PUB HLTH 7122B - MPH Dissertation P/T Part 2

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2018

The dissertation can be the final requirement of the MPH and should therefore reflect what the student has learned from the core and elective course work of the degree program. Unless exempted by the School of Public Health, the dissertation will take the form of a paper suitable for submission to an appropriate peer reviewed journal. The content of this paper must reflect the research topic. The successful completion of this paper fulfils the requirements for a dissertation. * Exemptions will be rare but may be necessary in some circumstances to avoid significant disadvantage to a particular student.

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Course Details

Course Code	PUB HLTH 7122B
Course	MPH Dissertation P/T Part 2
Coordinating Unit	Public Health
Term	Semester 1
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	12
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	PUB HLTH 7300OL
Restrictions	Available to MPH students only
Assessment	Dissertation

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Teresa Burgess

Course Coordinator: Dr Teresa Burgess
Phone: +61 8313 3468
Email: teresa.burgess@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Level 7, 178 North Terrace

Student & Program Support Services Hub
Email: askhealthsc@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: +61 8313 0273

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course the student will be able to

1	Successfully collaborate with colleagues and supervisor(s) in the development, design and execution of a research project.
2	Demonstrate the skills required to conduct independent research, including the ability to conduct effective literature searches, critically appraise the literature, and compile information.
3	Select and use an appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative research methodology to investigate a research problem or issue relevant to Public Health.
4	Identify and communicate the ethical dimensions of research and demonstrate the skills and attitudes of an ethical researcher.
5	Use appropriate communication style and terminology to present evidence-based ideas effectively, whether within a research seminar or conference presentation, or via academic writing.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1-5
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	1-4
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	1, 4, 5
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1-3, 5
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	1, 2, 4
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	1-4

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Access to bibliographic databases and peer-reviewed journals and relevant software for analysis.

Recommended Resources

None

Online Learning

N/A

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course is one where independent research is undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor, with whom the student meets fortnightly across two semesters.Where a student has not previously acquired specific skills that support efficient research (eg search strategies, organising data) they will participate in appropriate workshops or on-line learning, early in their period of enrolment (ie in the first half of the first semester of a full-time enrolment).

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The research dissertation is a 12 unit course, and this is equivalent to a full-time commitment of one semester (generally 40 hours per week over an extended semester of five months) or half-time over two semesters (20 hours per week over ten months).

Learning Activities Summary

On-line resources or workshops to assist in the development of preliminary skills (eg Endnote, Word for long documents) will be made available to students to support their research.

Milestones	Item	Description
1	Dissertation proposal	To be lodged by four weeks prior to the start of the first semester of enrolment.
2	Ethics application	If applicable, to be lodged as soon as practical, preferably prior to enrolment.
3	Independent research	Undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor
4	Literature review	A literature review of about 4,000 words is to be prepared, to provide context for the research, and identify the gaps in current knowledge to be addressed in the research.
5	Seminar presentation	About a month before submission for a full-time enrolment, and mid-second semester for a part-time enrolment, a seminar is presented regarding the research undertaken.
6	Written dissertation	The results of the research are submitted in the form of a paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (between 2,500 and 7,000 words depending on the author guidelines for the chosen journal); or, if negotiated with the course coordinator, a dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words

Specific Course Requirements

None

Small Group Discovery Experience

N/A

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Assessment Type	Weighting	Learning outcome(s) being addressed
Research proposal	Formative	Hurdle	1-5
Literature review	Summative	20%	2,4,5
Seminar	Summative	10%	1-5
Journal article / dissertation	Summative	70%	1-5

Assessment Related Requirements

None

Assessment Detail

Dissertation Research Proposal: There are two options for the presentation of the Dissertation Research Proposal:

1. Students who successfully complete PUB HLTH 7300OL ‘Developing a Research Proposal’ in the semester prior to enrolling in
the Dissertation and present a Student Learning Agreement signed by their supervisor indicating willingness to supervise the research proposed in PUB HLTH 7300OL are deemed to have presented their Dissertation Research Proposal.

2. Students may present a Dissertation Research Proposal of about 1000 words excluding references, together with a Student
Learning Agreement signed by their supervisor indicating willingness to supervise the research proposed. This proposal must be submitted 4 weeks prior to the start of the first semester of enrolment.

Literature Review: The Literature Review should extend the work of the research proposal and provide the context for the research, clearly specifying existing research gaps. It should also include discussion of the significance and innovation of
the proposed research, including how the research will advance the field, fill knowledge gaps, or address specific challenges or roadblocks, and how it is unique and new.

Students should submit a copy of their completed research proposal together with the Literature Review.

Oral presentation: Students will present a 15 minute summary of their research projects including background, hypotheses, approach/methodology, results and conclusions. This task will be scheduled toward the end of the Semester.

Written Dissertation: The results of the research are submitted in the form of a paper suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (between 2,500 and 7,000 words depending on the author guidelines for the chosen journal) or, if negotiated with the
course coordinator, a dissertation of between 12,000 and 15,000 words.

Submission

Extensions
All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of submission. Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds. Supporting documentation must be provided at the time a student requests an extension. Without documentation, extensions will not be granted. Late requests for extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to verify the student’s situation. The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact on the student. Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

Late submission
Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits. In the case of late assignments where no extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted. If an assignment that is 2 days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%. If that same assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.

The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates.

Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.

Resubmission
If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process </student/grievance/process/>. Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance. This must be done within 10 business days of the date of notification of the result. Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and will only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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