Research Project in Health PG (6cp) (9593.3)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Research Project in Health PG (6cp)
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods Online real-time
 Bruce, Canberra
UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.25 6 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)
In this unit students will undertake applied health research in an interest area or clinical specialty, undertaken individually or as a group project. The research conducted may cover activities that address issues relating to health sciences, health outcomes, health care, professional practice or delivery of health services. Research will be conducted in accordance with principles of evidence-based health care. This unit encourages a multidisciplinary approach between students from different disciplines. It provides real-world research experience and develops skills in project management, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, effective communication, problem solving and critical thinking. Students are expected to work both independently and closely with a supervisor(s).

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Complete a defined research project either as an individual or as part of a team, based on a specific research question;
2. Demonstrate proficiency in applying appropriate methods to the research process;
3. Interpret the results of the project using evidence-based academic and expert knowledge;
4. Evaluate the quality of a research study using an appropriate tool;
5. Synthesise and communicate the findings of the project in a form appropriate to the discipline area; and
6. Use an appropriate research tool to evaluate the research quality of your project.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
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 - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas


Skills development

In this unit, students will undertake applied research in health that can be either individualised to suit interests and clinical specialty or undertaken as a group project. The research conducted is generally not biomedical science conducted in research laboratories, but rather involves activities that address issues relating to health outcomes, health care interventions, diagnostics, professional practice or delivery of health services.

This unit encourages a multidisciplinary approach among students from different disciplines. It provides real-world research experience and develops skills in project management, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, effective communication, problem solving and critical thinking. Students are expected to work closely with their mentor, as well as independently, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving. 

This unit is designed to follow on from 6486 Research Planning in Health. If you have completed another research planning unit, other than 6486 make sure your mentor knows, and you are prepared to rapidly develop your research project and protocol.



Prerequisites

6486 Research Planning PG

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

8261 Research Project in Allied Health PG (6cp).

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

Planning a research proposal, use of bibliographic management system, basic statistics.
Availability for enrolment in 2027 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
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Online real-time Dr Nathan D'Cunha
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 Online real-time Dr Nathan D'Cunha
2026 UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW Semester 2 10 August 2026 Online real-time Dr Nathan D'Cunha
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 15 February 2027 Online real-time Dr Nathan D'Cunha
2027 UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW Semester 1 15 February 2027 Online real-time Dr Nathan D'Cunha
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 09 August 2027 Online real-time Dr Nathan D'Cunha
2027 UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW Semester 2 09 August 2027 Online real-time Dr Nathan D'Cunha
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 Resources

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.

http://methods.sagepub.com/ The Sage Research Methods Online site offers a diverse range of materials on research planning, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. There are e-books, as well as videos, short books, and guides. Access through the UC Library. 

Liamputtong P (Ed) (2017), Research Methods in Health - UC Library online- see Reading List in Canvas.

Suggested Readings: Refer to Canvas for the Reading List.

Qualitative Research:

Flick (2023), Introduction to Qualitative Research, Online via library

Survey Methods: 

 

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

Punch, K (2003), Survey Research Basics Online via library

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 WL et al (2011), Research Methods, A Framework for Evidence based clinical practice. R850 H 87

Boland A et al (2023), Doing a Systematic Review. A student's guide. UC library call number LB2369 D65 - 3 day loan section.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Submit all assignments and assessed materials online via Canvas.

Artificial intelligence

Permitted - The ethical use of GenAI is allowed in completing the assessment. More detailed information can be found at GenAI and Assessment at UC 

Special assessment requirements

Assessment Extensions and Project Timeline Guidance

Extension Request Procedures

Formal requests for an assessment extension must be submitted via the official Unit Extension Form. To ensure timely processing, your application must include appropriate supporting documentation based on the nature of the request:

  • Medical or Personal Circumstances: Attach relevant verification, such as a Medical Certificate or a Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) notice.

  • Project-Related Delays: If the delay is caused by external research factors (such as administrative bottlenecks or system delays), your request must be accompanied by written endorsement from your research mentor.

If you are uncertain whether your circumstances warrant an extension, please review the eligible criteria detailed on the application form and discuss your options with your mentor.

Project Management and Contingency Planning

In research, operational delays are common and should be factored into your timeline. Delays can emerge at any stage, including ethical review, methodological refinement, facility access, participant recruitment, or survey response rates.

To mitigate these risks, incorporate the following benchmarks into your project planning:

  • Ethics Approvals: Allocate a minimum of 8 weeks for administrative review and clearance.

  • Survey Administration: Allow at least 8 weeks from distribution to achieve adequate response rates.

  • Participant Recruitment and Testing: Design robust timelines, as face-to-face recruitment and data collection frequently require extended periods.

As a general rule of thumb, research tasks often take significantly longer than initially anticipated. Proactive timeline management is essential to maintaining project momentum.

Mentor Engagement and Review Timelines

Your research mentor plays a critical role in guiding your work, but they require sufficient time to provide meaningful feedback. To facilitate an effective review process:

  • Progressive Drafting: Share drafts with your mentor incrementally as you complete sections, rather than waiting until the end of the teaching period.

  • Final Draft Submission: Provide a complete draft to your mentor at least two weeks prior to thesubmission deadline. This ensures your mentor has five working days to review the manuscript, leaving you adequate time to integrate their feedback and finalise the document.

Supplementary assessment

See policy above.

Moderation

Assessment Item Moderation

To ensure academic rigour and quality assurance, all assessment tasks, including formal examinations, undergo comprehensive internal review and moderation. 

Marking and Moderation Procedures

Marking is conducted within the Faculty of Health by the unit convenor, and designated faculty assessors. In accordance with the Assessment Policy and Procedures, a representative sample of assessment items is selected for formal moderation. This sample systematically includes:

  • All failed submissions.

  • A selection of assessments falling on grade borderlines (such as Distinction/High Distinction boundaries).

  • A designated percentage of overall submissions.

This moderation framework ensures consistency in grading standards and aligns evaluator expectations with the specific learning outcomes of the unit.

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 is a large piece of work, over a long time period. It is important to set yourself small milestone deadlines and targets, to make sure you get it done. Make sure you plan time carefully, and stick to a routine for learning. 

Make sure and keep a record of your mentor meetings.

Inclusion and engagement

Please let the unit convenor know ASAP is you will be needing an extension on any assignments. We will be happy to discuss the best ways to make "Research Project' successful for you.

Participation requirements

There are real-time seminars in this unit to attend.

There are meetings with your mentor and study group to attend. Committment to this contact with your group and mentor is essential. Failure to attend these meetings will be taken into consideration during assessment and applications for extensions.

Required IT skills

IT skills may be required for specific projects or specific analysis. Discuss with your mentor.

Examples:

Statistical analysis software Jamovi (freeware), or SPSS (available in UC computer labs or via VPN)

Covidence software (UC licence from the Library) is commonly used for systematic reviews

Qualtrics software (UC licence, available on the Research Innovations Services web page) is commonly used for survey design and distribution.

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

There is a research project, and for some people this will occur off campus.

Additional information

N/A

Next step

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