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Unit of study_

BMRI5020: Research Inquiry

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal evening] - Remote

Doctors and researchers depend on the latest scientific literature published week by week in countless different journals, but not every study can be trusted. Scientific studies are fraught with complications that can threaten their reliability, or the extent to which their results can be applied very widely. This unit will help you develop the skills necessary to critically appraise the research literature and identify sources of bias and confounding. Students will learn how cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, cohort studies and clinical trials are more or less vulnerable to these problems. Similarly, students will look at the basic design of laboratory research, and what the different types of questions are that can be asked from studies on humans, rats or brain tissue. All classes will be based on published examples of research literature and students will learn how to navigate different methods and data types. This unit will give students the confidence to read widely across the mental health field, and judge for themselves which findings can be relied upon to inform future research or medical practice.

Unit details and rules

Unit code BMRI5020
Academic unit Brain and Mind Science
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
PUBH5010 or CEPI5100
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Eryn Werry, eryn.werry@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Short release assessment
Take-home short release assessment
45% Formal exam period 2 hours + reading time
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Journal Club and Adaptive Learning Modules
Online tasks + online discussion
20% Multiple weeks 9 hours across semester
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Extended Response
Written review
35% Week 10 1700 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6

Assessment summary

  • Journal club and adaptive learning modules: Participation in a journal club by submitting answers to questions and in-class discussion. Completion of two ‘e-tutorials’ to further develop your critical appraisal skills.

  • Extended responses: A critical appraisal of two experimental studies as rehearsed in the journal club exercises.

  • Short release assessment: A critical appraisal of a basic neuroscience publication regarding issues of study design and interpretation. The exam date and time will be announced on Canvas. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas. 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Students should refer to the Canvas site for actual due dates and times. Late assignments that have not been granted extensions and are of a standard to receive a pass or higher mark will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark per day (or part thereof) late including weekend days (e.g. if the assignment is worth 40 marks, the penalty is 2 marks per day late) until the mark reaches 50% of the maximum mark (e.g. 20 marks if the maximum is 40 marks). Assignments that are not of a pass standard will not have marks deducted and will fail regardless. Assignments submitted more than 5 days late without prior approval will not be accepted and will be given a zero (0) mark.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Levels of evidence Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Introductory biostatistics Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Case control studies Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 04 Qualitative research Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 05 Cohort studies Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 06 Cross-sectional surveys Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 07 Clinical and controlled trials Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 08 Systematic reviews and meta-analysis Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 09 Wet-lab research Lecture (2 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 10 Lab publications: Animal behaviour Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Lab publications: human neurophysiology Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 1. Masters of Brain and Mind Sciences: Lab publications: electrophysiology and pharmacology 2. Psychiatry: Drugs of Abuse/Mechanism of Neuroadaptation Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Lab publications: localisation and genetic manipulation Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance. Students are expected to attend 80% of classes either on campus or via Zoom. Due interruptions caused by Covid 19 for Semester 1 2021 attendance records will not be kept.
  • Passing the course. Students must earn an average mark of at least 50% for the unit as a whole by passing their assessments.
  • Academic honesty. Academic honesty must be demonstrated in all forms of assessment. Similarity detection software (i.e. Turnitin) will be used for all submitted written work. 

Please refer to our Course Rules and Policies: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/12062/pages/course-rules-and-policies?module_item_id=666352

 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Recommended textbook:

Prince, Martin (2003) Practical Psychiatric Epidemiology, Oxford University Press

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library Reading List, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. evaluate the merit of different clinical study designs in the ‘levels of evidence’ hierarchy
  • LO2. identify sources of selection bias and information bias in a research study and their potential effects on data
  • LO3. assess the statistical design of a given study
  • LO4. ascertain confounding variables in research and ways to address these
  • LO5. recognise different levels of laboratory research and navigate papers presenting a range of complex data and experiments
  • LO6. critically appraise and compare publications from clinical and basic research.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Exam format has changed to take-home short release format.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.