Research Skills
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Prerequisites
Assumed knowledge:
Exposure to some background in literature searching and assignment writing
Aims and objectives
This subject aims to develop the skills necessary to undertake a research project and to assist the student in identifying appropriate research topics and methodologies.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Independently gain the necessary knowledge to undertake meaningful research
2. Identify appropriate research topics and methodologies
3. Perform basic data management tasks and analyses using a computer
4. Apply tools of research preparation including problem formulation, undertaking a literature review, research designs, developing a hypothesis, ethical implications, time management, and assessing resource implications
5. Articulate the contributions of qualitative and quantitative methods to a specific discipline.
6. Carry out initial critical appraisals of academic literature
7. Develop academic paper/report writing skills and understand the structure for publication
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
*Scheduled face to face: Lectures (24 hours), Tutorials (12 hours)
*Scheduled synchronous online learning events (N/A)
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities (N/A)
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (approx. 114 hours)
*Scheduled synchronous online learning events (N/A)
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities (N/A)
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (approx. 114 hours)
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Final Examination | Individual | 40% | 1,2,4,5 |
| Mid-semester Test | Individual | 20% | 1,2,4,5,7 |
| Assignments | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Minimum requirements to pass this Unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an overall mark for the unit of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an overall mark for the unit of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
General skills outcomes
During this unit students will receive feedback on the following key generic skills:
- teamwork skills
- analysis skills
- problem solving skills
- communication skills
- ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
- ability to work independently
- teamwork skills
- analysis skills
- problem solving skills
- communication skills
- ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
- ability to work independently
Content
• Identification of proposed research topic, methodology and hypotheses.
• Research preparation: Problem formulation, research design, objectives and scope, ethics.
• Planning strategies, information sources, time management and team work.
• Research methodologies appropriate to the health sciences.
• Literature review: abstracting and paraphrasing, citations and bibliographies.
• Research presentation and follow up: layout, style, press release and follow-up strategies.
• Research preparation: Problem formulation, research design, objectives and scope, ethics.
• Planning strategies, information sources, time management and team work.
• Research methodologies appropriate to the health sciences.
• Literature review: abstracting and paraphrasing, citations and bibliographies.
• Research presentation and follow up: layout, style, press release and follow-up strategies.
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.