Students

HLTH306 – Research Methods for Health Sciences

2014 – S1 Day

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Subramanyam Vemulpad
Contact via subramanyam.vemulpad@mq.edu.au
C5C West 351
Tuesday 10 am -12 noon
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides an introduction to the principles of evidence-based health practice. The unit covers a range of issues in research including: subjectivity and objectivity; different research strategies; evaluation and interpretation of data; and ethical issues. Concepts of efficacy, effectiveness, clinical and statistical significance, and critical appraisal of published work are introduced.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Practical work 20% Weekly
Assignment 1 15% 9 April 2014 (2 pm)
Assignment 2 15% 28 May 2014 (2 pm)
Final Examination 50% June (University Exam period)

Practical work

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%

Exercises based on Practical sessions


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assignment 1

Due: 9 April 2014 (2 pm)
Weighting: 15%

Assignment would include data analysis and interpretaion as well as critical appraisal of published articles.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assignment 2

Due: 28 May 2014 (2 pm)
Weighting: 15%

Assignment would include data analysis and interpretaion as well as critical appraisal of published articles.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Final Examination

Due: June (University Exam period)
Weighting: 50%


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Delivery and Resources

Delivery mode

1. 2 hour lectures per week, weeks 1-12. iLectures are available for this unit.

2. Eleven x2 hour practicals per student, starting from week 2.

3. Four to five hours per week self-instructional learning, readings from the text and exercises on lecture topics

Class times and locations

Lecture times: 2 hrs each week starting from 3 March 2014.

Monday 8 – 10 am; E7BT3

Practicals : 2 hrs each week, as noted below, starting week 2 (10th March).

                        Prac Group 1: Monday 10 – 12 noon; E4B306; starting on 10th March

Prac Group 2: Monday 12 –2 PM; E4B306; starting on 10th March

Prac Group 3: Monday 2 – 4 PM; E4B306; starting on 10th March

Prac Group 4: Monday 4 – 6 PM; E4B306; starting on 10th March

You are advised to bring a USB memory stick for practical classes. Practical group allocations will be finalized in Week 1. Students allocated to one group cannot turn up for practicals meant for another group without prior approval from the Unit convenor.

 

·         Attendance:  Attendance for practicals is compulsory. Attendance at lectures is strongly recommended.

 

Required and recommended resources

 

Recommended texts

Hoffmann et al. Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions. 2 Edn. ISBN: 9780729541350, Elsevier Australia.

Minichiello et al. Research Methods for nursing and health science. 2 Edn; ISBN: 9781740095969; Pearson Education Australia.

Further reading

Straus, S.E et al. 2005. Evidence Based Medicine; 4 Edn; Churchill Livingstone

Useful web-resources:

http:/www.mq.edu.au/library  (Macquarie University library site; list and links to many databases and Journals)

http://www.cochrane.org (Cochrane Collaboration, the most reliable source of evidence in health care)

http://www.pedro.org.au/ (Physiotherapy Evidence Database)

Unit web page

The URL of the HLTH306 iLearn site is:  https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

You will be asked for a username and password.  Your username is your student MQID.  Your MQID and password have been mailed to you by the University.  If you have lost them go to the student portal:  http://students.mq.edu.au/home/

Any changes made since last offering: 1) Two tutors per prac class instead of the earlier single tutor per class. 2) Hoffmann et al has been added as a recommended text. 3) Minichello text book has been changed from 'required' to 'recommended'.

Unit Schedule

HLTH 306 List of topics by week

The topic titles are given as a guide only.

Week

Date

Lecture Topic*

Prac Class

  1.  

3/03/14

Scientific Method, Introduction to EBP, Clinical Epidemiology

 

No

  1.  

10/03/14

Study Design,  Measurement and Summarising and Graphing Categorical Data

Yes

  1.  

17/03/14

Summarising and Graphing Continuous Data

Yes

  1.  

24/03/14

Graphing Continuous Data (continued), Populations and Samples

Yes

  1.  

31/03/14

What is evidence; where and how to find evidence (Hierarchy of evidence; Health/Chiro databases)

Yes

  1.  

7/04/14

Research Planning and Research Designs I

Yes

Break

14-21 Apr

 

 

  1.  

28/04/14

Research Designs II

Yes

  1.  

5/05/14

Confidence Intervals and One-sample Hypothesis Tests

Yes

  1.  

12/05/14

Paired data, 2 sample hypothesis tests, tests of proportions

Yes

  1.  

19/05/14

Regression, Contingency Tables and Odds Ratios

Yes

  1.  

26/05/14

Research in Clinical Practice (outcome measures)

Yes

  1.  

2/06/14

Ethics, Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality in Health Research

Yes

  1.  

9/06/14

Public Holiday

No

 

     

* Dr Subra Vemulpad: Weeks 1, 5, 6, 7, 11 and 12

Dr Ken Beath: Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assessment tasks

  • Practical work
  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assessment tasks

  • Practical work
  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity

Assessment tasks

  • Practical work
  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assessment tasks

  • Practical work
  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Interpret basic epidemiological and statistical terms such as confidence intervals, effectiveness, efficacy, error, incidence, mean, median, mode, prevalence, probability, reproducibility, risk, sample size, sampling, SD, sensitivity, significance, specificity and validity

Assessment tasks

  • Practical work
  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care

Assessment tasks

  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Compare relative merits of different levels of ‘evidence’
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Use spread sheets and Minitab for basic statistical analyses of data
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assessment tasks

  • Practical work
  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the role of research and scientific enquiry in health sciences
  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assessment tasks

  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the importance of evidence based health care
  • Critically appraise available information including published work related to health sciences
  • Explain ethics, confidentiality, conflict of interest and related issues in the context of research and clinical practice
  • Demonstrate skills for self-directed learning and inquiry

Assessment tasks

  • Practical work
  • Assignment 1
  • Assignment 2
  • Final Examination

Grading criteria for HLTH306

Achievement of grades will be based on the following criteria:

Grade

 

Fail

Failure to complete all assessment tasks or unsatisfactory performance (<50% mark)

Pass

A minimum of 50% in each assessment task

Credit

A minimum of 50% in each assessment task, PLUS a minimum 65% total mark

Distinction

A minimum of 50% in each assessment task, PLUS a minimum 75% total mark

High Distinction

A minimum of 50% in each assessment task, PLUS a minimum 85% total mark

 

Changes since First Published

Date Description
04/03/2014 Lecture topics now include more descriptive titles.