Students will choose one of two assessment options:

Option 1) There will be a limited number of research projects available. These projects will be nominated by academics in the Department of Chiropractic. These projects will involve four students working together on the project for this unit and for CHIR8202 in S2. In CHIR8201 students will develop the research protocol, and in CHIR8202 students will carry out the research.

Option 2) Students will select one of their patients in the student clinic and write a detailed case report to inform their management. This case report will include a comprehensive evaluation of the literature related to the patient’s clinical condition.

In-class exam #1

Multiple choice questions that evaluate student learning of lecture and tutorial material. The assessment will be held in the scheduled lecture time.

In-class exam #2

Multiple choice questions that evaluate student learning of lecture and tutorial material. The assessment will be held in the scheduled lecture time.

Research Plan Presentation

Option 1) In class, oral research presentation about the research protocol and some initial results (where available). Each student will present the research protocol for their research project: 10 minute presentation, 5 minute question time.

Option 2) In class, oral research presentation about the literature that informs the care of the student’s patient: 10 minute presentation, 5 minute question time.

Research Plan Written Report

Option 1) The student research protocol will be written up in the format of a journal article (approximately 2000 words), ready for submission for publication in a peer reviewed journal. One research protocol report will be submitted per group, with contributions from each student.

Option 2) The student’s case report will be written up in the format of a journal article (approximately 2000 words), ready for submission for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

Delivery mode

Students should approach the content of this unit through self-directed learning. Some students in this unit will be assigned to a research project group. Each research project is linked to an academic advisor who will provide mentorship and guidance on completing the research protocol and project over the entire year, continuing into CHIR8202. Learning in this aspect of the unit occurs via student/supervisor engagement. Other students working on a case report will need to select a patient from the student clinic to write up into an evidence-based case report.

Lectures will provide a high-level overview of research skills taught throughout the chiropractic programs, in addition to more advanced topics that aim to help you develop your research protocol or case report. These lectures will review the main clinical research methods relevant to chiropractic practice, providing relevant material for the unit’s substantial research project or case report.

Students will be allocated to a 2-hour tutorial group. In these tutorials students will work on activities related to the topic covered in that week’s lecture, meet with their supervisor, or participate in presentations of the research groups’ protocol or case report as both a presenter and audience participant. Tutorial attendance and participation is required. 

Attendance and participation requirements

You must attend the tutorial in which you are enrolled, and you are required to attend and participate in 80% of tutorials. If you miss your assigned workshop in any week, you may request attendance at an alternative session, through email request and appropriate documentation to the unit convenor. 

Further details on class time and locations for this unit can be found at:

https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2020/

If you are part of a research project group, you are also required to meet with your project supervisor (face to face, or via Skype/Zoom) a minimum of four times during the Session. The research plan report must include the meeting schedule and minutes of these meetings as an Appendix. Some tutorial time will be made available for you to meet with your supervisor, but other meeting times will be necessary.

Unit Web Page

You can log in to iLearn learning system using the link below:

http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Recommended text book

Portney LG, Watkins MP (2013). Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to Practice, 3rd Edition, Pearson Education Limited

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/mqu/detail.action?docID=5175590

Other relevant text books

Herbert R, Jamtvedt G, Hagen KB, Mead J (2012). Practical evidence-based physiotherapy. 2nd Edition, Churchill Livingston 

Adams J, et al (2007). Researching Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Abingdon, Oxon; New York: Routledge