Course Outline

PUB710 Health Research Project B

Course Coordinator:Katharina Merollini (kmerolli@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Public Health

2026Session 2

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.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

This is a research capstone course designed to consolidate your specialist knowledge and skills in implementing and communicating a significant research project on a health and well-being topic. You will work with the teaching staff to independently conduct your research project. You will report on the research process, its findings and you will generate recommendations appropriate for professional practice.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Online – 5 hours of structured online learning materials plus optional 1-hour online consultation session 6hrs Week 1 8 times

Course Topics

  • Selecting, constructing and piloting data collection instruments.
  • Ethical and quality considerations for data collection and analysis.
  • Managing and analysing data. 
  • Writing a journal article for a hypothetical professional audience. 

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 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 * International Union for Health Promotion and Education
1 Design, implement and communicate an independent research project to address a public health and wellbeing priority. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered
A.8, 6.3, 9.1, 9.4
2 Apply ethical and quality considerations in health research practice. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
8.1
3 Communicate a research priority issue, process and findings to a hypothetical professional audience to inform future policy, practice and research. Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
4.3, 9.1, 9.4

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
International Union for Health Promotion and Education
A.8 Seeking the best available information and evidence needed to implement effective policies and programmes that influence health
4.3 Use culturally appropriate communication methods and techniques for specific groups and settings
6.3 Collect, review and appraise relevant data, information and literature to inform health promotion action
8.1 Use ethical, empowering, culturally appropriate and participatory processes to implement health promotion action
9.1 Identify and use appropriate health promotion evaluation tools and research methods
9.4 Use research and evidence-based strategies to inform practice

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

PUB701 and PUB725 and enrolled in Program SC713

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Knowledge about a range of research approaches, and qualitative and quantitative research methods

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

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

In week three (3) early feedback can be provided on your draft data collection instrument. In week seven (7) early feedback can be provided on your journal article. 

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 Written Piece Individual 35%
Approx. 1500 words
Week 3 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Written Piece Individual 65%
3000 words
Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Data collection instrument and protocol
Goal:
To demonstrate your skills in designing data collection instruments.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will develop a data collection instrument to collect data for the research that you proposed in PUB725 Health Research Project A. 
Your data collection instrument will include: justification for the choice of instrument; description of the instrument design rationale (including theory), data collection process and instrument pilot test; revisions as a result of pilot testing; and final data collection instrument. Further information will be provided online.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Appropriateness and technical accuracy of the data collection instrument, including appropriate integration of evidence.
1 2 3
2
Comprehensiveness of justification for data collection instrument elements in relation to the proposed research priority, including appropriate integration of evidence.
1 2
3
Comprehensiveness of the data collection instrument pilot process, including appropriate integration of evidence.
1 2
4
Quality of scholarly communication, including referencing and appropriate integration of evidence.
1 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:Journal article
Goal:
To communicate a synthesis of your research process, findings and recommendations to a hypothetical scholarly audience.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
The journal article is to adhere to the author guidelines for a relevant scholarly journal. Further information will be provided online.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Appropriateness of the research background and design, including appropriate integration of evidence.
1 2 3
2
Accuracy of research findings, including appropriate integration of evidence.
1 3
3
Quality of the discussion of research findings and conclusions, including appropriate integration of evidence.
1 2 3
4
Comprehensiveness of ethical considerations of all aspects of the study design, including appropriate integration of evidence.
1 2 3
5
Quality of scholarly communication, including adherence to journal guidelines for authors and appropriate integration of evidence.
1 2 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
The CompHP Core Competencies Framework for Health Promotion 2011
All delivery modes Written Piece Data collection instrument and protocol 6.3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
9.1 Taught, Assessed
A.8 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Journal article 6.3 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
9.4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
B.8 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

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

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Pranee Liamputtong 2022 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice Fourth Oxford University Press

Specific requirements

Students will be required to have a reliable Internet connection, a computer, a microphone headset and a webcam for Technology Enabled Learning and Teaching Activities. External students will be responsible for access to data analysis software.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. 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:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

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

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: