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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

Introduces students to the major philosophical perspectives of health research. Key methodologies and methods are examined. Students familiarise themselves with practical aspects of doing rigorous health research. Techniques required to initiate a research project and write a proposal are explored.

Unit content

Topic 1: Introduction to health research and methodological perspectives

Topic 2: Research problems, questions and the literature

Topic 3: Selecting an appropriate research methodology and design

Topic 4: Research project planning

Topic 5: Methods of data collection

Topic 6: Methods of data analysis and interpretation

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 explain the main health research philosophical perspectives and methodologies including their assumptions and practical applications
2 frame a problem statement and formulate different types of research questions able to be addressed by different methodologies
3 find and critique relevant research literature to justify further research
4 evaluate the strengths and limitations of various methods and techniques including those that maximise validity and reliability in research
5 construct an argument to justify one research approach to a problem in comparison to a different research approach to the same problem

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

  1. explain the main health research philosophical perspectives and methodologies including their assumptions and practical applications
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  2. frame a problem statement and formulate different types of research questions able to be addressed by different methodologies
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
  3. find and critique relevant research literature to justify further research
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  4. evaluate the strengths and limitations of various methods and techniques including those that maximise validity and reliability in research
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  5. construct an argument to justify one research approach to a problem in comparison to a different research approach to the same problem
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:

Prescribed texts

  • Liamputtong, P. (Ed.), 2017, Research methods in health: foundations for evidence-based practice, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Victoria. ISBN: ISBN 9780190304300 (paperback), 9780190304317 (electronic book).
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.