Course Coordinator: Professor Vivienne Moore
Phone: +61 8313 0116
Email: vivienne.moore@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Level 8, Hughes Building

1	Explain the principles of experimental design and hypothesis testing
2	Summarise considerations for choosing a specific animal mode
3	Describe sources of bias in randomized controlled trials in humans, and strategies to reduce bias; apply this knowledge to appraise the quality of published trials
4	Deliberate the ethical considerations in experimental research with animals and humans
5	Select and calculate descriptive statistics, as appropriate to normal and non-normal distributions; construct hypotheses, analyse experimental data and interpret results using independent samples t-test, the chi-square test of association, or linear  regression, as appropriate
6	Describe the structure of a journal article presenting experimental research, explain the purpose of each section, locate specific information, and interpret basic statistical results
7	Provide a rationale for systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials, outline the main steps involved, and interpret main findings; locate systematic reviews
8	Discuss knowledge translation and related processes, and justify the need for translational research
9	Explain best practice principles in science communication and identify challenges for researchers  when disseminating result to the community
10	Critically examine the role and value of experimental studies, and the inherent concept of causation, in the wider context of research to improve health and wellbeing

Glaser AN.  High-yield biostatistics, epidemiology and public health.  Fourth edition. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2014. 

In addition, a set of readings, including journal articles, will be made available to students electronically. This will be supplemented by  web-links for specific topics, as relevant.

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a) Lectures are used to introduce and illustrate concepts.  Lectures will not be a 50 minute didactic experience, but will incorporate opportunities for active learning.

b) Practicals provide an interactive forum to clarify and apply concepts from lectures and strengthen understanding.

c) Tutorials require students to engage with readings and solve problems in advance, and provide an opportunity to consolidate this
learning through discussion and comparison with the work of others.

A combination of Lectures, Tutorials and Practicals. Approximately 3 hours contact time per week.

Topic

Using statistics to describe data that are normally or non-normally distributed

Introduction to hypothesis testing; analysis of continuous outcomes using independent samples t-test

Experimental research with humans: the randomized controlled trial and ethical considerations

Sources of bias in randomized controlled trials

Critical appraisal of randomized controlled trials

More on hypothesis testing; analysis of categorical outcomes using the chi-square test of association

Fundamentals of linear regression

Communicating results of scientific research: principles and perils

Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials

How are research results translated into changes in practice or policy?

The place of experiments in the universe of health research

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A number of sessions will be dedicated to a small group project in which groups chose a specific scenario (from a range available) that presents ethical or science communication issues. Students will undertake self-directed investigation of the issues, with academics available as mentors.  This will culminate in a presentation to the class to share what was learned a[VM1] nd a short individual piece  of written work (together worth 10% of the marks for the course).

Assessment Task	Task Type	Weighting	Learning Course Objective(s) being addressed
Written assignment	Summative	20%	1-3
Written assignment	Summative	20%	5-6
Group project - presentation and individual written work	Summative	10%	4, 10
Exam	Summative	50%	1-10

1. Students are expected prepare for tutorials by attempting the tutorial questions before the session.

2. Students are expected to actively participate in tutorial and practicals.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1 - 20% (approx. 1000 words)

The first written assignment will involve answering a series of questions explaining the principles of experimental design, choice of  animal model, opportunities for bias in randomized controlled trials, and strategies to minimise bias. It will involve reading extracts from published journal articles. 

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 2 - 20% (approx. 1000 words)

The second assignment will require students to read a published journal article and answer a series of questions concerning the structure of the paper, the statistical analysis undertaken, and the interpretation of results.

GROUP PROJECT - 10%

Students will give a group presentation to the class, based on their small group work, in which they present and deliberate ethical or science  communication issues relevant to a specific scenario (chosen from a range available).  Each student will also submit a short individual piece of written work on the project.

EXAM - 50% (2 hours, closed book)

An exam will cover all material in the course, and comprise a mix questions requiring short or extended answers, basic statistical  calculations, reading and interpreting published abstracts.

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  <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/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.