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Unit of study_

NURS4025: Honours Thesis Introduction

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Singapore

This unit of study focuses on the knowledge and skills required for conducting research. It examines (i) research design and research methods including various data collection and analysis techniques; (ii) ethical considerations in undertaking research; and (iii) evaluating and critiquing the literature. Students will also develop skills for presenting their research, including oral presentation. With the assistance of their supervisor, students will begin a literature search and commence their literature review of their research topic. Preliminary findings will be presented during an oral assessment.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NURS4025
Academic unit Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points 12
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Debra Jackson, debra.jackson@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Assessment 1: Oral presentation
Presentation
100% Week 13
Due date: 23 May 2022 at 18:00
30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Assessment 1: Oral presentationAll students will deliver an oral presentation to academics and peers at Sydney Nursing School during the final week of seminars.

 

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

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

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.

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 03 Approaches to research Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Library database searching Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Presenting and disseminating your research Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 11 Ethics and research integrity Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 12 Literature reviews Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 13 Research proposal presentation Seminar (5 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: Full-time and part-time students enrolled in this unit of study are required to attend the orientation workshops (as well as use of learning sites provided specifically
    for honours students. They must also attend Honours seminars during semester one (see eCommunity site). Regular meetings with their supervisor(s) should also be set.
  • Referencing style: The Sydney Nursing School has adopted the American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing style, 7th Edition, 2020 as its official referencing style. This is an author-date style of referencing.
  • Assignment formatting guidelines: Unless the unit coordinator has indicated otherwise, please make sure your submitted assessments are formatted as follows:
    • font: use Calibri or Times New Roman in 11 - 12 point
    • double line spacing
    • margins: 2.5cm each side
    • use page numbers
    • refer to assessment instructions for use of title and headings

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 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. demonstrate that they have acquired the skills necessary to refine a research question and select an appropriate research design and method for their study.
  • LO2. demonstrate through oral presentation that they have acquired the skills necessary to search background literature, plan and communicate their proposed research plan to peers

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
LO1         
LO2         

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

The seminar series have been updated to reflect student feedback about needs.

Ethics application: The majority of student research projects will require approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Local Health District, and/or the hospital or organisation where the research project will be undertaken. Where no appropriate local committee is in place (e.g. if conducting interviews with volunteers in a public place), the project must be submitted to the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Sydney. Ethics Committee approvals must be in place before you enter the field and/or collect any data.A copy of your final ethics application and letter of approval from the Ethics Committee must be included in the final thesis.

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.