Program Overview

HLSC406 - Research Methods in Biomedical and Health Sciences Research

Year

2024

Credit Points

10

Campus Offering

The unit is offered online.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

Rigorous and ethical science is the foundation of evidence-based practice. It contributes to the academic, clinical, and/or industry-related development of policy and practice in health care across all Biomedical and Health Science disciplines. This unit introduces students to the scope and range of research methods available in biomedical and health professions.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

• Develop and critically assess strategies to search and retrieve relevant scientific literature
• Critically reflect on the ethical principles that underpin biomedical and health science research
• Critically reflect on ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Critically appraise research methods in biomedical and health science research from a scientific and ethical perspective

Content

Topics will include:

• Basic terms in research
• Philosophy of science
• Inductive and deductive reasoning in health sciences research
• The ethics process and ethical considerations in research practice
• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans
• Australian Code for Responsible Conduct in Human Research
• The Declaration of Helsinki
• Partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in research
• Introduction to the quantitative research paradigm
• Strengths and weaknesses of the quantitative research paradigm
• Introduction to the qualitative research paradigm
• Strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research paradigm
• Introduction to the use of mixed methods
• Levels of evidence in quantitative and qualitative research
• Systematic reviews
• List of useful and relevant electronic databases
• How to ask qualitative and quantitative research questions
• Research question, aims, and hypotheses
• Critiquing the components of quantitative research methodology
• Critiquing the components of qualitative research methodology
• Associations between variables
• Evaluation of research
• Research translation

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

The unit is offered in online mode. Students acquire essential theoretical and practical knowledge of research methods in an evidence-based, flexible online learning environment.

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

A range of assessments will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes. To complete this unit, students need to obtain an aggregate mark of equal to or greater than 50%. The assessments include:

• Assessment 1: Written task - Develop and critically assess a comprehensive literature search strategy to address a research question (20%)
• Assessment 2: Multimedia task - Critically discuss ethical issues in biomedical and health science research (35%)
• Assessment 3: Multimedia task - Critically appraise a quantitative or qualitative research study or a systematic review (45%)

Representative Texts and References

• Baumgartner, T. A., Hensley L. D., Zhu, W., & Hodges Kulinna, P. (2021). Conducting and reading research in kinesiology (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
• Elwood, M. (2017). Critical appraisal of epidemiological studies and clinical trials (4th ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
• Gough, D., Oliver, S., & Thomas, J. (Eds). (2017). An introduction to systematic reviews (2nd ed.). London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
• Higgins, J. P. T., Thomas, J., Chandler, J., Cumpston, M., Li, T., Page, M. J., & Welch, V. A. (Eds). (2019). Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions (2nd ed.). Chichester, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.
• Liamputtong, P. (Ed). (2017). Research methods in health: Foundations for evidence-based practice (3rd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press.
• Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D. et al. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. British Medical Journal, 372: n71.
• Portney, L. G. (2015). Foundations of clinical research: Applications to practice (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
• Rugg, G., & Petre, M. (2007). A gentle guide to research methods. New York, NY: Open University Press.
• Thomas, J. R., Nelson, J. K., & Silverman, S. J. (2015). Research methods in physical activity (7th ed). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.