Research Design
Overview
This unit teaches students to gain skills in some qualitative and quantitative methodologies used in survey research and experimental research. In survey research, skills include questionnaire design and coding, as well as sample and census data collection methods, survey sampling, and scale development. In experimental research, the unit covers the basic principles of experimental research, including observational and experimental data collection, as well as various study designs, such as cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies, and randomised control trials and clinical trials in health statistics and other fields. The unit covers ethics in conducting research, including research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The unit also covers systematic review and meta-analysis. Case studies will be drawn from areas such as public health, sociology, market research, psychology, medical sciences and other areas as appropriate.
Requisites
30-November-2025
31-May-2026
29-November-2026
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Compare and appraise the processes used to develop and conduct survey research
- Independently plan and design a small scale survey project, and prepare a detailed survey design report
- Evaluate the scale development process
- Contrast qualitative and quantitative research and conduct research using secondary data;
- Identify different steps in conducting experimental research and explain the basic principles of experimental design
- Identify and implement different study designs including cohort and case-control studies, randomised control trials, and clinical trials used in health statistics and other fields
- Explain the ethics, laws and privacy considerations associated with the design and conduct of research, including research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Articulate methodological steps in conducting systematic review or meta-analysis
- Develop and design a quantitative research project and evaluate and report the results
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online | Class | 12 | 12 weeks | 1 |
| Online | Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 138 | 12 weeks | 11.5 |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 12.5 | |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual | 45% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 |
| Online Quizzes | Individual | 15% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 |
| Test | Individual | 40% | 1,3,5,6,7,8,9 |
Content
- Introduction to survey research and experimental research methods used in health statistics and other fields
- Survey sampling, experimental design, and observational studies
- Data collection methods (interviews, questionnaires, online, observation), and use of secondary data, including census data
- Developing a questionnaire
- Scale development
- Steps in conducting experimental research
- Concept and principles of experimental design
- Randomised control trials, clinical trials and cohort studies
- Case-control studies
- Ethics and Laws in conducting research, including research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Introduction to systematic review and meta-analysis
- Plan and design a quantitative research study and report the results
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.