Research Planning PG (6486.6)

Please note these are the 2024 details for this unit
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Research Planning PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Online
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Faculty Of Health Post Graduate Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit introduces the research process and provides practical training in research skills relevant to undertaking research in the health sciences. The unit will also provide you with critical skills to evaluate and inform your practice as a health practitioner. In this unit, students will explore the processes and steps involved when planning a specific research project, formulating and justifying a research question(s), developing an appropriate methodology and sampling procedures to test a research question(s). It also addresses research approaches, ethical and research budget considerations, technical writing skills, information retrieval skills and methods of communicating research data in the health science sector. Students will be required to secure a mentor for the unit.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Develop and apply a literature search strategy for a broad research question;
2. Critically analyse, evaluate and synthesise the literature in the relevant research area to identify the knowledge gaps;
3. Devise a specific research question to address the identified knowledge gap;
4. Develop a research design, including methodology, data collection and analysis, ethical and budgetary considerations to appropriately answer the specific research question; and
5. Transmit the acquired research outcomes in a written academic writing style relevant to the assignment task.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
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 - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways


Prerequisites

Graduate entry.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

6998 Developing a Research Project PG

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

This unit assumes:
1 - the knowledge and skills of epidemiology and research methods,
2 - the research skills and knowledge of data analysis including either quantitative analysis and statistics, or qualitative research analysis, and
3 - familiarity with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018 and NHMRC Research Integrity and Management of Data and Information documents.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 05 February 2024 Online Dr Angie Fearon
2024 Bruce, Canberra Winter Term 27 May 2024 Online Dr Suzanne Carroll
2024 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 29 July 2024 Online Prof Jennie Scarvell
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

Recommended Online Resource

http://methods.sagepub.com/   Sage Research Methods Online site is a diverse range of materials on research planning, for quantitative, qualitative and all kinds of research. There are e-books, but also videos, short books, and guides. Access through the UC Library. 

Liamputtong (Ed). Research Methods in Health - UC Library online- see Reading List in Canvas.

Suggested Readings: see canvas for Reading List.

Groves, Robert M  Survey methodology  2nd ed; 2009 Available online.

Polgar S & Thomas SA (2020), Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences, Churchill Livingstone. UC library call number R850.P54 Available online in Sem 2.

Hurley et al, Research Methods, A Framework for Evidence-based clinical practice. R850 H 87, 2011

Boland. Doing a Systematic Review. A student's guide. UC library call numberLB2369 D65 - 3-day loan section.

Barzun J & Graff HF (2004), The modern researcher, 6th edn, Thomson, Australia. UC library call number LB2369.B36 2004.

Bryman A (2008), Social research methods. 3rd edn, Oxford University Press, Oxford. UC library call number  H62.B782 2008.

Duffy A, Deakin V, Narkiewicz E & Wilson K (2007), Guide to writing in allied health courses : writing laboratory reports, essays and seminar reports, preparing for exams and presenting seminars, 2nd edn, University of Canberra. UC library call number PE1475.G84 2007.

Robson C (2002), Real world research: A resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers, 2nd edn, Wiley-Blackwell. UC library call number H62,R627 3 day loan section

Taylor BJ, Kermode S & Roberts K (2006), Research in nursing and health care: evidence for practice, 3rd ed, Thomson, South Melbourne, Victoria. ISBN 0170123154.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assignments and assessable materials will be submitted online via Canvas.

Special assessment requirements

Please ensure you follow this formatting: 

-  Student ID needs to be in the 'Header' of the document. 

-  Font: headings maximum 14 point. Text usually 11 or 12 point Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri.

- Double space lines, so there is space for your assessor to write comments on the paper.

-  Insert page numbers on the bottom of pages. 

-  Referencing should be APA 7 or Vancouver style (the library has guides for these). I recommend you take up Endnote workshops at the library. Get Endnote on your computer, and you can directly download searches from databases into your reference library. DOI- for consistent formatting, either all references have a DOI, or none.

- Submit a word, .doc, .or .pdf.

Important: Text beyond the word count will not be marked. Assignments that exceed the specified words will be truncated at the word (or page) limit and only assessed to this point.

Word count will include: Introduction, method, results, discussion, conclusions, quotes, citations, or any other sections in the body of the work.

Word count does NOT include title, abstract, tables, figures, captions, references or appendices.

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.

Moderation of assessment items:

Moderation will be followed as per the FoH Moderation guidelines.

All assessment items, including exams, are internally reviewed and moderated before they are published in unit outlines, listed on canvas, or printed out for the final exam period. This review of assessment items is performed by another academic within the same faculty who has a good understanding of the subject matter and it is done as part of the unit curriculum review process.

Moderation of marking: 
The moderation of assessment items is based first, on a sample chosen randomly from submitted assignments, to develop a common view of grading, for each person contributing to marking the assignments. In addition all failed assignments are moderated as well as a selection of others across representative grades. 

Learner engagement

This unit requires that you are independent, organised, disciplined, and self-motivated.

You will need to set a plan for yourself, small achievable deadlines, and stick to them. The rate you learn in the unit, is up to you. There is some structure provided, but it is not compulsory, except for assignment due dates. Completing units online need not be an isolated or lonely activity, but you will need to reach out to each other. Use the discussion pages to find people with similar topics, or problems, and helpful people. 

How to find help

1. Online discussion pages.

2. Your mentor - keep meetings with your mentor, make notes, and keep track of actions and outcomes. Generally make sure you give your writing to your mentor at least one week prior to the due date. They will need 3-4 days to read it, and you will need 3-4 days to make the changes they advise. 

3. Tutorials. Tutorials will only work if you do the preparation work. Bring your work, be prepared to ask quesitons and engage with content.

4. Unit convenor drop in sessions - there is a weekly set time for online or face to face drop in. Or you can request another time, by email. 

5. Make sure drafts of work are presented to mentors or tutors at the agreed time. Usually this is 10 days prior to the due date. For large classes you may need to provide a draft 14 days prior to the due date of the assignment, if you want to get feedback. 

Inclusion and engagement

Please let the Unit Convenor know if any assistance is required.

Participation requirements

There are four formal seminars/lecture (face-to-face or online) and four tutorials.

You must attend tutorials or have regular meetings with your mentor to succeed in this unit. If you will be meeting with your mentor individually, discuss how you will meet with your mentor (e.g., Zoom) in week 1, and write it into your mentor agreement. Weekly or fortnightly is recommended. Write it into your mentor agreement.

Weekly drop-in times are available with the unit convenor. (See canvas, held on virtual room) . These are not compulsory but are informal Q&A.

Ultimately, you need to be independent, motivated, and self-paced. Please reach out early if you are having trouble. 

Required IT skills

Access to the internet, familiarity with the library, database searching skills, and familiarity with canvas.

In-unit costs

as above.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

N/A

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