Intro to Practice-Based Research Methods

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

120 hours

Undergraduate degree in a health-related discipline

For the purposes of considering requests 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 Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Course content includes:
• Principles of practice-based research
• Practice-based research methods in the context of research study designs
• Methods of practice-based research (descriptive studies, cross-sectional, observational, qualitative)
• Confidentiality and human subject issues
• Writing a practice-based research proposal

By the end of this subject students should be able to:
• Articulate the principles underlying practice-based research
• Understand the place of practice-based research within the full spectrum of research designs used in health services research
• Outline the range of methods used in practice-based research
• Write a practice-based research proposal

• 25% weekly quizzes on lecture content (4 multiple choice questions per week for 5 weeks and 5 multiple choice questions in the last week = 25 questions in all)
• 25% graded contribution to discussion board (weekly contributions to the graded discussion board constituting one original post and at least one follow up post, totally a minimum of 12 posts in all. Forum receives an overall grade according to marking criteria)
• 50% major assignment (draft research proposal), 3,000 words, due Week 6 of the subject

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Theoretical knowledge
• Critical appraisal
• Skills in written communication
• Analytic skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Planning and time management skills