Students

MEDI8303 – Research Project B

2020 – Medicine and Health Sciences MDD, Special circumstance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Veronica Preda
Unit Convenor
Frances Rapport
Research Program Coordinator
Caroline Proctor
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
MEDI8300
Corequisites Corequisites
MEDI8302
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is the second of three research units which are integrated with clinical learning in Stage 2 of the Doctor of Medicine (Macquarie MD). It contributes to an 18 month research experience culminating in the completion and presentation of an individual research project in MEDI8400: Research Project and Presentation. The units build on the research training embedded in Stage 1 of the Macquarie MD and MEDI8300: Research Project A. The research projects offered broadly focus on making a scholarly contribution to learning health systems and may include projects related to health systems development and delivery, infrastructure and resource-use in healthcare, patient safety and quality, patient and clinician experience of service delivery, patient- and professional-reported determinants of health and wellbeing, and medical education. In this unit, you will continue to work with peers involved in similar projects and their project supervisors to further implement your research plan with a focus on data collection and analyses, and drafting and refining sections of the manuscript required in MEDI8400: Research Project and Presentation. You will further develop your skills in communicating research effectively.

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:

  • ULO1: Implements a comprehensive research plan effectively and demonstrates problem solving skills and flexibility to address any unplanned issues or challenges (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • ULO2: Implements appropriate data collection and analysis to answer the specific research question/s (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • ULO3: Refines introduction and methodology sections of manuscript based on feedback from MEDI8300: Research Project A (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • ULO4: Drafts results section of manuscript which answers the specific research question/s including generating appropriate tables and/or figures (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • ULO5: Communicates research results effectively and concisely using multimedia (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • ULO6: Discusses the significance of the research project and how it will contribute to the enhancement of health systems or healthcare broadly (Capability 3: Engaged Global Citizen).
  • ULO7: Demonstrates initiative and practices scientific and professional responsibilities, including an adherence to the ethical and regulatory requirements relevant to the research project (Capability 4: Professional).
  • ULO8: Works collaboratively with peers and supervisors, giving and receiving feedback, generating improvement strategies and promoting a collaborative research environment ((Capability 4: Professional).

General Assessment Information

Detailed Information regarding the assessment for the Macquarie MD is available on the MQMDAssess Macquarie MD Assessment 2018 Intake iLearn site. Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Grading

In this unit all assessment tasks will be coarse graded, with grades (P+, P, P-, F) assigned to the focused and generic MD Capability Aspects as well as overall task performance. Only the coarse grade for the overall performance of assessment tasks weighted according to their contribution will be used to calculate the overall Unit aggregate.  Unit outcomes, based on the Unit aggregate, will be reported to the University using the standard Macquarie grades (High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Pass, Fail). Because most assessment tasks in the Macquarie MD are coarse graded, a single standardised numerical grade (SNG) equivalent will be reported for each University grade. Both the numeric equivalents for the coarse grades used in the calculation of the unit aggregate and the conversion of the aggregate to a single SNG are available in the Macquarie MD Rules of Assessment and Progression document posted in the Policies and Guidelines section of the MDCU Doctor of Medicine Community ilearn site. 

All final grades in the Macquarie MD are reviewed by the MD Course Board, Faculty Assessment Committee and ratified by the FMHS Board and therefore, are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, attempt all assessment tasks, meet any ungraded requirements including professionalism and achieve a unit aggregate of 50% or better.

Extensions for Assessment tasks

Applications for assessment task extensions must be submitted via www.ask.mq.edu.au. For further details please refer to the Special Consideration Policy available at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Professional Expectations

Professionalism is a key capability embedded in the Macquarie MD. Professional Behaviour Notifications (PBN) which can be a breach (PBNB) or a commendation (PBNC) may be awarded.  PBNs will be recorded in the student's portfolio.  As part of developing professionalism, Macquarie MD students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory  and team-based learning activities. If attendance is deemed to be of concern, the student will be referred to the Lead (Student Professionalism) for remediation, subsequent monitoring, and recording in the portfolio. Similarly, as part of developing professionalism, Macquarie MD students are expected to submit all work by the due date.  Late submission without prior approved extension will result in a professional behaviour notification-breach (PBNB) in the portfolio.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Oral Presentation 20% No 21 September 2020
Research Manuscript Components 50% No 16 November 2020
Logbook, Learning Plan and Supervisor's Report 30% No 30 November 2020

