Leader: Professor M Abramson

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)
Alfred Hospital Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

Quantitative skills necessary to undertake and complete doctoral level projects. Major types of epidemiological study designs, defining research questions and hypotheses. Assessment of reliability, validity of questionnaires, selecting appropriate instruments for public health research. Steps in preparing a grant application for competitively awarded funding, alternative sampling strategies for subject election, data analysis strategies and bias control. Ethical issues in public health research & role of ethics committees.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a thorough understanding of quantative research methods in public health;
2. design, develop and present an original research protocol;
3. prepare an application for approval by an Ethics Committee;
4. design and outline methods for validating a questionnaire suitable for data entry; and
5. write a paper suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

Assessment

Written appraisal 20%
Oral presentation 25%
Written protocol 25%
Draft questionnaire and manuscript 20%.

Contact hours

2 contact hours per week