PAC3512 - Current aspects of pharmaceutical research

The aim of this unit is to provide students the opportunity to gain further skills in research and problem solving, and an understanding of current research activities within the faculty. The unit is designed for the student who wishes to enhance these skills for a career in pharmacy or who might wish to pursue further study in research orientated postgraduate programs.

Specific learning outcomes are to

1. Critically engage with pharmaceutical research and practice literature, to identify appropriate processes and products for evaluating research results.
2. Critically define the approach to investigating and evaluating the research literature relating to the identified problem, and their contribution towards completing the group compiled research report.
3. Conduct detailed examination of comprehensive quantitative and qualitative research studies, evaluating the impact of these studies towards the solution of issues and challenges identified in pharmaceutical sciences and practice.

Students will develop these skills by

1. Participating in mentored group meetings and online discussions to analyse research questions and prepare a plan for investigating literature relevant to the question,
2. Ongoing reflective questioning of process and product within a group-facilitated working environment, including progressive self-evaluation of contribution to the process and product of group work.
3. Examination of research literature to determine breadth and depth of research literature examined, bias of interpretation, status of research conducted, identification of weaknesses and strengths of research studies and significance of data and conclusions.