Oral Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 21 September 2020
Weighting: 20%

Oral presentation of Research plan including planned methods to supervisors. Assessment criteria will be mapped to relevant capability aspects. Overall and capability aspects performance will be recorded in your Macquarie Assessment Portfolio.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Implements a comprehensive research plan effectively and demonstrates problem solving skills and flexibility to address any unplanned issues or challenges (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • Implements appropriate data collection and analysis to answer the specific research question/s (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • Refines introduction and methodology sections of manuscript based on feedback from MEDI8300: Research Project A (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Drafts results section of manuscript which answers the specific research question/s including generating appropriate tables and/or figures (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Communicates research results effectively and concisely using multimedia (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Discusses the significance of the research project and how it will contribute to the enhancement of health systems or healthcare broadly (Capability 3: Engaged Global Citizen).
  • Demonstrates initiative and practices scientific and professional responsibilities, including an adherence to the ethical and regulatory requirements relevant to the research project (Capability 4: Professional).
  • Works collaboratively with peers and supervisors, giving and receiving feedback, generating improvement strategies and promoting a collaborative research environment ((Capability 4: Professional).

Research Manuscript Components

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 16 November 2020
Weighting: 50%

Draft Analysis, refined Introduction and methods in format of the specified journal. Assessment criteria will be mapped to relevant capability aspects and graduate Entrustable Professional Activities. Overall and capability aspect performance and EPAs will be recorded in your Macquarie Assessment Portfolio.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Implements a comprehensive research plan effectively and demonstrates problem solving skills and flexibility to address any unplanned issues or challenges (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • Implements appropriate data collection and analysis to answer the specific research question/s (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • Refines introduction and methodology sections of manuscript based on feedback from MEDI8300: Research Project A (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Drafts results section of manuscript which answers the specific research question/s including generating appropriate tables and/or figures (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Communicates research results effectively and concisely using multimedia (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Discusses the significance of the research project and how it will contribute to the enhancement of health systems or healthcare broadly (Capability 3: Engaged Global Citizen).
  • Demonstrates initiative and practices scientific and professional responsibilities, including an adherence to the ethical and regulatory requirements relevant to the research project (Capability 4: Professional).
  • Works collaboratively with peers and supervisors, giving and receiving feedback, generating improvement strategies and promoting a collaborative research environment ((Capability 4: Professional).

Logbook, Learning Plan and Supervisor's Report

Assessment Type 1: Performance
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 30 November 2020
Weighting: 30%

Submission of research activities logbook as well as reflection and learning plan for the next session. Supervisors will also be required to evaluate the development of research scholarship, teamwork and professionalism. Assessment criteria will be mapped to specific capability aspects. Overall and capability aspects performance will be recorded in your Macquarie Assessment Portfolio.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Implements a comprehensive research plan effectively and demonstrates problem solving skills and flexibility to address any unplanned issues or challenges (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • Implements appropriate data collection and analysis to answer the specific research question/s (Capability 1: Scientist and Scholar).
  • Refines introduction and methodology sections of manuscript based on feedback from MEDI8300: Research Project A (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Drafts results section of manuscript which answers the specific research question/s including generating appropriate tables and/or figures (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Communicates research results effectively and concisely using multimedia (Capability 2: Clinical Practitioner).
  • Discusses the significance of the research project and how it will contribute to the enhancement of health systems or healthcare broadly (Capability 3: Engaged Global Citizen).
  • Demonstrates initiative and practices scientific and professional responsibilities, including an adherence to the ethical and regulatory requirements relevant to the research project (Capability 4: Professional).
  • Works collaboratively with peers and supervisors, giving and receiving feedback, generating improvement strategies and promoting a collaborative research environment ((Capability 4: Professional).

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit runs concurrently with a 20 week core clinical placement unit.  All students and supervisors working on related projects will be connected using the MS teams software. Students are expected to commit an average of 1 day a week (i.e. approx. 8 hours per week) for 20 weeks to develop, plan and conduct their research project under supervision. This time also includes participation in research team and supervisor meetings and preparation of assessment tasks. Students are expected to have regular peer meetings and complete online research modules as required.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

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

Changes from Previous Offering

N/A