12 points, SCA Band 2, 0.250 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit
Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit provides the opportunity for students to work with an academic supervisor to conduct a focused research project in the broad area of human nutrition. The research project may be chosen from a list of projects available at the beginning of semester from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. During this unit you will have the opportunity to utilise and apply knowledge and intellectual, practical and other skills acquired throughout your studies to enable you to undertake your research project. A major output of this unit is the final project report.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Apply appropriate research methods in order to carry out scientific research and recognise the significance and relevance of the data and results obtained.
- Integrate knowledge in the identification, description, analysis and solution of a research problem in the field of human nutrition.
- Articulate clear research aims, methods and rationale.
- Show appropriate skills in applying methods and techniques relevant to your chosen project.
- Show initiative and independence, and manage your time and resources effectively to complete a project within allocated time scales.
- Utilise relevant information sources for the planning, conduct and writing up of a project.
- Maintain accurate, accessible records of data collection, decisions made and their rationale in a reflective workbook.
- Utilise suitable software packages for data manipulation and the preparation of typewritten documents.
- Evaluate the experimental approach adopted and recognise its strengths and limitations, and compare and integrate your project findings with findings from previous work reported in the literature or elsewhere.
- Prepare a structured, coherent project submission, via a series of drafts that are subject to repeated improvement and updating.
- Engage in critical discussion of the conduct of your project and the significance of its findings in an oral defence (three minute thesis).
Assessment
- Oral presentation (10%)
- Submission of thesis or systematic review:
- Project proposal 20%
- Scientific paper 50%
Total: 70% (Hurdle)
- Reflective workbook or laboratory notebook (10%)
- Supervisor report (10%)
Workload requirements
24 hours per week of project work and private study.
See also Unit timetable information