EPM5021 - Research with vulnerable populations

Leader: A/Prof B Loff

Offered

Alfred Hospital First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

Develops the critical ability to evaluate the human rights considerations pertinent to research in situation in which the autonomy of potential participants is gravely diminished, for example: refugee populations, people living in poverty, conditions of civil rights violations, war or internal conflicts. How should research with vulnerable populations be undertaken, if at all?

Objectives

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate clear understanding of the characteristics that make a research population particularly vulnerable;
2. Demonstrate some understanding of the role of research in the context of vulnerable populations;
3. Show familiarity with innovative research methods used to study sensitive issues in vulnerable populations;
4. Demonstrate a degree of critical ability in the evaluation of the ethical and human rights considerations pertinent to research in vulnerable populations.

Assessment

Oral presentation 30%
Written assignments 70%

Contact hours

5 day intensive block