ASSESSMENT OPTIONS

Students will choose one of two group assessment options:

Option 1: Research Project There will be a limited number of research projects available. These projects will be nominated by academics and researchers in the Department of Chiropractic. These projects will involve a group of students (typically four) 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: Case Report Students will select one of their patients in the student clinic and write a detailed case report to inform their management. These projects will involve three or four students working together on a single case. This case report will include a comprehensive evaluation of the literature related to the patient’s clinical condition, and will identify research gaps. The group of students will then address these gaps by designing a research protocol for CHIR8202 in S2.

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:

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.

This unit comprises teaching materials on advanced research methods, plus the planning and write up of a group research protocol, or group case study. As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including readings, lectures, and small group activities. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Recommended Readings

Foundations of clinical research: applications to evidence- based practice, Portney, LG; EBSCO Publishing (Firm), 4th edition. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company 2020

Available as an eBook in the library

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

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 the group case report will need to select a patient from the student clinic to write up into an evidence-based case report.

Lectures will be delivered online and 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 cover 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, online or in person. 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 strongly recommended.

Attendance and participation requirements

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

If you are part of a research project group, you are also required to meet with your project supervisor (in person or via Zoom) a minimum of four times during the Session. The research plan written 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.

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.

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.