Epidemiology and Principles of Research (8580.3)

Please note these are the 2022 details for this unit
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Epidemiology and Principles of Research
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Public Health Level 3 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit will cover the application of epidemiological techniques, especially measures of disease frequency and association and research designs to collect data on public health issues. Students will be introduced to critical appraisal of the research literature in public health.

This unit is co-taught with unit 9594 Epidemiology and Principles of Research PG

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Interpret evidence based information to apply within policy and practice in public health contexts;

2. Identify research approaches and specific designs to the collection and use of data to better understand public health issues;
3. Interpret, manage and analyze health data;
4. Apply some of the principles and techniques of epidemiology to public health issues;
5. Identify a public health issue, seek relevant evidence on the topic and interpret the available evidence;
6. Understand issues relating to the application of research methods and public health ethics.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives


Skills development

This unit serves to assist students in understanding and applying basic epidemiology as a cornerstione for solving public health problems.



Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

Broad knowledge of Australian health care.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

Core texts

Webb, P., Bain, C., & Page, A. (2019). Essential epidemiology: an introduction for students and health professionals. 4thd Edition. Cambridge University Press.

ISBN : 9781108766807

Available from: bookshop, library and online as an e-book.

Optional:

Liamputtong,P.(ed) 2016 Research Methods in Health: Foundations for evidence based practice. 3rd edn. Oxford University Press. Melbourne.

On-Line Resources:

Vancouver Referencing system guides from the library at: https://canberra.libguides.com/c.php?g=599301&p=4149536

Riegelman, R, Studying a study and testing a test: How to read the medical evidence, 5th edn. Lippincott,Williams & Wilkins (online text through UC library).

Other useful materials

Sage Research Methods Online (SRMO) – a collection of 600+ online research methodology books which "are relevant to upper level undergraduates and to potentially all postgraduates and staff researchers" (see sample results below).  Access to the collection is via any of the Library's Subject Guides or the Library Home Page (via the Databases & Other Online Resources (DOOR) link)

Other recommended additional references are listed on the Moodle site for this unit.

 

 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

In order to secure a pass grade, students must:

  • Submit all assignment items
  • Obtain an aggregate overall mark of at least 50%

 All assessment items must be submitted online.  Presentations must be uploaded into the workshop. Students can use any software that they like to do their presentation, but must ensure that the presentation can be accessed by all.

Responsibility for understanding

If there is any doubt with regard to the requirements of any particular assignments or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the unit convenor or tutor. Further, it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are correctly enrolled in the unit and that the tutor and Student Administration have their correct contact details.

Requests for extension 

  • Requests for extensions based on a good reason such as medical certificate or evidence from a student counsellor should be submitted prior to the due date of the assessment.
  • Requests for extensions to the due dates must be made in writing, via email, to the Unit Convener, Dr Indira Samarawickrema Indira.Samarawickrema@canberra.edu.au at least five working days before the work is due.
  • Requests for extension must adhere to the policy on extension and must contain the extension request form and the documentary evidence to support the extension request.
  • There will be no extension beyond the last day of semester, and only one extension will be considered for a single assessment.
  • If the extension is granted, the Unit Convener will specify the revised due date.

 

Penalties for late submission of assignments

Penalties for late submission of assessed work will be applied. Marks will be deducted at the rate of 5% of the value of the assessment item per day it is overdue (including weekends).  Assignments that are more than 7 days overdue will not be accepted.

Special assessment requirements

Please note that asssessed work is moderated as per Faculty of Health Moderation Policy and at a miniimum:

  • All modes of assessment (i.e. written assignments, exams, presentations, fieldwork or practicums) are subject to moderation.
  • The primary assessor marks a piece of student work, assigning a mark and providing comments to justify the mark.
  • All assessments assigned a Fail are reviewed by a second assessor, who reviews the mark and comments in order to confirm (or not) the mark awarded by the first marker.
  • All reviews are documented and any changes agreed, by discussion, with the primary marker.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

This unit is entirely online.

Drop in times for consultation will be posted on Canvas by the unit convenor.

Students are expected to allocate time to use the  resources on the Canvas site and to undertake the recommended and suggested readings.

Inclusion and engagement

None

Participation requirements

In order to secure a pass grade, students must:

  • Submit all assignment items
  • Obtain an aggregate overall mark of at least 50%

Required IT skills

Students  will require  computer acess to undertake this unit.

In-unit costs

No additonal costs.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

None