Skip to main content
Unit of study_

NURS5080: Capstone (Research)

Semester 2, 2022 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study will provide an opportunity for students with an interest in research to conduct an in depth exploration of a topic that you have identified as being of personal or professional relevance and/or research interest. To complete this unit you will be expected to work independently selecting, locating and analysing the relevant literature to prepare a scholarly piece of work reviewing current knowledge on your identified topic. While you will be expected to pursue your investigation as an independent scholar you will be assisted in your work by regular meetings with the unit coordinator and student colleagues. Your work may be presented in either minor thesis or journal manuscript formats and will be assessed in a manner appropriate for determining suitability for further research higher degree work. Students are advised to indicate their interest in undertaking the research capstone to the NURS5080 unit of study coordinator as they complete the unit of study NURS5069 Research in Nursing and Health Care, so that specific academic advice can be provided. NURS5080 Capstone (Research) is also an important component of the Sydney Nursing School pathway to research higher degree enrolment and students interested in pursuing this pathway should also seek academic advice from the Director Postgraduate Advanced Studies Coordinator (Research Education) before enrolling in the second semester of their course.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NURS5080
Academic unit Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points 12
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
42 credit points and NURS5069
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yun-Hee Jeon, yun-hee.jeon@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Yun-Hee Jeon, yun-hee.jeon@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Dissertation hurdle task Assessment 4: Final submission manuscript/thesis
Written task
70% Formal exam period
Due date: 18 Nov 2022 at 23:59
6000 words OR 10000 words maximum
Outcomes assessed: LO4
Presentation hurdle task Assessment 1: Presentation - outcome of preliminary survey of literature
Oral presentation
5% Week 04
Due date: 23 Aug 2022 at 09:00
10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 2: Argument for topic of review, search strategy and early outcomes
Written task
15% Week 08
Due date: 19 Sep 2022 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 3a: Draft (excluding abstract and conclusion) submitted to discussion board for peer review by student colleagues
Written task
5% Week 11
Due date: 17 Oct 2022 at 23:59
4000 words or 8000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 3b: Peer evaluations of two (2) draft manuscript/thesis
Written task
5% Week 12
Due date: 28 Oct 2022 at 23:59
500 words per review maximum x 2
Outcomes assessed: LO3
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

  • Assessment 1: Presentation - outcome of preliminary survey of literature: Each student will provide a 10-minute presentation during a group meeting. The purpose of the presentation is to provide the opportunity for you to articulate a convincing argument for conducting a literature review on your chosen topic area and to support this argument with the outcomes of your preliminary literature survey.
  • Assessment 2: Argument for topic of review, search strategy and early outcomes: For this assessment, you are asked to present a well-developed draft of specified elements of the integrative literature review.
  • Assessment 3a: Draft (excluding abstract and conclusion)submitted to discussion board for peer review bystudent colleagues​: To receive feedback on your own work you will be expected to submit a draft manuscript to the unit of study discussion board by the specified date. This draft does not need to be complete but should provide sufficient detail for your colleagues to be able to provide useful feedback.
  • Assessment 3b: Peer evaluations of two (2) draft manuscript/thesis: You will be expected to read the draft manuscripts of two of your colleagues and provide constructive feedback via the discussion board on Canvas.
  • Assessment 4: Final submission manuscript/thesis: Submission of an integrative literature review that refines and argues for a research area or a research question, establishes a research gap, question or problem, or explores a methodological issue.
Please note: Each student is required to submit/attend all assessment items in order to pass this unit. 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.

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 02 Study day 1 Introduction to unit of study and literature review process: identifying and refining a review topic; moving from topic to question; developing your review method; surveying the literature and refining key words Online class (7 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Study day 2 Student presentations (assessment 1); understanding and using PRISMA search reporting and selection effectively; framing the introduction for the literature review; appraising the quality of papers. Online class (7 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Study day 3 Group work to review current progress on literature review; developing an analytical table or matrix with data extracted from papers; using tables and figures to summarise and synthesise results; synthesising review data; individual consultation time Online class (7 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 08 Optional Drop- in Session 1 Group and individual consultation time to review progress in the literature review, problem-solve issues and obtain advice on the literature review components Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Optional Drop- in Session 2 Group and individual consultation time to review progress in the literature review, problem-solve issues and obtain advice on the literature review components Online class (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 11 Optional Drop- in Session 3 Group and individual consultation time to review progress in the literature review, problem-solve issues and obtain advice on the literature review components and the processes of undertaking peer review for Assessment 3B Online class (3 hr) LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney Nursing School Resolutions specifically outline attendance requirements. Resolution 7.2 states that if students are absent without leave for more than 10% of classes in a particular unit of study in any one semester, the Dean may call upon them to show cause why they should not be deemed to have failed that unit of study. 

It is expected that all students participate and fully engage in the content of this unit of study by attending lectures, tutorials and laboratories, being prepared for tutorials and laboratories, contributing to discussions in class and online, and providing and receiving feedback in a respectful and dignified manner.

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. work with academic staff and student colleagues to develop a rigorous framework for conducting a systematic search and writing an integrative literature review and/or minor thesis on a topic of current professional relevance or future research directions
  • LO2. develop a broader understanding of the current approaches to conducting a literature review and/or minor thesis
  • LO3. work with peers to develop collegial approaches to academic writing and critique
  • LO4. have completed a major piece of work that is presented as either an integrative literature review manuscript of publishable standard or a minor thesis that argues for the conduct of future research in an identified topic area based on the findings of an integrative literature review.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

This unit will be delivered remote (live), which means study days are delivered online in real time.

Sensitive materials in teaching: Please note that in this Unit of Study sensitive and potentially distressing or disturbing content might be presented and/or discussed from time to time. This may include reference to for example, discrimination, assault, suicide, illness, death and dying or culturally sensitive issues. These topics are relevant to your learning and your knowledge and skill development for nursing practice.

You will be advised before the information/topic is presented. If you are participating in the teaching session/activity online, you are advised to use headphones and ensure that anyone not participating in the session cannot see images that you may be watching on your device. If the nature of the content makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed, it is important that you contact the unit coordinator or another member of the academic team to discuss this with them.  

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.