PAC3512 - Current aspects of pharmaceutical research - 2018

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Ben Boyd

Coordinator(s)

Dr Ben Boyd (Parkville)
Goh Bey Hing (Malaysia)

Quota applies

This unit is quota restricted. Selection is on a first-in, first enrolled basis. For more information see http://www.pharm.monash.edu.au/students/undergrad/courses/pharmacyelectives.html

Unit guides

Offered

Malaysia

  • Second semester 2018 (On-campus)

Parkville

  • Second semester 2018 (On-campus)

Prerequisites

PAC2232

PAC2412

PAC2182

Synopsis

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.

Outcomes

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.

Assessment

  • 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%

Workload requirements

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

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at: