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.

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including readings, online video lectures and face-to-face workshops. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Recommended Readings

Each module of the unit has recommended and/or required readings which are listed at the beginning of each vide lecture.

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. Use of statistical software is required and while any program can be used, the university provides a free license for the statistical program Stata.

Structure of the unit

Every student will study four (4) learning modules in this unit of which three are compulsory topics and one is selected by the student from three (3) available elective modules. Compulsory modules are selected on the basis of being useful topics for any quantitative research topic, while the student-selected modules allow students to somewhat tailor the unit to their individual needs.

Compulsory modules (all must be undertaken)

1. Research design and sample size determination
2. Revision of the General Linear model
3. Dealing with missing values

Student-selected modules (select one)

1. Latent variable models
2. Multi-level and Longitudinal models
3. Meta-analysis

Format of the unit

The unit is largely delivered by downloadable video lectures that combine a classical lecture with demonstration of practical application using Stata and are available for download at the start of or early in semester. All compulsory topics do, however, have one-hour face-to-face review sessions at which attendance is strongly recommended but not compulsory. All elective modules have an associated in-person workshop at which attendance is strongly recommended but also not compulsory. The purpose of the workshops is to provide an opportunity to address unresolved questions. Important note: To achieve this it will be necessary for each student to have viewed the elective topic module video and to have thought about their project prior to attending the workshop.

The unit is graded using the standard categories of Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction and High Distinction. Further details concerning the exam will be provided during the unit. The project report will be submitted to the Grademark system that is part of iLearn. You may collaborate in preparatory work for the report; however, the report submitted must be of your own work. NB: Make sure you keep a complete copy of each of your submitted works should it be needed. This unit does not publish previous end-of-semester exam papers due to the assessment format which involves multiple choice questions drawn from a bank of questions which have undergone a process of development and validation to assess a wide range of concepts in this unit. Assessment quality can only be ensured by maintaining the integrity of the question bank rather than creating entirely new questions every year. However a practice exam will be provided via iLearn near the end of semester.

Unfortunately due to staffing constraints this year, the qualitative topic will not be available.

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.