Overview

This unit will prepare students for evidence-based practice in dietetics and equip them with a critical appreciation of the strengths and limitations of different research and evaluation methods and study designs applicable to nutrition and dietetics practice. Students will get practical experience in conducting and writing different types of literature review and critique, evidence synthesis and practice guideline preparation. Students will learn research collaboration skills and begin a process of research mentoring that will continue across the four research and evidence-based practice units (A-D) throughout the Master of Dietetics.

Requisites

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply literature search and review methods to conduct evidence-synthesis, literature reviews and in the development of evidence-based practice guidelines.
  • Describe how to identify and manage research quality issues that affect quantitative and qualitative research paradigms.
  • Critique and interpret findings from the different types of research design and methods commonly used in nutrition and dietetics, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods.
  • Formulate clear research questions relevant to nutrition and dietetics practice.
  • Communicate research findings in various formats and using different media.
  • Demonstrate research collaboration skills

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
3.00 12 weeks 36
Specified Activities
Various
5.00 12 weeks 60
Unspecified Activities
Various
4.50 12 weeks 54
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssignmentIndividual 40% 1,3,4 
PresentationIndividual 20% 1,4,5 
ReportGroup 40% 1,2,6 
AssignmentIndividual 40% 1,3,4 
PresentationIndividual/Group 20% 1,3,5,6 
ReportIndividual 40% 1,2,6 

Content

  • Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Principles of epidemiology and sampling methodology
  • Principles of evidence based practice, including critical appraisal of the literature
  • Systematic literature reviews

Study resources

Reading materials

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