Unit name | Research Methods |
---|---|
Unit code | PHEDM4011 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Charlie Foster |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This course introduces basic principles of research methods and various research designs. Essential scientific themes addressed include basic statistics, epidemiology research, quantitative research, qualitative research, concepts of validity, reliability, measurement and research ethics. Students are also guided on how to read and critique peer-reviewed published research articles. This course also introduces the student to research designs, evaluation and reporting of scientific research. Applications are presented to guide the student toward their own scientific investigation. Applications of appropriate statistical and qualitative analyses to various research designs are also explored. The content is directly relevant to a career in public health, health promotion, research and/or academia.
Aims:
Teaching will include synchronous lectures with breakout individual/small group work sessions as well as asynchronous narrated PowerPoint short lectures each weekm. It will also involve directed learning sessions through asynchronous activity either independent or in peer learning sets; academic readings and writing for research activity, as well as drop in or Q & A sessions.
Assessment is through the completion of one written 4000 word assignment that comprises(a) One structured essays critically appraising two scientific papers covering qualitative, quantitative and epidemiological research designs and (b) provide alternative designs and methods to improve one study’s research” The assignment is directly related to the learning outcomes and students are required to show an in-depth understanding of the unit at a level consistent with a Master's degree.