdf and word document (not Pages). Appendices can follow the main research proposal, or be submitted separately.

The Project Plan – Ethics Application option should be submitted as a PDF (the ethics form is online, but click on print, and then save the PDF) with all appendices as attachments via the unit Canvas site.

A certificate of completion should be submitted for the Research Integrity Modules assessment. A PDF of the completed research plan and supervisory agreement should be submitted.

Special assessment requirements

To pass the unit students must:

  • Obtain > 50% overall
  • Complete the Research Integrity Modules and Research Plan and Supervisory Agreement

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Participation requirements

This unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the learning outcomes of this unit, for yourself and other students. It is expected that students unable to attend any of these activities inform the unit convenor as soon as practical, by telephone or email.

Students are encouraged to partake in related research activities (e.g. UCRISE/HRI/Faculty of Health presentations) as these opportunities all enrich the student experience as well as research environment across their discipline and related research centres. As such opportunities become available, they will be advertised on the course and unit Canvas pages. 

Student projects will often utilise space and equipment at the University of Canberra or partner organisations. Use of this space and equipment is generally subject to training and approval such as familiarity with occupational health and safety issues. Students should check with relevant staff if this applies to them and undergo the appropriate process. 

Required IT skills

Students should be conversant with searching for relevant articles via electronic means, the use of Canvas, and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software. Specialist IT skills may be required for some projects and students should negotiate training opportunities with their supervisor(s).

In-unit costs

There are no extra costs associated with this unit. Research conducted towards the completion of the Honours program may incur some costs associated with the process of data collection, analysis and interpretation. In the first instance students should work with supervisors to ensure that costs associated with conducting the research are eliminated or where unavoidable, modest. Where expenses are unavoidable students are offered a small amount towards research project costs. Please contact the unit convenor, your supervisor, or administrative staff for details.

Work placement, internships or practicums

There are no specific work-integrated learning components to this unit. However, many research projects will incorporate opportunities to assist with industry activities, which may also be necessary to the research project. Students must not complete extra activities in industry settings related to their projects unless they are enrolled in one of the four units from the Health Sciences Honours course. This can be done generally a couple of months ahead of the enrolling semester. 

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