PHARM 7522EX - Research Project in Addictions

External - Trimester 3 - 2020

This course/module is designed to allow students to participate in the research process. Students will be given the opportunity under supervision to complete a small research project. The submitted written text will be a minimum of 10,000 words in length, and is required to demonstrate a critical knowledge of the chosen topic area. The ability to apply scientific scrutiny to a topic related to aspects of drug and alcohol aetiology, treatment, prevention, public health or policy as identified by the programme team will be required. The research project may involve original data collection, secondary analysis of previously collected data sets, or other quantitative or qualitative research methods. The necessary defining feature is that the research project should demonstrate an appropriate level of academic rigor and understanding of the scientific implications of the findings of the project. Students will need to demonstrate competence in the integration and analysis of data to further the translation of this knowledge into more effective policies and practices, in keeping with the stated aims of the programme

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Course Details

Course Code	PHARM 7522EX
Course	Research Project in Addictions
Coordinating Unit	Medical Sciences
Term	Trimester 3
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	External
Units	6
Contact	Online
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Restrictions	Available to M.SciAddictSt, GradCert & GradDip in International Addiction Studies students only
Assessment	Research report 10,000 words

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Linda Gowing

Course Timetable

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

This course is a component of the Masters in Addiction Studies undertaken through the International Program of Addiction Studies provided by the University of Adelaide in collaboration with Kings College London (UK) and Virginia Commonwealth University (USA). There is no regular class schedule beyond the first few weeks. The project is carried out individually with a project supervisor, from the second week in January, with project reports scheduled for submission at the end of July.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

COURSE OBJECTIVES
To develop an ability to plan and carry out secondary data analysis OR a systematic
literature review under supervision.
To examine critically the current scientific literature relating to the chosen topic.
To construct a research question and to understand the pertinent issues concerned with
the research topic.
To select and use appropriate methods to analyse data and present findings.
To critically evaluate the value of the project to the field.

Knowledge
At the conclusion of this course/module, students should be able to demonstrate Master’s level competence in:
1. advanced discussion, analysis and critique of scientific information pertinent to the research topic;
2. understanding and evaluation of research design and implementation;
3. management and organisation of small research projects;
4. report writing; and
5. individual time management.

Skills and Attitudes
You will be expected to develop and/or enhance your:
6. knowledge of the scientific evidence in your chosen area of research;
7. competence in critical evaluation and interpretation of data;
8. academic writing skills; and
9. ability to effectively communicate your intellectual curiosity and knowledge to others through the written word.

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)	6
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	1-3,7
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	4,8,9
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1-5, 7,9
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
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	5

Learning Resources

Required Resources

The resources required will depend on the nature and topic of the research project, and will be arranged in consultation with the project supervisor.

Recommended Resources

Not applicable

Online Learning

The International Programme in Addiction Studies is delivered entirely online; no campus attendance is required. Discussions with project supervisors will generally be via online means.
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes

This course is less structured as everyone works on their own project, but some material is provided online for general guidance.

Workload

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

The expected workload for the course is 20-25 hours a week.

Learning Activities Summary
Research projects are undertaken independently, and are usually either secondary analysis of an existing dataset, or a systematic literature reviews. Projects are supervised by an academic from one of the three universities with expertise on addictions.

General information topics provided online include:
- Planning
- Setting the scene and defining the question
- Exploring methods and data
- Confirming methods
- Compile and assess your data
- Analysis time
- More analysis and compilation of results
- Writing up your results
- Discussion and conclusions
- Report writing
- Final writing and proof-reading
Specific Course Requirements

Not applicable

Small Group Discovery Experience

Not applicable

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	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Online Tests	Formative	Weeks 1-11
Research Project Paper	Summative	Week 12	100%

The Host University’s policies and procedures relating to assessment and examinations will apply as governed by an agreement with Kings' College London and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Assessment Related Requirements

Not applicable

Assessment Detail

In this course, summative assessment consists of the mark for the final research project alone. The report needs to be a minimum of 10,000 words in length, and no longer than 15,000 words (excluding reference list and appendices). It should demonstrate a scholarly knowledge of the literature, and also engagement with the data analysed.

Submission

Specific instructions on the preparation and submission of the research report will be provided on the VCU equivalent of MyUni (known as MyVCU).

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 Access Adelaide.

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.
As this course is part of a joint degree, the IPAS program handbook holds the most important information. Normal University regulations may not apply as another university will be your host university.
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’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

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