| Effective Term: | 2025/04 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Research Methods for Health |
| Unit ID: | HEALT6001 |
| Credit Points: | 30.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 060301 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
The unit provides an advanced level exploration of the research process exploring the central issues in designing a research study with a particular emphasis on the conduct of research in the practice-based health sciences. This unit develops understanding of the major theoretical and practical facets of research design focusing on: planning a specific research project, formulating and justifying a research question(s), approaches to social research, selecting an appropriate methodology and sampling procedures to test a research question(s). It also addresses research approaches, ethical and economical considerations in research, technical writing and advanced level information retrieval skills as well as methods of communicating research data in the health science sector. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | |  | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Evaluate the principles of ethical research and the relationship between research, critical thinking and reflection in the development of knowledge for health care |
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| K2. | Synthesize the principles of evidence based practice with recognizing the importance of incorporating research evidence into health care |
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| K3. | Appraise the elements that underpin coherence between the stages of the research process specific to health science research |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Illustrate critical thinking skills and inquiry strategies for the analysis of quality within research for informing health care |
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| S2. | Critically examine the methodologies associated commonly with the two broad research paradigms used to investigate questions of significance to the health care |
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| S3. | Construct a specific research question(s) to address a specific research focus |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Apply the research process for the development of a research proposal incorporating a close examination of ethical, methodological and design related issues for future implementation |
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| A2. | Construct a critical appraisal of research and evidence based literature for informing the health care. |
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| A3. | Appraise a research design including a methodology, data collection and analysis methods, ethical considerations developed in order to address a specific research question |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics may include: Concepts of knowledge creation in health science research Ethical principles in health sciences Formulating specific research questions Approaches to social research Ensuring coherence between research question and research design Sampling procedures appropriate to a research question Procedures for data analysis appropriate to a research question Communicating research data in the health science sector |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | 3 - N/A | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations. | 3 - N/A | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning. | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities. | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life | 1 - Yes |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 | Critical appraisal of selected literature from a relevant area of health sciences research. | Critical Analysis Essay | 20 - 40% | | 2. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 | Develop a research proposal for research / scholarship in the area of health sciences. | Research Project Proposal | 60 - 80% |
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