Unit Outline

This unit provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in areas relevant to research in exercise and sports or nutrition sciences. Students will have the opportunity to select a topic of interest from a pre-defined list within their general field of study for detailed investigation. The detailed investigation and presentation of the findings will be performed as part of a small group, where each student submits their own Project Justification and Literature Review, but the Final Project Report and Oral Presentation are assessed as a group. The final report will take the format of a research manuscript and will follow the author guidelines for an appropriate journal. The exact nature of the final report will depend on the group topic and will be finalised in writing with the Unit Coordinator.

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.	Apply knowledge of health science and research methods to develop and pursue a research question
2.	Access and organise relevant research literature in the field of health sciences
3.	Analyse and interpret health science related data.
4.	Communicate research findings and recommendations in both written and verbal mediums

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA209 - Nutrition Through the Lifecycle OR (CXA213 - Health Promotion: Principles and Planning AND CXA234 - Health, Exercise and Sport Assessment)

Alterations as a result of student feedback

As a result of recent feedback, students identified a greater need/ opportunity to display their individual abilities and knowledge, instead of being as heavily reliant on group-based assessment. The allocation/ weighting of group-based assessments has been reduced, increasing individual assessment weighting by 10%. Assessment tasks have been updated to include the removal of a project plan (5%) to include the addition of an infographic (15%).

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:	Literature Review	Week 5	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Final Project Report	Week 9	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Infographic	Week 12	15 %	LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Oral Presentation	Week 13	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Literature Review

Task Description:

This assessment entails writing a traditional Literature Review related to your project topic. The review should select suitable literature for critical evaluation and interpretation, be structured in a suitable format, and demonstrate your ability to clearly communicate in scientific writing. The review should include an Introduction, Main Body (including topic relevant sub-headings), and a Conclusion. This assessment item is to be completed individually, with each group member to review a separate sub-topic/theme related to the overall project topic.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Research and literature analysis: This criterion relates to your use of suitable literature, evaluation and interpretation of the literature and critical analysis	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Ability to communicate through scientific writing: This criterion relates to the organisation of your literature review, paragraph structure and scientific writing	LO2, LO4
3	Presentation, Grammar and Referencing: This criterion relates to your ability to adhere to a suitable referencing style, whilst taking into account suitable English and grammar conventions	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Final Project Report

Task Description:

This assessment requires your group to write a report in the format of a Research Manuscript/Journal Article, based on your project topic. The report should include a Title Page, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion and References, mimicking a typical Journal Article that is written in first person using the active voice. Each individual is required to submit an anonymous rating of Group member contribution.

Task Length:

4000 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analysis and Synthesis: This criterion relates to critical analysis and the ability to integrate your content with existing literature	LO2, LO3
2	Project Design: This criterion relates to the project design, methodology, statistical procedures employed and presentation of results (including figures and tables), as relevant to the project	LO1, LO3, LO4
3	Communicate Through Scientific Writing: This criterion relates to the organisation of your report, paragraph structure and scientific writing	LO4
4	Presentation, Grammar and Referencing: This criterion relates to your adherence to a suitable Page 6 CXA328 Evidence-Based Research in Health Sciences referencing style, presentation guidelines and English and grammar conventions.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Infographic

Task Description:

You will individually produce a single-page (A4 maximum) flyer or infographic-style summary of your research project. The infographic must contain elements that provide the viewer with a short summary of the background of the topic and research question, methods used, the main findings, and key take-aways or conclusions from the project. The submission should include both visual and text-based information, with a focus on the use of visuals and clear figures to convey the key results.

Task Length:

1 page

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Effectively communicate your results through visual means, including figures, graphs or images.	LO3, LO4
2	The content is clear and links between the purpose and outcomes of the project are succinctly presented.	LO1, LO4
3	The overall presentation utilises effective and appropriate fonts, colours, and a layout to create a cohesive infographic.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Oral Presentation

Task Description:

In your allocated groups, you will prepare and deliver a presentation of your project topic to your peers and assessors. The time allocated per group is 12 minutes, plus 3-5 minutes of questions. A group mark will be awarded that will contribute towards each student’s individual overall grade. The proportion of the group mark awarded to each individual student will be determined, in part, by peer review of your contribution to the group tasks.

Task Length:

Up to 12 minutes

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Oral Presentation Skills: This criterion relates to your skill of effectively communicating and engaging with your audience to convey your message through verbal and non-verbal means	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Content: This criterion relates to understanding, organisation, cohesiveness, scientific quality and analysis	LO1, LO2, LO4
3	Presentation Medium: Suitability of your presentation medium (i.e. PowerPoint, visual aids) and the management of visual content (i.e. quality of figures and tables, labelling of figures and tables, page layout, illustration, typography, etc).	LO2, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

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.