CHIR13012 Research Literacy for Health
Professionals
Term 2 - 2019
Profile information current as at 19/07/2019 06:45 pm
All details in this unit profile for CHIR13012 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning
partnership between the University and you (our student). The information will not be changed unless absolutely
necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information
Overview
This unit has been developed for you to begin your journey in the expansive field of research. This unit will introduce you
to some fundamental principles of research practice and allow for a greater appreciation of research methodology,
critical appraisal and basic statistical analysis. This unit will utilise the principle that ‘reading research’ should be the first
goal of any research course. You will be given research articles to read in preparation for all weekly lectures and offered
the opportunity to undertake formative self-assessment utilising the lecture material and the pre-lecture readings. By
the end of this unit, you will be equipped to embark on more rigorous research related units and be prepared to
undertake the foundations of an Honour's or Master's level research project.
Details
Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Completion of 96 credit points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent
unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this
timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and
Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2019
Brisbane
Mackay
Sydney
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a
mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must
maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period
(satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Website
This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important
that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.
Class and Assessment Overview
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of
study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Regional Campuses
Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Noosa, Rockhampton, Townsville
Metropolitan Campuses
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Assessment Overview
1. Portfolio
Weighting: 50%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on
the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an
overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be
completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular
assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task
may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final
grades.
CQUniversity Policies
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
Grades and Results Policy
Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
Review of Grade Procedure
Academic Misconduct Procedure – title changing to Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the
CQUniversity Policy site.
Previous Student Feedback
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback
items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from end of term student evaluation
Feedback
Students found the weighting between two assessments (50:50) to be a noticeably challenging aspect of the unit.
Recommendation
The unit coordinator will explore the possibility of adding an additional assessment, with the percentage of each
reduced, that will address this issue.
Feedback from end of term student evaluation
Feedback
Students found the Moodle site difficult to use as it took time to load due to the size of the pictures used
Recommendation
The unit coordinator will closely monitor the situation as the feedback was in direct contrast to that given in 2017 where
students found the same site easy to navigate and use. The unit-coordinator will look at obtaining mid-term feedback so
that any changes may be implemented in a timely manner.
Feedback from end of term student evaluation
Feedback
Students found the course helped them better understand how to assess the quality of research they were reading
Recommendation
The unit coordinator is pleased the students found the content helped them to better understand research and will
continue to explore ways to assist students in assessing research.
Feedback from end of term student evaluation
Feedback
Students found the teaching material and videos produced was of a high quality thereby facilitating a better
understanding of the topics being presented
Recommendation
The unit coordinator is pleased students appreciated the quality of the content and will continue to provide high quality
content. He will also investigate the potential of having material linked to an external (and private) YouTube site that will
host the video material.
Feedback from end of term student evaluation
Feedback
Students found the unit conveyors and facilitators both passionate and knowledgeable. This enabled students to better
understand the material being delivered as questions were easily answered
Recommendation
The faculty will continue to offer an engaging and supportive learning environment.
Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Critique the advantages and disadvantages of various research designs used in primary and secondary research
2. Evaluate research using standardised and non-standardised critical appraisal methods
3. Analyse basic research data and provide appropriate summaries for further evaluation
4. Compose a research question in order to develop a collaborative proposal to investigate a selected field of
enquiry
5. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualised and patient-centred
framework.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
Introductory Intermediate Graduate Professional Advanced
⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚬ ⚬
Level Level Level Level Level
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Portfolio - 50% ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
2 - Written Assessment - 50% ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
2 - Problem Solving ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
3 - Critical Thinking ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
4 - Information Literacy ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
5 - Team Work ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence ⚫ ⚫
8 - Ethical practice ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
9 - Social Innovation
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 - Portfolio - 50% ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
2 - Written Assessment - 50% ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫
Textbooks and Resources
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
You will need access to the following IT resources:
CQUniversity Student Email
Internet
Unit Website (Moodle)
SPSS 20.0 or greater will be required for data analysis
MS Excel 2016 will be required for data analysis
Referencing Style
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
Teaching Contacts
Andrew Vitiello Unit Coordinator
[email protected]
Schedule - Research Literacy for Health Professionals - Term 2 2019
Week 1 - 15 Jul 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
1. Select your favourite piece of research
and discuss 3 reasons why it appeals to
Welcome & Unit Expectations you
2. Select a research topic that you would
like to investigate in more detail.
Week 2 - 22 Jul 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
PICO and CA/RoBT
Week 3 - 29 Jul 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
1. Come up with a clinical question using
PICO, then select 3 papers of a similar
methodology and use a CA/RoBT of choice
to assess their quality
2. 500-word critical discussion on PICO
development and the overall CA/RoBT
result of the papers chosen
OR
Language & candour in research
1. 500-word critical discussion on how the
language from the mass media article
changed from its original publication (peer-
reviewed journal) to its final mass media
destination
2. Select 1 media article that cites a
scientific paper and track the article back
to its original peer-reviewed source
Week 4 - 05 Aug 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Sensitivity, Specificity, PPV, NPV & the
Nomogram
Week 5 - 12 Aug 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
1. Select 1 diagnostic test you have heard
of in the MSK/chiropractic arena and find
the original paper that investigated its
Sensitivity/Specificity. Use a CA/RoBT to
assess how confident you are in the paper’s
methodological strength
2. 500-word critical discussion on how the
paper scored in the CA/RoBT and what
impact that has on your ability to trust the
results and the ability of the test to be able
to confidently test what it claims
Randomisation & Blinding OR
1. Select a topic of personal interest and
find one article that utilises some form of
randomisation, or blinding and a second
article that does not.
