Adolescent Health Minor Thesis

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the 3 Disability Liaison Unit website : 4 http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The purpose of this subject is to develop the critical disciplines of research methodology and to arm students with the necessary knowledge and skills to analyse and interpret research that informs our understanding of young peoples health and well-being. The aim is also to provide students with the skills needed to design, implement and communicate the findings of research that will contribute to more effective program delivery to young people, within and across different sectors.

This subject will provide participants with the critical skills needed to design their research project, including the research questions, a rationale - why is it worth studying this question/area, the aims and objectives of the research; identification of theoretical/conceptual frameworks to be used as well as relevant bodies of literature; methodology - how will the problem be investigated and why is this the best design.

On completion of the minor thesis, students will have:

• Read and written about their specific area of research interest;
• Defined a research problem or issue;
• Developed understandings of research approach(es) and techniques that are relevant to the proposed project;
• Written a detailed research proposal;
• Conducted a thorough literature review;
• Selected an appropriate research design;
• Justified appropriate methods for data analysis;
• Demonstrated skill in using appropriate methods;
• Demonstrated skill in interpreting the data in such a way that has relevance for youth health policy or practice;
• Demonstrated skill in writing up the results.

Methods of study may include policy analysis, theoretically-based studies as well as methods based on the collection and analysis of interview or survey data, or as determined by both the student and the supervisor. In this unit students will have a supervisor appointed, work with the supervisor to develop a research proposal, enhance their ability to plan and conduct research in a specific methodological framework, explore current literature relating to their proposed research topic, and prepare an application for human research ethics approval.
There is no prepared content in this unit. It is a research unit in which students, in consultation with an appointed supervisor, carry out research tasks to develop new knowledge (content) themselves. From time to time, supervisors will provide students with appropriate readings to support their research. Supervisors are appointed by the co-ordinator in consultation with the student.
Students will be assigned a supervisor in the year they begin their thesis.

• Develop research skills;
• Clearly state aims and objectives of the research project, and methodology that will be implemented in order to meet the aims and objectives.
• Review of literature relevant to the research question
• Permission for the implementation of the research project, development of ethics approval application as appropriate
• Develop their critical thinking and analytic skills;
• Be able to communicate a complex research argument through writing;
• Design and undertake advanced research at a postgraduate level;
• Further develop critical thinking and analytic skills;
• Apply for and complete a human research ethics application (as appropriate) ;
• Attain a high level of presentation skills utilizing appropriate information and communication technologies;
• Prepare and write a professional journal article for a relevant publication in the field of adolescent health and welfare.

- a 3000 word research proposal (or a 30 minute presentation on research design and implementation) (20%), Due: Early Semester 1 (Week 4);
- a 10,000 word minor research thesis on a topic relevant to the field of adolescent health, (80%), Due: End Semester 2 (week 12).

As part of thesis development, the majority of students will also be required to complete a University of Melbourne Ethics Standard Project Application Form, Due: Early Semester 1. Students must pass the minor thesis and receive a combined score for the thesis and research proposal of at least 50% in order to pass this subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Develop research skills;
• Clearly state aims and objectives of the research project, and methodology that will be implemented in order to meet the aims and objectives.
• Review of literature relevant to the research question
• Permission for the implementation of the research project, development of ethics approval application as appropriate
• Develop their critical thinking and analytic skills;
• Be able to communicate a complex research argument through writing;
• Design and undertake advanced research at a postgraduate level;
• Further develop critical thinking and analytic skills;
• Apply for and complete a human research ethics application (as appropriate) ;
• Attain a high level of presentation skills utilizing appropriate information and communication technologies;
• Prepare and write a professional journal article for a relevant publication in the field of adolescent health and welfare.