units

OCC3072

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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12 points, SCA Band 2, 0.250 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Occupational Therapy
OfferedPeninsula Second semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Primrose Lentin

Synopsis

The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (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

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  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 understand functioning 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 rigor, 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 which 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 15,000 words for qualitative, including literature review and background information, methodology, results/findings, discussion, evaluation, recommendations and conclusions (OCC4091).

Fieldwork

Fieldwork placement: 22 days.

Assessment

Presentation of research proposal (20 minutes presentation), completion of research proposal (5,000 words) and draft research ethics application and critique (3,000 words) (100%)

Hurdle requirement:
Successful completion of 22 day fieldwork placement.
Attendance at 100% of placement and weekly honours seminars, unless a medical certificate is provided.
Submission of fortnightly project reports.

Chief examiner(s)

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Prerequisites

Co-requisites