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Unit of study_

FMHU3002: Qualitative Research Methods in Health

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study has three aims: First, to build on core units of study offered in Year One and Year Two to provide critical appraisal skills in reading and utilising qualitative research related to health behaviour and health care. Second, to understand the theoretical orientation of contemporary qualitative health research methods. Third, to develop skills in undertaking qualitative research methods. With a focus on applying critical and theoretical knowledge, the unit has a practical orientation and students will gain experience in techniques of observation, document analysis, in-depth interviewing and focus group interviews

Unit details and rules

Unit code FMHU3002
Academic unit Health Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
SCLG2602 or BACH4056 or HSBH3019
Prerequisites
? 
HSBH1007 or HSBH2007 or FMHU2000
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Justin McNab, justin.mcnab@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Justin McNab, justin.mcnab@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Online Tutorial Participation
Online Tutorial Participation
5% Ongoing Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO7 LO8
Assignment Assignment 1
Research Report
30% Week 07
Due date: 16 Sep 2022 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Assignment Assignment 2
Project Report
30% Week 11
Due date: 21 Oct 2022 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Assignment Assignment 3
End Semester Take Home Assignment
35% Week 13
Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 23:59
1000-1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8

Assessment summary

Participartion – engage in online discussion about the content of the unit with other students on the canvas site.

Assignment 1 – create a research journal, which reflects on your experience in carrying out two individual interviews.

Assignment 2 – create a research journal, which reflects on your experience in carrying out either an observation in one setting or visual data collection methods with one person. 

Assigment 3 – carry out a qualitative research method taught in the unit and report on the method, analysis and findings.

Assessment criteria

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 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:

Unless an application for special consideration or special arrangement has been approved, students must submit all assessment for a unit of study on the due date specified in the unit of study outline. If the assessment is completed or submitted within an approved period of extension by way of an approved special consideration application, academic plan adjustment or informal simple extension (approved in writing), no academic penalty will be applied to that piece of assessment. If an assessment is submitted after the due date (or extended due date as described above), the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows: Written work submitted electronically after 11.59 pm on the due date will be considered to have been submitted late. For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded.

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

Attendance and class requirements

Two-hour lectures are given in a workshop format (Weeks 1-13), lectures will also be available online. Announcements will be made via the canvas site during the semester to let students know when a lecture will be zoom only. Lectures will be recorded and the recordings placed on the canvas site.

Online tutorial participation will be in the form of online Canvas discussions. Students are expected to participate in one online tutorial each week that they are offered (see lecture timetable below for details). Look at each week's module for the link to the discussion board subject, or go straight to the Discussions tab on the home page

Due: Weekly, excluding major assignment submission weeks, total of 10

Value: 5% (0.5% for each online tutorial /discussion completed)

Online tutorials are not a ‘light’ option and you should make sure that you put aside around 50 minutes each week to complete your online tutorial activities, as you would for tutorials that are conducted in person. 

Note: Online Tutorials start in Week 2. There are no online tutorials in Weeks 7 and 11, which are the weeks in which the two research reports are due.

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.

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. understand basic theoretical concepts in relation to qualitative research
  • LO2. critically appraise qualitative research literature
  • LO3. understand the principles of qualitative research design and implementation
  • LO4. understand and apply within practical settings a range of qualitative methods including interviewing, focus groups, observation, text and visual methods
  • LO5. demonstrate an understanding of the application of human ethics in relation to qualitative research methods
  • LO6. understand the principles of qualitative data analysis
  • LO7. interact with other students to determine appropriate uses of qualitative methods
  • LO8. engage in critical self-reflection about your actions with regard to understanding and using qualitative methods.

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.

Updated lecture and online tutorial content

Disclaimer

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