Course Title: Research Methods for Pharmacy Students

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Methods for Pharmacy Students

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS2490

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

160H Medical Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

ONPS2490

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023

Course Coordinator: Dr Thilini Thrimawithana

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7125

Course Coordinator Email: Thilini.Thrimawithana@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.08.028


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

System Enforced Pre-requisites (Enforced by SAMS)

Required concurrent study (Co-requisites)


Course Description

This course builds upon the requisite knowledge in pharmacy practice, therapeutics and drug delivery and aims to provide you with the research skills required to successfully complete ONPS2491 (Pharmacy Research Project) or PHAR1034 (Pharmacy Services Project). You will rely on these skills as a practicing pharmacist.

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark for the course will be one of the course marks used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level. This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information webpage for more information (http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=eyj5c0mo77631)


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes (PLO) for BH102 Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours):

  • Research, critically evaluate and apply evidence in professional practice (PLO 2)


Upon the successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Prepare a literature review on a given topic;
  2. Frame a question and aim within the context of the existing literature;
  3. Identify objectives which allow you to address the aim;
  4. Formulate a plan of research activities to answer research questions including a comparative analysis of alternate methodologies;
  5. Present and analyse gathered data;
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of a study;
  7. Communicate a research problem and plan using appropriate language


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will be delivered on-line with pre-recorded lessons and on-line tutorials to support the learning activities. The learning activities will include review of the recommended literature and the lecture content. Throughout, feedback will be provided orally and in writing. Students will be provided the opportunity to engage with feedback to demonstrate an increase in understanding and application.


Overview of Learning Resources

Where appropriate to research skills, you will be directed to specific learning resources chiefly distributed through Canvas. Online search databases and the electronic provision of a wide range of journals are provided by the library.

Recommended text:

Greenhalgh, Understanding Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice in Health, 2nd Edition


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Research Proposal

Weighting 30%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 7

Assessment Task 2: Literature Review

Weighting 40%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 6 & 7

Assessment Task 3: Test

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7

Assessment Task 4: Data Analysis

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports CLOs 4, 5, 6 & 7