Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- External
- Attendance mode
- Online
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Veterinary Science School
This course covers literature review and critical evaluation of evidence, formulating the research question and study design; data collection and management, basic epidemiological and statistical methods, legislative framework for human and animal ethics in research; scientific writing and reporting. This course will be delivered as Web based through Blackboard.
VETS6001 introduces basic concepts in epidemiology, study design, and data collection and analysis. Students will develop the skills in formulating a testable research question and developing a literature review, selecting an appropriate study design and preparing a research proposal and developing figures using a statistical software package.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are assumed to have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, OR be enrolled in an honours degree.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Ms Kellie Ashley
Timetable
Additional timetable information
This is a self-directed, external, online course with a course manual being the main reference for this course.ﾠ A suggested timetable for the study of the chapters in the manual is listed below- please note that the study timetable is a guide only, but the assessments will be conducted on the dates specified.
Monday, 22 July - Thursday, 12 August 2024 Working through the course manual
Chapter 1: Writing a literature review.
Chapter 2: Searching the literature.
Chapter 3: Using Endnote.
Wednesday, 7 August 2024, 1-2pm Catch-up meeting via zoom and face-to-face (attendance voluntary)
Friday, 13 August 2024 Assessment 1: Writing a structured research question (25%)
Wednesday, 14 August - Wednesday, 28 August 2024 Working through the course manual
Chapter 4: Concepts of causation.
Chapter 5: Types of research study.
Chapter 6: Evaluating evidence: Bias.
Thursday, 15 August 2024, 4-5pm Catch-up meeting via zoom and face-to-face (attendance voluntary)
Thursday, 29 August - Friday, 30 August 2024 Assessment 2: Epi quiz 1: Study design and bias (10%)
Monday, 2 September - Wednesday, 11 September 2024 Working through the course manual
Chapter 7: Evaluating strength of association: measures of effect and effect size.
Chapter 8: Spreadsheet design and data management.
Chapter 9: Types of data, distributions and summary statistics.
Chapter 10: Basic analysis: comparing groups and linear models.
Chapter 11: Power and sample size.
Thursday, 5 September 2024, 9-10am Catch-up meeting via zoom and face-to-face (attendance voluntary)
Thursday, 12 September - Friday, 13 September 2024 Assessment 3: Epi quiz 2: Basic statistics, power and sample size (10%)
Monday, 16 September - Friday, 20 September 2024 Working through the course manual
Chapter 12: Ethics in research.
Monday, 23 September - Sunday, 29 September 2024 MID-SEMESTER BREAK
Monday, 30 September - Thursday, 10 October 2024 Working through the course manual
Chapter 13: Designing a practical research study.
Thursday, 3 Otober 2024, 9-10am Catch-up meeting via zoom and face-to-face (attendance voluntary)
Friday, 11 October 2024 Assessment 4: Design a simple research proposal (30%)
Monday, 14 October - Thursday, 31 October 2024 Working through the course manual
Chapter 14: Interpreting and reporting statistical results.
Chapter 15: Creating publication quality graphics.
Chapter 16: How to write a structured paper.
Thursday, 17 October 2024, 9-10am Catch-up meeting via zoom and face-to-face (attendance voluntary)
Friday, 1 November 2024 Assessment 5: Create a publication quality graph with explanatory figure legend (25%)
Please be aware that due to unforeseen circumstances it may be necessary to make changes to the timetable throughout the semester and so it is important to check VETS6001 Blackboard site regularly. Students will be notified of changes to the timetable via Blackboard Announcements.
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is to equip students with the skills to undertake a research project in the biological and biomedical sciences, from conception of the research question and aims of the study, through to publication and dissemination of results. It is anticipated that completion of this course will assist the student in timely completion of individual research projects, and promote rigorous science and excellence in the quality of research proposals and publications.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Write a structured literature review on a selected topic which includes a critical evaluation of the validity of scientific evidence.
LO2.
Develop a research question. Formulate specific, answerable research questions and develop testable hypotheses.
LO3.
