Interpreting Health Research
PostgraduateACU-HLSC6402024
Course information for 2024 intake
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Interpreting Health Research
About this subject
On successful completion of this Interpreting Health Research, students should be able to:
- Appraise the theoretical and philosophical positions that underpin different health inquiry approaches for practice improvement;
- Evaluate the significance of ethical processes in health inquiry within a person-centred care environment;
- Identify and analyse a clinical problem/issue related to quality and safety of care and formulate a related health inquiry or research question;
- Use information and communication technology effectively to conduct literature searches;
- Demonstrate critical reading, analysis and synthesis of relevant literature.
- Theoretical and philosophical positions in health inquiry
- Research approaches in health related inquiry
- Relevance of theories, conceptual models/frameworks
- Health inquiry approaches for practice improvement
- Reflective practice; critical thinking; decision making and health inquiry
- Ethics in health inquiry activities in the person-centred care environment
- Analysing clinical issues/problems related to quality and safety
- Data base searching – use of information and communication technology
- Critical reading, analysis and synthesis of relevant literature
An understanding of evidence-based practice and different research approaches is fundamental to research inquiry in any scientific discipline. Thus, this subject is essential in providing an opportunity for students who are health practitioners, to ask, acquire, interpret, analyse, synthesise, and integrate evidence to facilitate ongoing improvement in healthcare practice. Additionally, an understanding of the principles and philosophical positions underpinning different research approaches in health care is essential for postgraduate students to critically evaluate research literature, and to undertake health inquiry, workplace projects or health research.
This subject addresses issues of evidence-based knowledge development and the methods and processes that health disciplines apply to health inquiry, project and research processes within a person-centred care environment. Ways to evaluate solutions to complex clinical issues/problems in the health care environment and formulate a relevant question/topic are addressed. In addition, students will develop skills to search for, read and interpret relevant literature, along with approaches to analysis and synthesis of literature as a preparatory step in writing a literature review for a proposed health inquiry, workplace project or health research.
This subject aims to develop confidence and competence in the application of evidence-based practice and interpretation of health literature.
In order to pass the unit, students are required to complete and submit all three assessment tasks. To pass the subject, students must achieve a cumulative mark of at least 50% across all assessment tasks. Assessment items are aligned with learning outcomes and weekly content to ensure that students demonstrate their achievement of each learning outcome. The successful study of interpreting health research requires incremental learning. This subject is designed to reflect this, and hence mastery of early concepts will be necessary to understand later concepts.
- Quiz/Test Enables students to demonstrate their ability to comprehend philosophies of research approaches and apply to the health context. (20%)
- Online Discussion & Peer Review Enables students to work individually & collaboratively with peers in an online environment, to reflect on their practice and identify a healthcare practice problem/issue, through critical reasearch readings (40%)
- Written Proposa:l Enables students to demonstrate the ability to identify a practice problem/issue, critique & analyse relevant health research, construct an introduction & background statement, consider ethical , propose aims & questions (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 35
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.