Unit Outline

This unit of study aims: (a) to provide training in research, in order to give students a competitive edge in their vocational career path; (b) to provide students with the opportunity to plan, execute, interpret and analyse purposeful experiments, appropriate to their research project, and to communicate their results; and (c) to investigate and communicate analysis and outcomes of contemporary biomedical research. Research projects in this unit include the very wide range of techniques required for modern biomedical and clinical research from the biochemical or molecular level, through cell biology, to whole animal and human studies. Students considering this unit are advised to discuss with prospective supervisors their research areas and possible projects in detail before deciding on a research group for the year. The Discipline will provide specific details on assessment procedures and criteria used.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Design and conduct a research study and collect and interpret data to create new disciplinary knowledge
2.	Synthesize knowledge and critically evaluate research findings and their impact on the research field and use this to propose key areas of further research
3.	Communicate discipline‐specific knowledge and discuss and defend research findings both verbally and in writing to academic and professional audiences
4.	Conduct a research study in a legally, ethically, socially and culturally responsible manner

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CAM426 AND CAM427
Concurrent Pre-requisite	CAM428

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Honours thesis writing workshop has been moved forward by one week based on student feedback.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	NOTE 20% of the assessment weighting for this unit will be undertaken in CAM426 and CAM427	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %
Assessment Task 2:	Research thesis	Week 13	60 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Research seminar	Week 15	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: NOTE 20% of the assessment weighting for this unit will be undertaken in CAM426 and CAM427

Task Description:

NOTE 20% of the assessment weighting for this unit will be undertaken in CAM426 and CAM427
Students will receive an IC grade on successful completion of CAM426 and CAM427. Students will receive their final grade on completion of the assessment tasks in CAM428 and CAM429

Task Length:

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

Assessment Task 2: Research thesis

Task Description:

The major assessment item is your research thesis, including an Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion and Reference sections, describing the major findings of your research project and how they were obtained. More detailed guidelines regarding the content and format of your thesis will be supplied.
The manuscript excluding the abstract, references, acknowledgements and supplementary data is expected to be less than 30, 000 words.

Task Length:

Up to 30,000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

60 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provided an introduction and rationale that led to your research	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Communicate your research in the form of a scientific thesis	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
3	Conduct research & apply knowledge to critically analyse and interpret data	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Research seminar

Task Description:

The presentation should largely cover the work described in your thesis. A clear, concise and appropriate introduction should be provided which identifies key papers, the limitations of the literature and areas of controversy. Clear and valid aims and hypotheses should also be stated. The results should reflect a significant body of work including analysis of data using appropriate statistical tests. Presentation of the results should be clear and logical and should use figures and tables, etc. The significance of any important findings should be addressed and appropriate conclusions made. The results of the study should be placed within a broader context and suggestions should be made for future research in the area. The seminar should have clear and logical flow, be well paced (i.e. neither hurried nor laboured) and use good visual quality slides. The student should demonstrate an understanding of the work by answering questions raised during question time with appropriate answers. Note that your powerpoint file containing the slides you will be presenting (final version) must be submitted to MyLO by 9 am of the morning the seminars commence.

Task Length:

30-minute presentation (20 minutes plus 10 minutes for questions)

Due Date:

Week 15

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply knowledge to introduce, explain, and critically interpret research	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Defend assertions, judgments, and conclusions made regarding your research in response to audience questions	LO2, LO3
3	Communicate research to a broad scientific audience in the form of a seminar presentation	LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass Honours, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes.
The following criteria apply:
• All assessment tasks must be submitted
• You require an overall percentage of 50% or greater to be awarded an Honours degree

Honours Grades
HF   Honours-first class Highest pass grade, mark 80-100%
HU   Honours-second class (upper division) Honours pass grade, mark 70-79%
HL   Honours-second class (lower division) Honours pass grade, mark 60-69%
HT   Honours-third class Honours pass grade, mark 50-59%
HN   Honours-failure Honours fail grade, mark 0-49%

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.