Manage data in spreadsheets, perform basic data manipulation using a statistical package, apply basic statistical methods, classify types of data and graph the distribution of the data. Explain statistical power and calculate sample size required for a simple study.
LO4.
Explain the purpose and scope of the NHMRC Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical conduct Involving Humans in Research and their relationship with state legislation.
LO5.
Prepare a research proposal, including background with brief literature review, clear aims and objectives and hypotheses, and appropriate methodology.
LO6.
For a given data set, select and conduct an appropriate statistical test for a simple comparison, interpret output from a statistical package, and present the results as a publication-quality graph together with a clearly understandable explanatory legend.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Structured research question & literature review | 25% |
13/08/2024 2:00 pm |
| Quiz |
Epi quiz 1: Causality, study design and bias
|
10% |
29/08/2024 - 30/08/2024
The quiz is open from 29 Aug 24 8:00 until 30 Aug 24 14:00. Students have 60 minutes to complete the quiz once they have commenced the quiz. |
| Quiz |
Epi quiz 2: Basic stats, power and sample size
|
10% |
12/09/2024 - 13/09/2024
The quiz is open from 12 Sep 24 8:00 until 13 Sep 24 14:00. Students have 120 minutes to complete the quiz once they have commenced the quiz. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Design a simple research proposal
|
30% |
11/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Create a publication quality graphic with legend
|
25% |
1/11/2024 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Structured research question & literature review
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
13/08/2024 2:00 pm
Task description
Students must formulate a structured research question, conduct a literature search and write a very brief literature review.
Submission guidelines
The assessment task is to be submitted electronically via blackboard by the due date and time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Epi quiz 1: Causality, study design and bias
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
29/08/2024 - 30/08/2024
The quiz is open from 29 Aug 24 8:00 until 30 Aug 24 14:00. Students have 60 minutes to complete the quiz once they have commenced the quiz.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
The online quiz will consist of 11 short answer and multiple choice questions relating to concepts of causation, study design and bias.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Epi quiz 2: Basic stats, power and sample size
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
12/09/2024 - 13/09/2024
The quiz is open from 12 Sep 24 8:00 until 13 Sep 24 14:00. Students have 120 minutes to complete the quiz once they have commenced the quiz.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
The quiz will consist of 11 short answer and multiple choice questions relating to measures of association, basic statistics, sample size and power calculations. Students may be required to perform simple calculations from given data.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Design a simple research proposal
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
11/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Students must design a simple research proposal and compile an appropriate data collection spreadsheet.
Submission guidelines
The assignment is to be submitted electronically via blackboard by the due date and time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Create a publication quality graphic with legend
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
1/11/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Using own data, or a provided data set, students must create a publication quality matrix scatterplot and a boxplot, using a statistical package. The graphs must be accompanied by an appropriate legend.
Submission guidelines
The assignment is to be submitted electronically via blackboard by the due date and time.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0-29% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 30-44% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 45-49% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50-64% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65-74% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75-84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85-100% |
Additional course grading information
To pass VETS6001, students must achieve an overall mark of at least 50% (i.e. for the combined assessment tasks). Late submission of all assessment tasks will carry penalties (10% of available marks will be deducted for each day the item is overdue) unless an extension has been granted. To apply for an extension, which will only be granted in special circumstances, please see further information here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Assessment tasks 1, 4 and 5 are ﾠsubmitted inﾠessay-type format. Students are encouraged to develop these assignments as they work through the relevant course material.
Assessment tasks 2 and 3 are in the form of short answer questions or multiple choice question quizzes. The format of questions in the quizzes is similar to that used in example question in the course manual. The quizzes are made available on blackboard for download by 8:00 on the first day as indicated in the timetable, and should be submitted by the due date (14:00 on the following day).
All assessment tasks are 'open book'. Detailed instructions for assessment tasks 1, 4 and 5 are described in the course manual.
