Students

HSYP8101 – Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online 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
Janaki Amin
Contact via janaki.amin@mq.edu.au
75 Talavera Road
By appointment only
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

This unit introduces students to the skills of scientific inquiry and appraising evidence which are fundamental to public health research and practice. You will engage in integrated learning about reporting data, study design, data analysis and interpretation, and critical appraisal of research papers in public health. Learning activities will include lectures, tutorials, and online activities. By completing this unit, you will gain knowledge and skills which will enable you to locate, produce and appraise evidence in the field of public health.

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: Identify and explain data commonly used to report on health at a population level
  • ULO2: Calculate and interpret the epidemiologic measures of occurrence and association in order to assess public health impact
  • ULO3: Characterise study designs used in public health and evaluate their strengths and limitations
  • ULO4: Critically appraise public health research papers using an epidemiological framework

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% for the first day including the actual day on which the work is received, and 5% for each subsequent day. Weekends and public holidays are included. Late penalty is capped at 50%. 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

50% (capped)

75%

25%

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Introductory concepts 10% No Week 4
Critical appraisal 40% No Week 11
Final exam 50% No Exam week
Portfolio Reflection 0% No Week 15

Introductory concepts

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 9 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%

Online quiz to examine understanding of introductions epidemiological terms and concepts.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain data commonly used to report on health at a population level
  • Calculate and interpret the epidemiologic measures of occurrence and association in order to assess public health impact

Critical appraisal

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 40%

Critical appraisal of an epidemiological paper


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Calculate and interpret the epidemiologic measures of occurrence and association in order to assess public health impact
  • Characterise study designs used in public health and evaluate their strengths and limitations
  • Critically appraise public health research papers using an epidemiological framework

Final exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Exam week
Weighting: 50%

Open book exam


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain data commonly used to report on health at a population level
  • Calculate and interpret the epidemiologic measures of occurrence and association in order to assess public health impact
  • Characterise study designs used in public health and evaluate their strengths and limitations
  • Critically appraise public health research papers using an epidemiological framework

Portfolio Reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Week 15
Weighting: 0%

Reflection of student performance and achievement of course learning outcomes


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and explain data commonly used to report on health at a population level
  • Calculate and interpret the epidemiologic measures of occurrence and association in order to assess public health impact
  • Characterise study designs used in public health and evaluate their strengths and limitations
  • Critically appraise public health research papers using an epidemiological framework

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 HSYP8101 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.

 

Please note that this unit has been altered to accommodate our delivery provisions in compliance with current COVID-19 requirements (Special Circumstance delivery). Learning activities (such as tutorials and other small group learning activities) will be offered on-campus while keeping an online version 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.


Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook