Course coordinator
Professor Piers Dawes
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Health & Rehab Sci School
An introduction to understanding and undertaking research in Health Sciences that is the foundation for evidence based clinical practice.
This course is about acquiring the skills in understanding and undertaking research in health sciences that are the foundation for evidence based clinical practice. This course gives students opportunities to collaborate with experienced researchers and allied health student groups and to learn competencies for building knowledge and improving health and rehabilitation clinical practice. The course develops essential research competencies in assessing and profiling of populations, including completion of a research project. Students are guided through the stages of planning and conducting a qualitative and a quantitative research project.
The course content concentrates on the discovery of key research principles and approaches and their application in evidence based clinical practice. Students learn ethical considerations in research, qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and data analysis (including introductory statistics), and how to manage, synthesise and report findings.
Interactive on-line course material and active participation in a group work will familiarise students with ways of collecting and analysing data. Research design, data collection, data management and data analysis skills include understanding both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, andﾠinterpreting the findings.
The course precedes advanced research courses e.g.,ﾠHRSS77801 - Research Project
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course builds on the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Stage 1 Foundational Research Competencies. Itﾠis assumed that you have competencies in information literacy, Evidence Based Practice,ﾠand introductoryﾠresearch principles in the health and social sciences. It is also assumed that you have a minimum mathematics background, with a basic understanding of common mathematical notation, and basic word processing and computer skills sufficient for the completion of practical workshop activities.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
HRSS3101
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
A detailed timetable for HRSS7101 is provided on the HRSS7101 Blackboard Site under "Course Information". Please note that students are expected to attend allﾠtimetabled sessions. The team research project is worked on during these timetabled sessions. Additionally, only students to attend timetabled sessions in person will be able to complete the quiz assessment.
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is for you to become a competent research collaborator such that you will become competent in collaborating with a range of stakeholders (i.e., clients, allied health teams, organisations, research generators) in professional practice and research programs to produce improved outcomes for clients (e.g., research to fill research-knowledge gap, continuous quality improvement, knowledge translation). Competencies include foundation knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research processes (e.g., ethical considerations, data collection, data analysis, data management) and communication (e.g., group presentations, reports).
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the nature and role of research in the health and rehabilitation sciences.
LO2.
Demonstrate a foundation knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodology research.
LO3.
Discuss social and ethical responsibilities of researchers and apply ethical standards in research.
LO4.
Plan and conduct a research project supported by experienced researchers.
LO5.
Work effectively as a team in the planning and conducting of a research project.
LO6.
Effectively and appropriately communicate insights from quantitative and qualitative data as evidence within a given context for a professional and lay audience.
LO7.
Develop interprofessional practice skills in conflict management and collaborative leadership and enhance skills in role clarification, team functioning, interprofessional communication, client-centred care.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project |
Qualitative written project report
|
40% | |
| Project | Quantitative video report | 40% | |
| Quiz |
Quiz
|
20% |
Assessment details
Qualitative written project report
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project
- Weight
- 40%
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
To achieve the outcomes of this course, you will be required to design and carry out a qualitative research project with a focus on healthy activities working in a group of up to 4 students.
Each member of the group will conduct a qualitative in-depth interview with a real person (not an "Islander") to explore your group's research question. You will then work as a group to analyse and report the results in your project report.
In your group, you are required to submit a structured written research report for your qualitative research project, outlining the background and aims of your project, research aims, methodology, results and discussion.
Your research proposal should follow the template provided on Blackboard, with a maximum word limit of 2,100 words.
Submission guidelines
Group submission via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Quantitative video report
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 40%
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L06
Task description
Quantitative video report
You will work individually to design and carry out a quantitative study of healthy activities in a population. Your study should consist of an experimental study that tests the effects of an intervention on an outcome(s) of interest. This study will be conducted with residents of “The Islands”.
You will submit a pre-recorded 5-minute video presentation which summarises your quantitative research project, outlining the background and aims of your project, method, results, discussion and conclusions, and references.
Submission guidelines
Blackboard via group assignment submission
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Quiz
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
A weekly quiz will take place during the timetabled practical's each week. Only students who attend the practical in person will be able to complete the quiz. There are ten quizzes (one for each of the practical's) over the course of the semester. Students will receive a mark of zero for any quizzes that are missed. The final grade for the quiz component will be based on the best eight quiz marks (out of a possible maximum of ten). The quiz is 'open book' format, and students may confer within their groups to discuss responses to the quiz questions.
The weekly quiz will include multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions. The quiz will assess content from the mixed methods, quantitative, and qualitative research streams taught throughout the semester. The quiz will assess both your synthesised knowledge of the course and attendance and engagement with the practical's. You may be expected to answer quiz questions based on activities completed during the practical's, including reading and interpreting computer output from quantitative statistical analysis.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 34 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 0 - 34%. |
| 2 (Fail) | 35 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 35 - 44%. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 54 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 45 - 54%. A grade of 3 will be awarded to a student who achieves a final mark of 55% or higher but who does not pass the 'must pass' assessment items noted below. |
| 4 (Pass) | 55 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 55 - 64% and has passedﾠthe 'must pass' assessment items noted below. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 65 - 74% and has passedﾠthe 'must pass' assessment itemsﾠnoted below. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 75 - 84% and has passed the 'must pass' assessment items noted below. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 85 - 100% and has passed the 'must pass' assessment items noted below. |
Additional course grading information
Final marks falling between whole percentages will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage. Tie-breaking will be conducted using the round half up method whereby half-way values are always rounded up, meaning, for example, that 89.5% and above will be rounded to 90% and 89.49% and below will be rounded down to 89%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Submitting assessment in Blackboard and Turnitin
When assessment is submitted through Blackboard or Turnitin you will receive a confirmation page as a digital receipt.ﾠThis information will also be sent to your student e-mail account.ﾠPlease ensure you keep this email.
Instructions on how to submit assignments through Blackboard and TurnItIn are available at: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment. Please review this information so you understand how to successfully submit your assessment items.
Resubmission/Resit of assessment items
There are no resit or resubmission options for this course.
Use of Generative AI in Assessments
Students may use AI tools to assist them with developing their projects, provided that students i) use AI appropriately and ii) provide an explanation in the Methods section of the report about how AI tools were used in the project. An explanation of what constitutes 'appropriate use' of AI is provided in the assignment descriptions available on Blackboard (e.g., using AI to provide student with summaries of background research on topic(s) of interest). Inappropriate use of AI technologies (e.g., using AI to write any part of an assignment) is prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.ﾠ
Applying for and Assessment Extension
Extensions can be requested for the following assessment items:
ﾷﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠ Qualitative written project report
ﾷﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠ Quantitative video report
Please apply for an extension request via my.UQ > my.UQ Dashboard > my. Requests and provide evidence of circumstance, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission date. Further information regarding what constitutes an acceptable reason for an extension is listed on the my.UQ website: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
The Edge site will provide relevant learning resources, including course content, quizzes and discussion boards. All announcements and course assessment will be through the Blackboard site.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.