Unit rationale, description and aim
Rigorous science is the foundation of evidence-based practice. It contributes to the academic, clinical, and/or industry-related development of policy and practice in health care across all disciplines. This unit introduces students to the scope and range of research methods applied in nutrition and dietetics. The unit will assist students in understanding the research process, levels of evidence, qualitative and quantitative research design, the steps taken for development of health-related research questions, selection of appropriate research methods to address those questions, and identifying, appraising and synthesising existing research studies that underpin those questions. Students will learn to consider all aspects of research design through an ethical lens, with particular regard to the role culture plays in the design and conduct of an ethical research program. This unit aims to provide the opportunity for students to develop practical research skills and an ability to critically assess the quality of nutrition and dietetic research. Further, students will apply these skills to a food and nutrition-related problem through the development of a research question and proposal, along with suitable research methods to address the problem in a practice setting.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Develop and critically assess strategies to search...
Learning Outcome 01
Critically reflect on the ethical principles that ...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically reflect on the ethical conduct in resea...
Learning Outcome 03
Critically appraise research methods in biomedical...
Learning Outcome 04
Formulate a research question and method to addres...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
This unit includes topics related to the development and demonstration of professional dietetic practice and competence according to the Accreditation Standards of Dietitians Australia. These are described under the heading ‘Building professional dietetic practice’ in each unit outline and build on topics delivered synchronously and progressively throughout the degree. Those in bold reflect ‘new’ topics addressed in this unit. Students will have opportunities for collecting evidence of competence in these areas.
Building professional dietetic practice
- reflection and evaluation of practice
- acknowledges, reflects and understands own values, beliefs, attitudes, biases and assumptions and their influence on practice
- scope of practice and standards of care, codes of conduct
- continuing professional development
- attributes (empathy, flexibility, adaptability, resilience, ethical, respectful, demonstrates integrity, honesty, fairness, critical thinker)
- time management in research
- role of the dietitian in research
- collaboration and communication skills with stakeholders
Topics will include:
Research in dietetic practice
- Food and nutrition research problems
- Formulating a research question
- Selecting appropriate methods to answer a research question
- Food and nutrition research with diverse groups, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and linguistically diverse groups
Assessment strategy and rationale
Three assessments are sequenced to progressively support students' learning and development of professional competence through authentic assessment.
Assessment 1, requires students to demonstrate the advanced knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively search library databases and use appropriate referencing software.
Assessment 2 is a critical reflection on the role of ethics in biomedical and health science research. This assessment will require students to demonstrate an advanced understanding of the fundamental importance of the ethics process before conducting research and/or ethical conduct as a part of the research.
Assessment 3 is a critical appraisal of research studies that requires students to demonstrate an advanced understanding and demonstration of research design by critiquing the components of research methodology. It requires students to assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of research methods and techniques and construct a research question/method to investigate a food and nutrition problem.
Overview of assessments
To pass the unit, students must demonstrate that they have achieved each learning outcome and obtain a total mark of 50% in the unit as the minimum standard.
Assessment 1: Written task Critically develop a ...
Assessment 1: Written task
Critically develop a comprehensive literature search strategy to address a research question.
20%
Assessment 2: Multimedia task Requires students ...
Assessment 2: Multimedia task
Requires students to critically discuss ethical issues in biomedical and health science research.
35%
Assessment 3: Multimedia task Requires students ...
Assessment 3: Multimedia task
Requires students to critically appraise a quantitative or qualitative research study or a systematic review and construct a research question/method to investigate a food and nutrition problem.
45%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
NUTR505 is offered in multi-mode. Essential theory and concepts will be delivered via online modules with face to face activity, using an evidence-based, student-centred teaching and active learning approach to support students in exploring theoretical and practical knowledge of research design in a biomedical and health science context. Learning is reinforced through facilitated tutorial activities involving reading, writing, discussion, and problem solving, which provides students with the opportunity to apply lecture content to specific biomedical and health contexts/scenarios, and progressively develop their ability to apply research methods to contemporary health issues.