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
Ensuring work-life balance and seeking help at an early stage are key attributes for successful study at university. UQ Student Servicesﾠand the Student Union (UQU) provide many resources for students studying at UQ. Student Services provide a range of mindfulness programs and counselling services to help improve confidence and overall wellbeing. UQU also provide a range of student support, welfare and wellbeing resources.
If immediate help is needed, please call the 24/7ﾠUQ Counselling and Crisis Line 1300 851 998
The course manual 'EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND RESEARCH METHODS FOR VETERINARY AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES' is available for download from the Blackboard site for VETS6001.ﾠ
The following books and papers are also recommended for study and reading:
ﾠDohoo I, Martin W, Stryhn H. Veterinary epidemiologic research. 2nd edn. University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 2009.
ﾠRothman KJ. Modern epidemiology. 3rd edn. Wolters Kluwer Health, Philadelphia, 2015.
ﾠThrusfield M. Veterinary Epidemiology. 4th edn. Blackwell, Oxford, 2018.
ﾠEveritt, BS, Skrondal, A. The Cambridge dictionary of statistics. 4th edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010.
ﾠGay J. Clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine glossary. http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/courses-jmgay/GlossClinEpiEBM.htm. 2010.
ﾠWatson JD, Crick FH. Molecular structure of nucleic acids; a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature (Lond) 1953;171:737-738.
ﾠChesterton RN, Pfeiffer DU, Morris RS, Tanner CM. Environmental and behavioural factors affecting the prevalence of foot lameness in New Zealand dairy herds - a case-control study. N Z Vet J 1989;37:135-142.
Hill AB. The environment and disease: association or causation? Proc R Soc Med 1965;58:295-300.
Evans AS. Causation and disease: the Henle-Koch postulates revisited. Yale J Biol Med 1976;49:175-195.
Onlineﾠ (Warning: 3.86MB)
Rothman KJ, Greenland S. Causation and causal inference in epidemiology. Am J Public Health 2005;95 Suppl 1:S144-150.
Lau J, Antman EM, Jimenez-Silva J et al. Cumulative meta-analysis of therapeutic trials for myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 1992;327:248-254.
O'Connor AM, Sargeant JM, Gardner IA et al. The REFLECT statement: methods and processes of creating reporting guidelines for randomized controlled trials for livestock and food safety. Prev Vet Med 2010;93:11-18.
Innes JF. Outcomes-based medicine in veterinary surgery: levels of evidence. Vet Surg 2007;36:610-612.
Festing MF, Altman DG. Guidelines for the design and statistical analysis of experiments using laboratory animals. ILAR J 2002;43:244-258.
Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D. CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ 2010;340:c332.
von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M et al. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. J Clin Epidemiol 2008;61:344-349.
Stewart JH, Rose RJ, Barko AM. Echocardiograhpy in foals from birth to three months old. Equine Vet J 1984;16:332-341.
ﾠ
R users
An introduction to R : a programming environment for data analysis and graphics, version 2.9.0 / W.N. Venables, D.M. Smith and the R Development Core Team.
Using R for introductory statistics / John Verzani.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 3 |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 1: Writing a literature review |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 2: Searching the literature |
|
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 3: Using Endnote |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 4 To Week 5 |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 4: Concepts of causation |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 5: Types of research study |
|
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 6: Evaluating evidence: bias |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 8 |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 7: Evaluating strength of association |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 8: Spreadsheet design and data management |
|
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 9: Types of data and summary statistics Types of data, distributions and summary statistics |
|
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 10: Basic analysis: comparing groups Comparing groups and overview of linear models |
|
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 11: Power and sample size |
|
Week 9 |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 12: Ethics in research Study the 'National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research', the 'Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes', and ancillary legislation and codes |
Multiple weeks From Week 10 To Week 11 |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 13: Designing a practical research study |
Multiple weeks From Week 12 To Revision week |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 14: Interpreting and reporting statistics Interpreting and reporting output from statistical packages in plain English |
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 15: Creating graphs Creating publication quality graphics with accompanying explanatory legend |
|
Not Timetabled |
Chapter 16: How to write a structured paper |
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.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course: