Download PDF

Course Outline

OCC422 Occupational Therapy Thesis

Course Coordinator:Pamela Meredith (pmeredith@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Occupational Therapy

2023Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this part of the Honours project you will complete data collection and analyse the research data on which your thesis is based. You will subsequently prepare and submit an honours thesis in the scholarly form of a peer-reviewed journal article submission which complies with the style and presentation requirements of an appropriately selected journal. The thesis is the culmination of training in utilising occupational therapy knowledge and research skills acquired in the first four years of study in occupational therapy.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face to face 2hrs Orientation week Once Only
Tutorial/Workshop 2 – Face to face 10hrs Orientation week Once Only
Information session – Honours conference (required attendance) 8hrs Week 10 Once Only
Independent Study/Research – research activities conducted with guidance of supervisor 16hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

This course is dedicated to completing a research project. It involves undertaking an independent guided study, with course coordinator and advisor support, culminating in a manuscript suitable for publication. 

What level is this course?

400 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

24 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd
1 Demonstrate competence in gathering, analysing, consolidating, synthesising and reporting research data. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical 
2.3
2 Critically evaluate research results, discuss their implications for occupational therapy and identify the limitations of the research findings. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical 
2.1, 2.3, 2.6, 2.8
3 Demonstrate initiative to set and meet a timeline for submission of research. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical 
1.13
4 Conduct research, prepare and submit a substantial research report in accordance with the national statements on human ethics. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical 
1.7
5 Participate in a research community and clearly and coherently communicate research findings and evaluation to a professional audience in oral and written formats. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical 
4

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd
1.7 Collaborates and consults ethically and responsibly for effective client-centred and interprofessional practice.
1.13 Manages resources, time and workload accountably and effectively.
2.1 Applies current and evidence informed knowledge of occupational therapy and other appropriate and relevant theory in practice.
2.3 Identifies and applies best available evidence in professional practice and decision-making.
2.6 Maintains and improves currency of knowledge, skills and new evidence for practice by adhering to the requirements for continuing professional development.
2.8 Reflects on practice to inform current and future reasoning and decision-making and the integration of theory and evidence into practice.
4 Communication

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

(OCC442 or OCC452) and OCC401 and enrolled in Program SC440 and Research Pathway only

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

You will have acquired knowledge, skills and experience in planning and conducting research from pre-requisite courses.

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

You will submit a research progress report by week 2 and feedback will be provided on your progress via the assessment feedback.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 5% 
2 x A4 pages
 Week 2 Online Submission
All 2 Oral Individual 15% 
20 mins
 Week 10 Online Submission
All 3 Thesis Individual 80% 
4000 - 6000 words
 Week 13 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Research progress report
Goal: 
You will demonstrate your initiative and ability to work to time frames while considering ethical implications of reporting and researching. You will submit a research progress report documenting your progress thus far and rationale, providing a timeline towards completion of the oral presentation and thesis submission. The timeline will be presented in the form of a Gantt chart.
Product: Report
Format: 
This is a 2 x A4 page written submission, completed individually and submitted via Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
​Self-assessment of progress and identification of required learning and research tasks
 1
2 
Exposition of a viable timeline to completion
 3
3 
Clear and coherent communication
 5
All - Assessment Task 2:Oral presentation
Goal: 
You will undertake a 20 minute research presentation for your peers and occupational therapists. This will include a 15 minute presentation and a 5 minute allowance for questions from the audience. The style of presentation will be in the format of a conference presentation. The presentation will be supported using PowerPoint or other visual aids. You will demonstrate your ability to disseminate your research in an oral format while considering ethical implications and research practice.
Product: Oral
Format: 
The 20 minute research presentation will occur at a time scheduled by the Course Coordinator.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
​Advanced knowledge of the topic
 1
2 
Effective selection, analysis and synthesis of content and research evidence
 1
3 
Ability to answer questions from the audience regarding the research
 1 5
4 
Clear and coherent oral presentation skills
 5
5 
Appropriate use of visual aids​
 5
All - Assessment Task 3:Written thesis
Goal: 
You will produce your thesis in a format suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal accompanied by a summary of your involvement in research activities.
Product: Thesis
Format: 
Written assessment submitted via Canvas. 

In consultation with your supervisor(s), you shall undertake a research project and submit a research article in accordance with the following guidelines:  

1. With advice from your supervisor, you will be responsible for, and participate in, all steps of the investigation and reporting. That is, you are responsible for:  

Completion of participant recruitment and data collection; 

Data analysis;  

Interpretation and discussion of the findings; and  

Preparation and presentation of the thesis within the required style and format of your chosen journal.  

2. The thesis will normally be between 4,000 words and 6,000 words in length, excluding the title page, abstract, references, and appendices, if applicable (appendices are rarely included). The length of your article will be influenced by the requirements of your chosen journal, as well as the type of research (qualitative research articles will typically be longer). 

3. A cover letter should also be submitted, including:  

A signed declaration that the contents are your own work, which has not been submitted previously for the purpose of assessment, and a statement that the dissertation is being submitted as partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours);  

An acknowledgement of help given or work carried out by any other person(s) or organisation(s); and 

An acknowledgement of internal grant or external funding sources (if applicable). 

The research article should be accompanied by a summary of your involvement in research activities, including seeking ethical approval, data collection, delivery or design of interventions (where applicable), data analysis and preparation of publications. You may also include evidence of other activities that have enhanced your research journey, such as submission of publications, undertaking extracurricular workshops, or presenting at conferences beyond the University. The summary of research involvement acknowledges that you will be part of a broader research team, and may attain experience in various aspects of research from involvement in projects that are not directly related to your thesis. 

You should be aware that the role of the supervisor is to: 

Function as adviser and consultant on projects she or he has been appointed to supervise. Supervisors should make themselves available for supervision and have regular and frequent contact with their students to discuss progress on the thesis. However, it is your responsibility to make sure that regular and frequent contact with your supervisor occurs and to keep your supervisor apprised of the status of the research. It is also your responsibility to make sure that all permissions to conduct the research are sought and that all time deadlines are met. Thus, your supervisor is expected to perform their role of supervisor to the extent that you make such a role possible. 

Provide advice and consultation concerning all aspects of the research, particularly potential errors that may occur in the measurement and analysis, interpretation, and discussion, and presentation and style. 

Provide constructive feedback within a reasonable time frame on all draft materials submitted. That includes feedback on style and presentation of the written work. While the number and duration of meetings or contacts set down for supervision will vary over the course of the semester, a minimum of monthly meetings or contacts during teaching periods is not an unreasonable expectation if the supervision relationship is to be productive. Meetings may be face-to-face, electronic, or via email by negotiation.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
​Coherent and advanced theoretical knowledge demonstrated by the literature review
 1
2 
Ability to clearly and coherently communicate and critique research methodology
 5
3 
Quality of data analysis and presentation of results
 5
4 
Critical evaluation and discussion of research results and ability to draw implications and identify limitations
 1
5 
Clear and coherent written presentation in line with journal requirements
6 
Conducts all aspects of the research process as part of a research community​
 2 3 4

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended Tammy Hoffmann,Sally Bennett,Christopher Del Mar 2017 Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions n/a Elsevier Health Sciences
Recommended Pranee Liamputtong 2017 Research Methods in Health n/a Oxford University Press, USA

Specific requirements

Students should access Canvas for all course requirements. Queries regarding assessment will be addressed on Canvas discussion boards instead of email. Other issues can be discussed with your Course Coordinator via appointment or during scheduled times as specified on Canvas.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all field activities and low to moderate levels of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks may include working in an Australian bush setting, working with people, working outside normal office hours for example. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

                                                                         
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
Download PDF