Undergraduate - UnitOCC3072 - Occupational therapy honours project 1

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Synopsis

The Bachelor of OccupationalTherapy (Honours) program has been designed to enable students to effectively integrate research knowledge and skill with occupational therapy practice knowledge and skill. The program incorporates advanced education in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies through the development and completion of a research project. The research project undertaken will require students to formulate a research aim and/or question/s, complete a literature review, design an appropriate methodology to answer the research question/s, complete an ethics application, and gather and analyse the required data, discuss the results in relation to pertinent literature and professional practice, and develop conclusions and recommendations. The Honours program has been structured to enable students to understand research in the context of the issues of interest of concern in a specific organisation or service area. They will also develop an understanding of how the research project applies to the wider community. Hence each occupational therapy Honours project has a 'host' organisation which has a fieldwork responsibility. The student works in collaboration with the host organisation, the Monash university academic supervisor/s and other stakeholders.
In OCC3072 students will spend up to two days per week in the organisation to develop the research proposal as well as engage in fieldwork activities. In OCC4091, students will spend a further up to two days per week in the organisation where the research proposal developed in OCC3072 will be implemented.

Outcomes

1. Synthesise and critically appraise a view of the nature and meaning of occupation, the occupational nature of human beings and the theories and basic principles related to enabling occupation and occupational performance.
2. Describe different research methodological approaches used in health sciences and occupational therapy research and be skilled at accessing, critically appraising and applying the best available evidence to their everyday practice.
3. Demonstrate the ability to be reflective, think critically, learn independently and be innovative in their approach to the research project.
4. Possess appropriate oral, written and information technology skills, including the ability to present a coherent argument, negotiate effectively and manage conflict.
5. Describe and demonstrate knowledge and understandfunctioning of qualitative and quantitative research designs and methods relevant to occupational therapy practice and community development.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of basic statistics and measurement concepts: levels of measurement, reliability, validity, normative data; as well as basic qualitative concepts of rigour, trustworthiness, authenticity and transferability.
7. Demonstrate ability to critique and integrate relevant research literature and theoretical material related to the research topic.
8. Demonstrate ability to design a research project suitable for honours level and to write a research project proposal whichand to includes a literature review, research aim and/or question/s and appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative methodology.
9. Demonstrate ability to complete an ethics proposal suitable for submission to an ethics committee.
10. Demonstrate ability to present, critique, evaluate and discuss critique research issues in a public forum.
11. Demonstrate the ability to complete a written dissertation of 10-12,000 words for quantitative studies and up to 15,000words for qualitative, including literature review and background information, methodology, results/findings, discussion, evaluation, recommendations and conclusions (OCC4091).

Assessment

Presentation of research proposal (20 minute presentation), Completion of research proposal (5000 words) and draft research ethics application and critique (3000 words): 100%
Hurdle requirements: successful completion of 22 day fieldwork placement; 80% attendance at the placement; submission of fortnightly project reports.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Primrose Lentin

Prerequisites

IPE1011, BMA1901, BMA1902, OCC1011, OCC1012, OCC1022, OCC2011, OCC2020, OCC2022, PSY1011, PSY1022