Students

CHIR8202 – Postgraduate Advanced Research II

2022 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Simon French
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
CHIR8201 or CHIR921
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit, together with CHIR8201, develops a student's ability to critique, evaluate and synthesise biomedical research. These skills are crucial for life-long learning and are essential in evidence-informed clinical practice. In this unit, students will work in groups to develop and execute a medium term, capstone research project to answer a specific research question/s.

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: Critically appraise research literature on a specific clinically relevant topic and identify areas requiring further research
  • ULO2: Apply knowledge in research methods to analyse, interpret and assess research findings
  • ULO3: Demonstrate knowledge of research methods by either designing a research protocol, or implementing a research project, to answer a specific research question in a clinically relevant area
  • ULO4: Effectively communicate the design of a research protocol, or results of a research project, to your peers and academics using verbal and written methods

General Assessment Information

This unit comprises teaching materials on advanced research methods, plus the execution and write up of a substantial group research project or group research protocol. For those students undertaking the research project, this is based on the research protocol that was conceptualised and designed in the prerequisite unit in the previous semester (CHIR8201). For those students who undertook a case study in CHIR8201, in this unit they will develop a research protocol to address a major research gap they identified in their case study.

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

 

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For example:

Number of days (hours) late

Total Possible Marks

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

1 day (1-24 hours)

100

5

75

70

2 days (24-48 hours)

100

10

75

65

3 days (48-72 hours)

100

15

75

60

7 days (144-168 hours)

100

35

75

40

>7 days (>168 hours)

100

-

75

0

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online quiz 30% No Week 7, Thursday 8th September @ 8am
Research Presentation 30% No Week 11 and Week 12 (specific time will be posted in iLearn)
Research Project/Protocol Written 40% No Week 13, Thursday 3rd November @ 11.55pm

Online quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 7, Thursday 8th September @ 8am
Weighting: 30%

 

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

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically appraise research literature on a specific clinically relevant topic and identify areas requiring further research
  • Apply knowledge in research methods to analyse, interpret and assess research findings

Research Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 11 and Week 12 (specific time will be posted in iLearn)
Weighting: 30%

 

In the tutorial class time, students will give an individual oral research presentation about their group research protocol, or about the results of their group research project.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research methods by either designing a research protocol, or implementing a research project, to answer a specific research question in a clinically relevant area
  • Effectively communicate the design of a research protocol, or results of a research project, to your peers and academics using verbal and written methods

Research Project/Protocol Written

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 21 hours
Due: Week 13, Thursday 3rd November @ 11.55pm
Weighting: 40%

 

The student research protocol, or research project, will be written up in the format of a journal article (approximately 2,000 words), ready for submission for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research methods by either designing a research protocol, or implementing a research project, to answer a specific research question in a clinically relevant area
  • Effectively communicate the design of a research protocol, or results of a research project, to your peers and academics using verbal and written methods

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

Students should approach the content of this unit through self-directed learning. Students undertaking the research project have been previously been assigned to a research project group in CHIR8201. Each research project is linked to an academic advisor who will provide mentorship and guidance on completing the substantial research project (research presentation and journal article). Learning in this aspect of the unit occurs via student/supervisor engagement. For those students who completed a case study in CHIR8201, the Unit Convenor will provide mentorship and guidance during the tutorial times on completing the substantial group research project (research presentation and journal article).

Lectures

In weeks 1 to 5, there will be five 1-hour online lectures. Lectures will provide advanced research methods, building on the content from CHIR8201. These lectures will provide relevant material for the unit’s substantial research project.

Tutorials

See the unit iLearn page for the tutorial schedule. The tutorials will be a mix of structured tutorials and dedicated time to meet with the group’s academic advisor or Unit Convenor. In the structured tutorials, the teaching material covered in the lectures will be discussed in more depth and students will undertake activities to enhance learning of the materials. When there are no structured tutorials scheduled, students will be expected to meet with their academic advisor, or attend to consult with the Unit Convenor for advice about their own research project/protocol.

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.


Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook