Availabilities:

2018 unit offering information will be available in September 2017

Unit Summary

Unit type

PG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

9

Level of learning

Introductory

Former School/College

Former School of Health and Human Sciences

Unit aim

Provides an overview of current theory and issues in research practice. The major philosophical perspectives of health research are examined from historical and social contexts. A critical analysis of empiricist, interpretive and critical approaches to health research will be the focus of this unit.

Unit content

Section A - Exploring qualitative research
Section B - Designing qualitative research
Section C - Doing qualitative research: Methods and practical issues
Section D - Qualitative research applications

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 understand the main health research philosophical perspectives and methodologies including their assumptions and practical applications
2 frame a problem statement and formulate qualitative research questions
3 critically appraise relevant research literature to investigate a research problem
4 evaluate the strengths and limitations of qualitative methods and research techniques
5 devise methods to maximise issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research
6 justify appropriate qualitative research methodology and design in response to a research problem, based on critical appreciation of practical and ethical issues

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. understand the main health research philosophical perspectives and methodologies including their assumptions and practical applications
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  2. frame a problem statement and formulate qualitative research questions
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  3. critically appraise relevant research literature to investigate a research problem
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  4. evaluate the strengths and limitations of qualitative methods and research techniques
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  5. devise methods to maximise issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  6. justify appropriate qualitative research methodology and design in response to a research problem, based on critical appreciation of practical and ethical issues
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4: