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
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 involving 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 your 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.

9592 is a 3 credit point unit, and its twin is 9593 which is a 6 credit point unit.



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 2026 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
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 Online real-time Prof Jennie Scarvell
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 Online real-time Dr Nicole Freene
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Online real-time Prof Jennie Scarvell
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 Online real-time Dr Nicole Freene
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/   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 video, 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.

Qualitative Research: Flick 2023, Introduction to Qualitative Research, Online via library

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

                           Punch, K, 2003 Survey Research Basics Online via library

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.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Submit all assignments and assessed materials online via Canvas.

Please note  Assessment Policy and Procedures 2024 apply.

Artificial intelligence

Students are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Special assessment requirements

Extension requests should be submitted on the Extension form, together with the documentation (e.g. RAP notice, medical certificate). If the extension is because of a delay in your project, (e.g., late ethics) then requests should be accompanied by an email from your mentor.

In research projects, all kinds of delays can happen, from ethics approval, to delays in methods, access to facilities or information, or participant recruitment and survey returns. Make sure you allow a plan: Estimate 12 weeks for ethics approval; 12 weeks to get survey responses, and recruiting and testing participants takes twice as long as you think.

Your mentors will need time to review and revise your work, so get the drafts to them as you go along, and the final one 2 weeks before it is due, so they have 5 working days to review it and you have time to make the corrections. (Generally, things take 3 times longer than you anticipate they will !)

If in doubt, check (e.g., with the unit convenor) whether an extension is a reasonable request. Read the reasons for extension on the form, and discuss it with your mentor. There is no harm in asking.

Regarding use of AI. Cite and describe your use of AI the same as you would any other tool. In research we use tools like Covidence, Qualtrics and SPSS, and we cite where and how we have used it. 

Supplementary assessment

See policy above.

Moderation

Moderation of assessment items:

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 field who has a good understanding of the subject matter and is be done as part of the unit curriculum review.  

Moderation of marking: 

Marking is completed within the Faculty of Health, by the unit convenor, Discipline academic staff, and other Faculty academic staff as required. A selection of assessment items are moderated, including all failed assignments and some assessments falling in the borderlines of grades e.g. between D and HD, making up a percentage of submitted assignments, according to the Assessment Policy and Procedures. This moderation process establishes a common view about performance towards the 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 (avaiallble in UC computer labs or via VPN)

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

Qualtrics software (UC licence, on Research innovations services web page) is commonly used for designing and distributing surveys.

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

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