Epidemiology Research Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

340 hours

AND EITHER

POPH90146 Study Design in Epidemiology
POPH90147 Epidemiology in Practice

OR

For students enrolled in the Master of Science - Epidemiology

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 Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject provides students with the opportunity to plan and execute substantial research-based projects under supervision. Specific research projects will depend upon the availability of appropriate expertise, but may address a broad range of epidemiological issues.

Students will be required to undertake two projects from two of the following categories: (i) a systematic literature review, (ii) a protocol design, (iii) an analysis of an existing data set, and (iv) a meta-analysis. They can complete these in any order. Students will give two oral presentations, one for each of their projects describing their findings and analyses.

Students enrolled in the Master of Science (Epidemiology program) are required to complete a 50-point Research Project. Students will need to discuss and receive approval for their proposed combination of Research Project subjects (as indicated below) with the course coordinator to ensure they will have completed a total of 50 points by the end of their course.

After completing this subject, students will be able to:

• Plan and execute a substantial research-based project
• Critically appraise a body of epidemiological literature
• Design epidemiological studies
• Analyse and interpret data from epidemiological studies
• Write scientific reports
• Present results of epidemiological investigations to a non-expert audience

The assessment requirements below are applicable to the entire 50 point Research Project.

• A first 20 minute oral presentation due late in the first semester of this subject (10%)
• A Written report of 5000 words for the first project due late in the first semester of this subject (40%)
• A second 20 minute oral presentation due late in the second semester of this subject (10%)
• Written report of 5000 words for the second project due towards the end of the second semester of this subject (40%)

None

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of this subject, students will gain skills in:

• articulating the breadth of knowledge gained in a particular discipline;
• critically appraising draft documents;
• developing the ability to exercise critical judgement;
• expressing persuasive intellectual arguments;
• writing research reports and scientific papers;
• giving oral presentations;
• rigorous and independent thinking; and
• managing time and competing deadlines