HLTH SC 3012B - Research Placement (Public Health) Part 2

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2019

The Research Placement course is a capstone experience designed to develop research skills in third-year BHlthMedSc students through a year-long research placement related to their major. Students will design a project, learn research methodology in performing the project, analyse, interpret and communicate the findings of a research project or internship placement under academic supervision in a Small Group Discovery Experience. The research placement experience will be supported by workshop modules and journal club sessions. These will include: 1. Common modules on core competencies (eg research integrity, research ethics), 2. Major-specific modules including journal clubs to develop evaluation skills 3. A fixed number of skills modules selected according to skills required for the specific placement and the student's existing skills/courses already completed (e.g. systematic review principles, laboratory research design). Each student will document their research activities with a final written report, and in addition will communicate their research findings at an end-of-year symposium.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code HLTH SC 3012B
    Course Research Placement (Public Health) Part 2
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites HLTH SC 3012A
    Restrictions Only available to BHlthMedSc, BHlthMedSc (Adv) and BHlthSc (Adv) students. Students may only complete the 6 units of research placement within their chosen major.
    Course Description The Research Placement course is a capstone experience designed to develop research skills in third-year BHlthMedSc students through a year-long research placement related to their major. Students will design a project, learn research methodology in performing the project, analyse, interpret and communicate the findings of a research project or internship placement under academic supervision in a Small Group Discovery Experience.

    The research placement experience will be supported by workshop modules and journal club sessions. These will include:
    1. Common modules on core competencies (eg research integrity, research ethics),
    2. Major-specific modules including journal clubs to develop evaluation skills
    3. A fixed number of skills modules selected according to skills required for the specific placement and the student's existing skills/courses already completed (e.g. systematic review principles, laboratory research design).

    Each student will document their research activities with a final written report, and in addition will communicate their research findings at an end-of-year symposium.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Scott Hanson-Easey

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Lisa Smithers

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Lisa Smithers
    Phone: +61 8313 0546
    Email: lisa.smithers@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 9, Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building

    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 Planner.

    A full course timetable can be accessed on MyUni
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Locate, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant evidence from multiple sources in a planned and timely manner.
    2. Analyse and interpret project results correctly and in context.
    3. Work effectively in teams to investigate contemporary problems.
    4. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills including giving and receiving constructive feedback.
    5. Behave appropriately in a professional setting.
    6. Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues that arise in health sciences research and practice.
    7. Demonstrate awareness of different research approaches to improve health and wellbeing.
    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, 2, 6, 7
    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, 2, 3
    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
    3, 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 - 7
    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, 5, 6
    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
    3, 4, 5, 6, 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    No single textbook covers the material to be considered in this course. All students are required to review the literature relevant to their research placement.
    Recommended Resources
    Higgs J, Ajjawi R, McAllister L, Trede F. Communicating in the Health Sciences. OUP Australia. 2008. This text covers section on plagiarism, learning to do academic writing, learning to write essays and assignments and referencing. It is not compulsory but will assist you in your work across a range of courses.

    The text below may be useful for report writing.
    Summers J, Smith M. Communication Skills Handbook 3rd Edition. Brisbane: Wiley; 2010 is a useful guide on scientific writing, referencing and communication skills to assist students with the required format of assessment tasks and assignments. The handbook provides successful approaches to researching, writing and referencing, along with examples and practical tips for preparing and presenting oral reports, essays and assignments. It is not compulsory but will assist you in your work across a range of courses.
    Online Learning
    Readings, including journal articles, will be made available to students electronically. This will be supplemented by web-links for specific topics, as relevant. Project supervisors will provide or direct students to necessary materials during research project work.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The purpose of this course is to provide a full year (as Parts 1 and 2) of research experience in small groups for all third year students in the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (BHMS) programs, supervised by academic or research staff, and culminating in a conference-style presentation in Part 2 as a capstone experience. Part 1 is the pre-requisite for Part 2. The research experiences in the Research Placement course are not intended to align with any lecture courses; instead the course is designed to run “stand alone”. Placement groups thus may often be populated by blends of students who are in different major programs that have been selected by the supervisor as appropriate for the project, promoting crossdisciplinary exchanges of ideas that areanticipated to foster teamwork and breadth of knowledge.

    Research projects are flexible, and may be designed as a single year-long study, or a series of related studies, as determined by the supervisor. To best fit to the field of work, research activities may be spaced weekly, or packed into a shorter span of days, to achieve 20 h of research contact time per semester.

    Assessment tasks:
    Journal clubs
    Workshops
    Final report
    Poster presentation
    Workload

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

    Students are reminded that the overall workload for a full time student as stated in the University of Adelaide Calendar is an average of 48 hours per week per teaching period (i.e. semester). This includes contact and non-contact hours and includes general study and research time for assignments.

    This course is a 3 unit course and thus represents quarter of a full time load. You should thus be putting in an average of 12 hours of study each week (including contact hours) for this course.
    Learning Activities Summary
    As part of their research placement, and in addition to other assessment tasks, students read papers and prepare answers to questions for discussion in face-to-face teaching session journal clubs that are aligned with the students' majors (or combined sets of majors).

    Four papers are selected for discussion by Research Placement Coordinators. Classroom sessions may include students from single or
    combined majors to accommodate approximately 20 students per session.

    Students will remain in the same journal club throughout the Part 2 semester. Marks are given by tutors for attendance and participation.
    Specific Course Requirements
    In some instances students may require police clearances or immunisations for placements.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    This course provides a Small Group Discovery Experience for all level III students in the BHlthMedSc and BHlthMedSc(Adv) programs. Students will work singly or in small groups of no more than 10 students with a supervisor to develop research competencies including design, methodology, analysis, interpretation and communication and gain experience in the context of a research/industry setting.
  • Assessment

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

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

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Formative or Summative Weighting (I)Individual; (G) Group
    Journal clubs (4 during semester) S 20% attendance and participation (I)
    Workshop F 0%
    Final report S 45% (I)
    Poster Presentation S 25% (G)
    Research Supervisor's mark S 10% (I)




    Assessment Related Requirements
    N/A
    Assessment Detail
    Refer to Assessment Summary
    Submission
    All assignments will be submitted via MyUni
    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
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