Students

HSYP8003 – Applied Research Methodologies in Health

2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Josephine Chau
josephine.chau@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPH or MPH(Res)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In this unit you will develop practical skills to design a Public Health research project. You will build on your previous knowledge of epidemiology and biostatistics particularly in study design; and extend into literature review, selection of research methods including when to use quantitative and qualitative methods and synergies between them, research governance and ethics applications, developing a research proposal, and disseminating research. You will be able to learn these skills and apply them in the context of a research topic in an area of your interest.

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: Apply a systematic approach to purposefully reviewing public health literature to inform research
  • ULO2: Formulate explicit research questions/objectives relevant to public health enquiry
  • ULO3: Develop a clear research plan appropriate for answering a postulated research question
  • ULO4: Demonstrate research communication skills required for the dissemination of research information

General Assessment Information

Information concerning Macquarie University's assessment policy is available at https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment. Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading requirements are contained in Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes and attempt all assessment tasks.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn, including marking rubrics.

All final grades in the department of Health Systems and Populations are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded one of these grades plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not necessarily a summation of the individual assessment components. The final grade and SNG that are awarded reflect the corresponding grade descriptor in Schedule 1 of the Assessment Policy.

 

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 Disruption to Studies Policy available at https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/disruption-to-studies.

 

Late Submission of Work

All assignments which are officially received after the due date, and where no extension has been granted by the course convenor or tutor, will incur a deduction of 5% per day penalty including weekends and public holidays. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks.

For example:

Due date

Received

Days late

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

Friday 14th

Saturday 15th

1

5%

75%

70%  

Friday 14th

Monday 17th

3

15%

75%

60%  

Friday 14th

Tuesday 25th

11

55%

75%

50% (capped)

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Develop a research question 5% No Post by 11/08/2021 5pm; discussion til 13/08/2021 5pm
Literature review planning 25% No Submit by 03/09/2021, 5pm
Complete a concept sheet 5% No Post by 01/10/2021 5pm; online discussion til 06/10/2021 5pm
Presentation of research proposal 20% No Submit by 26/10/2021 @5pm
Research proposal 45% No Submit by 12/11/2021 5pm

Develop a research question

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Post by 11/08/2021 5pm; discussion til 13/08/2021 5pm
Weighting: 5%

 

Students will submit a proposed research question for peer review and discussion in iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Formulate explicit research questions/objectives relevant to public health enquiry

Literature review planning

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 23 hours
Due: Submit by 03/09/2021, 5pm
Weighting: 25%

 

Completion of literature review search planner.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply a systematic approach to purposefully reviewing public health literature to inform research
  • Formulate explicit research questions/objectives relevant to public health enquiry

Complete a concept sheet

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Post by 01/10/2021 5pm; online discussion til 06/10/2021 5pm
Weighting: 5%

 

This task will be completed using a concept sheet template. Completion and peer feedback from this task will inform development of the research proposal.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Formulate explicit research questions/objectives relevant to public health enquiry
  • Develop a clear research plan appropriate for answering a postulated research question
  • Demonstrate research communication skills required for the dissemination of research information

Presentation of research proposal

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Submit by 26/10/2021 @5pm
Weighting: 20%

 

Seminar style presentation of student research proposals

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply a systematic approach to purposefully reviewing public health literature to inform research
  • Formulate explicit research questions/objectives relevant to public health enquiry
  • Develop a clear research plan appropriate for answering a postulated research question
  • Demonstrate research communication skills required for the dissemination of research information

Research proposal

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Submit by 12/11/2021 5pm
Weighting: 45%

 

Completion of a written research proposal using a template based on MQ Research Protocol Proforma

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply a systematic approach to purposefully reviewing public health literature to inform research
  • Formulate explicit research questions/objectives relevant to public health enquiry
  • Develop a clear research plan appropriate for answering a postulated research question
  • Demonstrate research communication skills required for the dissemination of research information

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

Unit Organisation

This is a ten credit point unit run over a 13 week session. Further information is available via the online Learning Management System (LMS) iLearn http://ilearn.mq.edu.

 

Readings

The readings for each week will be listed in ilearn using the Leganto system. Leganto is the reading list management system, which you can access through your iLearn unit. More information on Leganto is available here: http://libguides.mq.edu.au/leganto

Readings marked as 'required' are essential for completion in the marked week. Some readings may be included that are marked as 'recommended' or 'secondary sources', these are additional materials that may be of interest to you. Please use these at your discretion.

 

Technology and equipment

Off-campus

To study optimally when off campus you will need to have access to a reliable internet connection to retrieve unit information and at times to join interactive session (eg zoom) or submit assessment tasks via iLearn.

On-campus

Teaching rooms are equipped with state of art audio-visual and ICT equipment including internet connection, high quality video cameras and multiple LCD screens.

 

Where learning activities (such as tutorials and other small group learning activities) are offered on-campus an online version will be available for those students who choose to continue their studies online (selected via eStudent).

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.