2. 500-word critical discussion on how the
paper scored in the CA/RoBT and what
impact a lack of adequate randomisation,
or blinding, has on your ability to trust the
results of the study. What impact may this
have on patient care?
Vacation Week - 19 Aug 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6 - 26 Aug 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Week 7 - 02 Sep 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
1. Select a Cochrane Systematic Review of
personal interest and in your own words
discuss the conclusions of the review as
you understand them. [In preparation for
next week’s portfolio requirement select a
corresponding professional guideline]
2. 500-word critical discussion on the
language used in the recommendations or
conclusion section of the review. Rewrite
the conclusions and cast them in a more
favourable light. How can language play a
Professional Guidelines role in determining health decisions for a
patient?
OR
1. Select a professional guideline that deals
with the same treatment of the condition
covered by last week’s systematic review
2. 500-word critical discussion on how the
conclusions may have differed between the
professional guideline and the systematic
review? Are there clinical situations where
professional guidelines may be more useful
than systematic reviews?
Week 8 - 09 Sep 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
1. Select a topic of personal interest and
find one RCT that utilises abides by the
CONSORT statement
2. 500-word critical discussion on how
RCTs & Prospective Cohort Studies adhering to this statement may influence
your confidence in the results of the study.
Are there clinical situations where a
prospective cohort designed study may be
more advantageous than a RCT?
Week 9 - 16 Sep 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
1. Use the sample data set given and
create a table that accurately describes the
data set given.
Basic Data analysis using SPSS and MS
2. Select two variables and find two
different ways you can visually represent
Excel
them both individually, and together.
3. Revisit your chosen week 1 research
topic and write a 250-word proposal
outlining its investigation.
Week 10 - 23 Sep 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Weebly Portfolio Due: Week 10 Friday (27
Sep 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Review Week
Portfolio Due: Week 10 Friday (27
Sep. 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 11 - 30 Sep 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Review Week
Week 12 - 07 Oct 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Written Assessment Due: Week 12 Monday
(07 Oct 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Written Assessment Due: Week 12
Monday (7 Oct. 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week - 14 Oct 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week - 21 Oct 2019
Module/Topic Chapter Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment Tasks
1 Portfolio
Assessment Type
Portfolio
Task Description
Tasks are given throughout the term that will support your learning and understanding of the week's lecture material.
These tasks are to be completed and uploaded onto the Weebly e-portfolio platform.
Each student should be able to demonstrate a longitudinal learning journey through the unit and each week builds upon
the next.
Assessment Due Date
Week 10 Friday (27 Sep. 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
The portfolio will be submitted via the Moodle assessment link by entering your unique Weebly URL AND a marking
rubric completed with your full student details.
Return Date to Students
Week 12 Friday (11 Oct. 2019)
Marked rubrics will be available via the Moodle gradebook
Weighting
50%
Minimum mark or grade
50%
Assessment Criteria
During the course of the portfolio the students will examine and reflect on the following key learning themes;
1. Critique the advantages and disadvantages of various research designs used in primary and secondary research
2. Compose a research question in order to develop a collaborative proposal to investigate a selected field of
enquiry
3. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualized and patient-centred
framework
Referencing Style
Vancouver
Submission
Online
Learning Outcomes Assessed
Critique the advantages and disadvantages of various research designs used in primary and secondary research
Compose a research question in order to develop a collaborative proposal to investigate a selected field of
enquiry
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualised and patient-centred
framework.
Graduate Attributes
Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Cross Cultural Competence
Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
Assessment Type
Written Assessment
Task Description
The student will have to complete a 2000-word written assignment, comprising of
1. a series of up to five individual written reflections using the CHESEMELT framework OR
2. five specified (short-answer) tasks reflecting the material taught over the course of the term
Assessment Due Date
Week 12 Monday (7 Oct. 2019) 5:00 pm AEST
Return Date to Students
Exam Week Monday (21 Oct. 2019)
Feedback will be availbe via the Moodle gradebook two weeks after the week 12 due date.
Weighting
50%
Minimum mark or grade
50%
Assessment Criteria
The written assessment will cover the following learning outcomes
1. Evaluate research using standardised and non-standardised critical appraisal methods
2. Analyse basic research data and provide appropriate summaries for further evaluation
3. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualised and patient-centred
framework.
Referencing Style
Vancouver
Submission
Online
Learning Outcomes Assessed
Evaluate research using standardised and non-standardised critical appraisal methods
Analyse basic research data and provide appropriate summaries for further evaluation
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of published research within a contextualised and patient-centred
framework.
Graduate Attributes
Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Team Work
Cross Cultural Competence
Ethical practice
