FMHU5004: Semester 1, 2024

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Units FMHU5004 Semester 1 2024 [Block mode]

Unit of study_

FMHU5004: Qualitative Analysis and Writing in Health

Semester 1, 2024 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This advanced unit of study extends students' practical and theoretical knowledge of qualitative research to provide advanced concepts and skills in qualitative data analysis and writing. We will explore the principles of qualitative analysis, review different analytic strategies and key analytic tools. You will learn how to develop codes and themes, use memos and analytic maps, and interpret data through the process of writing. You will learn about starting writing, structuring articles, making analytic arguments, and editing your own work. Throughout, we will consider what it means to think and write 'qualitatively'. Students will conduct a Thematic Analysis on a portfolio of qualitative data and produce a results and discussion section for a journal article. After completing this unit, you will have increased your experience, skills and confidence in qualitative data analysis and writing.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	FMHU5004
Academic unit	Public Health
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	PUBH5506
Prerequisites ?	FMHU5003 or PUBH5505 or QUAL5005 or QUAL5006 or GLOH5201
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Students should have an understanding of qualitative research as this unit does not cover research design or data collection. Students looking for an introductory level unit should take FMHU5003 Introduction to Qualitative Research in Health.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Julie Mooney-Somers, julie.mooneysomers@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Andrea Smith, andrea.smith@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Sarah White, sarah.white@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Julie Mooney-Somers, julie.mooneysomers@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Polished analysis Polished abstract, methods, analysis, discussion + <100 word reflection	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 03 Jun 2024 at 23:59	3350 - 4350 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Coding and memo writing 5 x coded transcripts + 5 x < 250word memos	20%	Week 04 Due date: 11 Mar 2024 at 23:59	<1250 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Developing candidate themes 3 x < 500 word memos + < 100 word reflection	20%	Week 07 Due date: 08 Apr 2024 at 23:59	<1600 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Draft analysis 1500-2000 word draft analysis memo + <100 word reflection	20%	Week 11 Due date: 06 May 2024 at 23:59	< 2100 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

There are four assessment tasks: Coding and memo writing (20%); Developing candidate themes (20%); Draft analysis (20%); Polished analysis (40%).

You will receive a set of transcripts. For each assessment you will apply the techniques you have learnt and practiced in the workshop. This stepped approach is designed to build your skills and confidence, and allow us to assess your understanding of a common data analysis technique, your application of writing skills, and your ability to apply these to the process of analysis and the production of a polished piece of analysis. These are core skills for any researcher.

You will use your work on each assignment task to inform the subsequent assignment. That is, each assignment relies on the successful and timely completion of the previous assignment task. Meeting the assignment deadline will allow the marker to provide you with timely feedback so you can also use feedback to improve subsequent work.

Assessment criteria

Individual rubrics for each assessment are available on Canvas

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:

In accordance with University policy, when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date (or the granted extension), the Unit Coordinator may apply a deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date, and after ten calendar days late, may award a mark of zero.

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.

Learning support

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Ongoing	Watching lecture recordings, doing set readings, completing pre-workshop activities	Independent study (20 hr)
Week 02	Introducing Analysis I	Workshop (6 hr)
Week 02	Introducing Analysis II	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 05	Theming	Workshop (6 hr)
Week 08	Interpretation	Workshop (6 hr)
Week 12	Writing	Workshop (6 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

There are 5 scheduled workshops throughout the semester. These are all about interaction, hands on learning activities, and setting you up for assessments.

You should attend the live workshops either face-to-face or via Zoom, according to your enrolment mode.

Attendance at these sessions is not compulsory but is STRONGLY encouraged. Participating in discussion around analysis and interpretation of data are a fundamental part of learning. The interactive nature and hands on practice involved in the workshops, means recordings are not a good substitute for attendance.

Workshop days are officially timetabled for the whole day but generally run 10 until 4 with a 1 hour lunch break (see Canvas for precise times).

Most lecture content will not be delivered live in the workshops. Please do the required pre-workshop tasks so you can use the workshop space for implementing techniques and developing confidence and preparing for assessment.

As this is a six-credit point unit, you should expect to spend at least 126 hours on completing the work required, including attending workshops, participating in learning activities, reading the compulsory readings and completing assessment tasks.

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

Refer to Canvas

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. understand, explain and apply fundamental principles underlying qualitative analysis
LO2. systematically implement the key steps of one analytic method to a set of data
LO3. develop an analytic argument in a piece of qualitative writing and use data appropriately to advance this argument
LO4. understand and apply feedback to your analytic work and writing
LO5. reflect on challenges and identify strategies to improve your writing quality and productivity

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

Feedback shows students are pretty happy with the unit of study. They find the unit intellectually demanding and engaging, well structured, with meaningful activities oriented to real world research settings. Students say they felt supported working through the assessments. In response to feedback, the following changes have been made for 2024: • I will record group assessment feedback and provide it along with the individual feedback before the workshop. • More time for interaction in the workshops, for students to engage with each other, and to ask the lecturers specific questions. I have extended the workshops by an hour to allow this. • Can the analysis process be more collaborative? I'll be implementing some ideas in the workshops to address this. I have also revised the assessments to respond to the challenges and opportunities offered by Artificial Intelligence.

Additional information

Refer to Canvas

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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