PUB HLTH 7153 - Major Research Project

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2017

This course will provide training in research skills including planning and conducting a research project in public health, and will include a series of workshop on topics including research planning and skills, data management, oral and written presentation. Assessment will be in the form of a project report and oral presentation.

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Course Details

Course Code	PUB HLTH 7153
Course	Major Research Project
Coordinating Unit	Public Health
Term	Semester 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	16 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	PUB HLTH 7300OL
Incompatible	PUB HLTH 7119, PUB HLTH 7122
Assumed Knowledge	Completed course courses for Master of Public Health
Restrictions	Available to MPH students only
Assessment	written reports, oral presentation

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

1	Demonstrate the skills required to conduct independent research, including the ability to obtain data, analyse data and draw inferences and make appropriate conclusions based on the analysis.
2	Identify and communicate the ethical dimensions of research and demonstrate the skills and attitudes of an ethical researcher.
3	Use appropriate written and oral communication style and terminology to present evidence-based ideas effectively.

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)	1-4
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	4
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	N/A
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	3
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

N/A

Online Learning

N/A
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

In this course students will undertake an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisor. Workshops scheduled at 4 key stages throughout semester will support student learning and development of research skills including oral presentation skills.

Workload

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

The major research project is a 6 unit course equivalent to approximately 20 hours of work per week.

Learning Activities Summary

This course is one where independent research is undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor, with whom the student meets regularly across the semester.

Supervisors and project areas will be available for students to consider via an online Major Research Project booklet available in the semester prior to that in which the linked Developing a research proposal course is offered (presently this would be S2 of Yr 1 of a fulltime MPH with the Developing a research proposal course undertaken in S1 of Yr 2 and the Major Project in S2 of Yr 2)

The timing of research project activities is to be negotiated between the student and the supervisor in the first week of the course, dependent on their schedule and research-project requirements. Students will record research activities in a research logbook and will meet regularly with their supervisor (usually fortnightly) to discuss the progress of their research and review activities and data management via their research logbook.

A 3-hour introductory workshop will be presented in the first week to:

- confirm project topics based on the proposals previously developed by students in the linked course Developing a research proposal

- discuss preparation of the research project plan

- discuss assessment requirements

Three further class workshops will be scheduled throughout semester:

- Week 6 students will meet to discuss their overall progress and informally present their work to each other for critical feedback and peer review.

- Week 9 to discuss and practice oral scientific communication and presentation skills

- Week 12 to present an oral report of he research findings to the students and supervisors of the course.

Specific Course Requirements

N/A

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 course objective(s) being addressed
Research project plan	Formative	0%	1, 2, 4
Research logbook	Summative	20%	1-4
Supervisor assessment	Summative	15%	1-4
Oral presentation	Summative	15%	1-4
Project report	Summative	50%	1-4

Assessment Related Requirements

N/A

Assessment Detail

Research project management plan (0%, due end Week 2)
Students are required to complete a project plan proforma confirming agreement on research topic, times and location of research placement, supervision arrangements and meeting times, and a project management plan including a project Gannt chart (this would normally be based on the research proposal developed in the linked course PUB HLTH 7003OL Developing a research proposal)

Research logbook (20%, due end Week 12)
The logbook documents progress towards completion of the research project, including documenting activities undertaken, problems encountered and skills developed, in addition to reflection regarding the learning that is occurring.

Supervisor assessment (15%, Week 12)
Supervisors will submit an assessment of the student’s management of their research project, and demonstration of research skills in the research context, including data management and maintenance of records, appropriate conduct including ethical considerations, and project-specific skills. This assessment will be submitted in Week 12 at the end of the research project.

Oral presentation (15%, Week 12)
Students will present a 15 minute summary of their research projects including background, hypotheses, approach/methodology, results and conclusions. This task will be scheduled for the final week of the course, in a timetabled workshop slot (Week 12). All students are required to attend all presentations by students enrolled in the course.

Written project report (50%, due Week 13)
Students will submit a report on their research projects including background, hypotheses, approach/methodology, results and conclusions (4000 word limit). This task will be due for submission at the end of the non-teaching week prior to examinations, in order to allow feedback from oral presentations to be incorporated. It is suggested that students prepare a draft version of the report and submit this to their supervisor prior to the oral presentation for feedback.

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 firstinstance. 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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