PUB HLTH 4600A - Honours Research Project Part 1

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2019

The course is designed for students to develop knowledge and skills in a chosen research field as well as general skills in working independently, critical reasoning, scientific writing and presentation. The course will expose students to a professional research environment and provide the opportunity to contribute to the body of knowledge in the public health domain. To this end students will be expected to engage in an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisor.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 4600A
    Course Honours Research Project Part 1
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites PUB HLTH 4500 OL
    Restrictions Only available to students enrolled in BHlthMedSc(Hons)
    Assessment Mid-year review progress, Public health professional development, Oral Presentation and Honours Research Project.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Clare Hume

    Honours Coordinator Dr Adriana Milazzo
    Phone: +61 8313 0199
    Email: adriana.milazzo@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 9, Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, North Terrace, Adelaide

    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.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    Critically appraise research evidence in a specific area relevant to public health

    Formulate a research question relevant to public health

    Select and justify an appropriate research design to investigate the research question

    Demonstrate the skills required to conduct a research project and analyse and interpret research findings

    Identify and communicate the ethical dimensions of research and demonstrate the skills and attitudes of an ethical researcher

    Use appropriate communication styles and terminology to present research findings effectively in oral and written forms

    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, 5
    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 - 6
    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
    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
    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
    5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources

    Access to bibliographical databases and peer-reviewed journals and relevant software for analysis.
    All students enrolled in the course will be able to obtain an electronic copy of the Honours Research Project Handbook through the University Intranet (MyUni http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/).

    Recommended Resources
    All students enrolled in the course will be able to obtain an electronic copy of the Honours Research Project Handbook through the University Intranet (MyUni http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/).
    Additional course-related material will be available through MyUni.
    Online Learning

    The primary means of communication outside of formal contact hours will be via MyUni. Announcements and discussion boards will be the main method of communicating with the student cohort. Research project material will be supported by online resources via MyUni.

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    This course is one where independent research is undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor, with whom the student meets regularly across two semesters. In addition, regular seminars throughout the course will be held by the Honours Course Coordinator to support students in the development and execution of their research. Students will have access to PUB HLTH 4500OL ‘Developing a Research Proposal’ a core course as part of the Honours program to support the development of their research proposal and literature review.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

    Small Group Discovery Experience
    N/A
  • 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

    TASK TYPE

    WEIGHTING

    COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

    Mid-year progress review

    Formative

    0%

    1, 2, 3, 5

    Public health professional development

    Summative

    10%

    1, 3, 6

    Oral presentation

    Summative

    20%

    1 - 6

    Major research project

    Summative

    70%

    1 - 6

    Assessment Detail

    Mid-year review progress (formative): Students will present the progress of their research project to the Honours Course Coordinator.

    Public health professional development (10%): Students are required to engage in 10 hours of public health activities throughout the year demonstrating skills in either leadership, career readiness or competencies related to public health. Activities will be recorded in a log including details about the type of activity, length of time and where the activity was undertaken. In addition to the log, a 600-700 word summary will be written reflecting upon the experience and how it has contributed to their practice as a public health professional.

    Oral presentation (20%): Students will present the final results of their research project to members of the School of Public Health. This will demonstrate their ability to translate research findings into practical implications of relevance to public health and the significance of their research.

    Honours research project (70%): Students will have two options for final submission of their research project.

    Option 1 Manuscript

    Manuscript style presentation of research project (3,500 to 5,000 words). The manuscript should conform to the guidelines for submission for publication in a journal to be determined by the student in consultation with their supervisor.

    Option 2 Conventional thesis

    Conventional thesis style presentation of research project (8,000 words). The thesis should include the following sections: abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results and discussion.

    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  <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.

    Course Grading

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

    NOG (No Grade Associated)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing

    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
  • 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.

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