Overview

This unit enables students to search, appraise and integrate research evidence into clinical practice. Students learn to investigate, critically analyse, synthesize and communicate a body of evidence at a professional level, related to a clinical question of relevance to contemporary occupational therapy practice

Requisites

Prerequisites
OCC70015 Professional Practice 2
OCC80060 Enabling Participation: Mental Health 2
OCC80030 Enabling Participation: Children

Rules

Pre-requisite
OCC70015 Professional Practice 2
AND
OCC80060 Enabling Participation: Mental Health 2
OR
OCC80030 Enabling Participation: Children

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
HE Block 8
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
06-December-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2026
Census date
10-November-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
24-November-2026
Results released date
22-December-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Formulate a clinically relevant question by synthesising theoretical and professional knowledge in occupational therapy
  • Construct an evidence review protocol to undertake a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases
  • Critically apply professional judgement to select relevant research literature based on the evidence review protocol
  • Critically appraise, synthesise and interpret research literature relevant to occupational therapy practice
  • Effectively collaborate, critically justify and rationalise evidence to a wider occupational therapy audience.

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
On-campus Lecture 1 1 week 1 Lecure room
On-campus Class 9 3 weeks 3 Tutorial for 15 students with movable chairs/tables or roundtable
On-campus Class 2 1 week 2 Classroom with a capacity for 15 studnets with roundtable or movable chairs/tables.
On-campus Workshop 12 4 weeks 3 workshop in Studio Classroom for discussion and small group activities
Specified Activities Various 60 4 weeks 15 Weekly ePortfolio, Asynchronous online learning activities, Readings, Research, Group work
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 57 4 weeks 14.25 Independent study, Assignment preparation
Online Learning activities 9 4 weeks 2.25 Online seminars and self-directed
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 40.5  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  40%  1,2,3
Presentation Individual/Group  20%  3,4,5
Report Individual/Group  40%  1,2,3,4,5

Content

  • Methodology for conducting an evidence review
  • Advanced database searching
  • Review of quantitative and qualitative research appraisal techniques
  • Advanced skills in interpreting and synthesising research findings
  • Professional communication and presentation skills

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.