PAC3512 - Current aspects of pharmaceutical research - 2018

The unit provides students with an experience in current aspects of research within the faculty and will provide students with an appreciation of the fundamentals of research philosophy and methodology.

Students will undertake a literature research project addressing an issue/problem in the pharmaceutical sciences or pharmacy practice areas. (Please note: There is no guarantee that students will be placed in their preferred research area as places are limited.)

This unit will expand the student's knowledge of research and enhance skills in information literacy, scientific writing and research. The unit is compatible with Monash University's goals for research lead teaching.

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

4. Participating in mentored group meetings and online discussions to analyse research questions and prepare a plan for investigating literature relevant to the question,
5. 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.
6. 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.

• Group meeting reports from weeks 2, 4 and 10: 15% (3 x 5%)
• Research plan due week 4: 10%
• Report draft due week 6: 10%
• Final report due week 12: 45%
• Reflection due week 12: 20%

Contact hours for on-campus students:

• Six 1-hour lectures
• Six 1-hour workshops

Additional requirements:

• Sixty hours of directed project work

See also Unit timetable information

http://www.monash.edu/pharm/current/