Course Coordinator: Prof. Peng Bi

Location: Level 4, Rundle Mall Plaza, 50 Rundle Mall, Adelaide. 5000
Phone: +61 8 8313 3583
Email: peng.bi@adelaide.edu.au

Student & Program Support Services Hub
Email: askhealthsc@adelaide.edu.au
Phone: +61 8313 0273

1	Collaborate with colleagues and supervisor(s) in the development, design and execution of a research project.
2	Demonstrate the skills required to conduct independent research, including the ability to obtain data, analyse data and draw inferences and make appropriate conclusions based on the analysis.
3	Select and use an appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative research methodology to investigate a research problem or issue relevant to Public Health.
4	Identify and communicate the ethical dimensions of research and demonstrate the skills and attitudes of an ethical researcher.
5	Use appropriate written and oral communication style and terminology to present evidence-based ideas effectively whether within a  research seminar, conference presentation, or via academic writing.

Access to bibliographic databases and peer-reviewed journals and relevant software for analysis.

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In this course students will undertake an independent original research project under the guidance of a supervisor. Students will be expected to communicate about their research project in a variety of modalities.

This course is one where independent research is undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor, with whom the student meets  fortnightly across two semesters. Where a student has not previously acquired specific skills that support efficient research (eg search strategies, organising data) they will participate in appropriate workshops, courses or on-line learning, early in their period of  enrolment.

The research thesis is a 24 unit course in total – each part is a 12 unit course, and this is equivalent to a full-time commitment of one  semester (generally 40 hours per week over an extended semester of five months) or half-time over two semesters (20 hours per week over ten months).

Milestones	Item	Description
1*	Research Proposal	To be lodged by week 2 of the first semester of enrolment.
2*	Ethics Application	If applicable, to be lodged as soon as practical, preferably prior to enrolment
3*	Independent Research	Undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor
4*	Literature Review	A literature review of about 4,500 words is to be prepared, to provide context for the research, and identify the gaps in current knowledge to be addressed in the research
5*	Seminar Presentation - Proposal	A seminar is presented regarding the proposed research and summarising the literature review.
6	Seminar Presentation - Final	In the month before submission a seminar is presented regarding the research undertaken.
7	Written Thesis	The results of the research are submitted in the form of either:   a) a thesis of no more than 30,000 words b) at least two manuscripts suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal (between 4000 and  7,000 words depending on the author guidelines for the chosen journal)

*NOTE these are outputs delivered in Thesis Part A

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Assessment Task	Assessment Type	Weighting	Learning course objective(s) being addressed
Research proposal	Formative	0%	1-3, 5
Literature review	Summative	20%	1-5
Seminar presentation	Summative	10%	1-5
Thesis	Summative	70%	1-5

Research proposal (0%, 750-1000 words, due by week 2 of Thesis Part A semester)
A brief outline of the field of the proposed study, the research question to be investigated and the approach to be taken. The proposal should identify the supervisors, need for ethics approval and possible target journals for manuscripts produced from the research.

Research proposal and literature review presentation (0%, due week 6 of Thesis Part A)
Students will present a 15 minute summary of their research proposal and literature review including research question, hypotheses, approach/methodology and planned analysis.

Literature review (20%, 4,500 words, due Week 12 of Thesis Part A semester)
A literature review of 4,500 words (excluding references) is to be prepared, to provide context for the research, and identify the gaps in current knowledge to be addressed in the research.

Seminar presentation (10%, due Week 10 of Thesis Part B semester)
Students will present a 15 minute summary of their research projects including background, hypotheses, approach/methodology,  results and conclusions.

Thesis (70%, due Week 13 of Thesis Part B semester)
Students will submit a report on their research projects including background, hypotheses, approach/methodology, results and  conclusions (30,000 word limit), either in the form of a written thesis with multiple chapters, or at least two manuscripts suitable for  submission to a peer-reviewed journal (between 4000 and 7,000 words depending on the author guidelines for the chosen journal)

Extensions
All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of submission.   Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds.  Supporting documentation must be  provided at the time a student requests an extension.  Without documentation, extensions will not be granted.  Late requests for  extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a  medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a  letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of  compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to verify the  student’s situation.  The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact  on the student.  Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

Late submission
Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits.  In the case of late assignments where no  extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted.  If an assignment that is 2  days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%.  If that same  assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.

The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates.

Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination  period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.
 
Resubmission
If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process  <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/grievance/process/>.  Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance.  This must be done within 10 business days of the  date of notification of the result.  Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and  will only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.