MPH2013 - Research methods

Leader(s): Dr A Wluka for weekly classes or A/Prof M deCourten for OCL

Offered

Alfred Hospital First semester 2009 (Off-campus block of classes)
Alfred Hospital Second semester 2009 (Day)
Alfred Hospital Second semester 2009 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Practical skills for the design, conduct and analysis of a research project. Introduction to research methods and critical appraisal of published literature. Issues in protocol design including study type selection, questionnaire design, sampling methods & ethics approval. Provides an introduction to planning data management & statistical analysis.

Objectives

On completion of this unit it is expected that students will:

1. Have acquired an understanding of research methods in public health;
2. Be able to design, develop and present a collaborative research protocol;
3. To understand how information goes from an interview, onto a questionnaire, into the computer and into a scientific paper.

Assessment

Group Assignment 40%
Written critique 60%.

Contact hours

For Option 1: 2 hours per week;
For Option 2: 15 contact hours over 2.5 days + OCL
Note: these options are not interchangeable

Prerequisites

Recommended: MPH1040 and MPH1041 or MPH1030 and MPH1031