Course Title: Research Project 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Project 1

Credit Points: 24.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS2562

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Natalie Borg

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3743

Course Coordinator Email: natalie.borg@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 223.2A.012


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will develop your scientific research methods and skills and undertake your research project.

Under the guidance of your supervisor you will:

  • Learn information and data acquisition skills and experimental techniques required to undertake an intensive research project.
  • Develop skills in experimental design and project planning.
  • Undertake appropriate laboratory inductions and training as required by RMIT University and government legislation.
  • Develop an understanding of the ethics and approval requirements needed for your research project.
  • Collect, interpret and analyse primary data relating to your research project.
  • Develop skills in science communication.

If you are enrolled in this course as a component of your Bachelor Honours Program, your overall mark will contribute to the calculation of the weighted average mark (WAM).  

See the WAM information web page for more information. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BH058 Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours):

PLO 1 Understanding Science:

  • Understand the scientific method and an ability to apply the scientific method in practice.
  • An understanding of the role and importance of evidence in the continuous evolution of scientific knowledge

PLO 2 Scientific knowledge:

  • Have advanced knowledge in specialized areas of your chosen discipline
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methodology appropriate to your discipline.

PLO 3 Inquiry and problem solving:

  • Be able to concisely state research questions, and use them to design and plan a research project.
  • Gather, critically evaluate and synthesise information from a range of sources relevant to a scientific research topic.
  • Be able to choose appropriate tools and methods to solve scientific problems within your area of specialization.
  • Possess an ability to accurately record, analyse, interpret and critically evaluate your research findings.

PLO 4 Communication

  • Ability to communicate scientific information and the results of your research project using oral, written and presentation skills using appropropiate scientific language for the intended audience

PLO 5 Personal and professional responsibility:

  • Demonstrate accountability for your own learning and professional conduct


On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of research training requirements for your research project.
  2. Design and implement an experimental plan for your research topic.
  3. Perform research, record scientific data and analyse results.
  4. Employ appropriate statistical analysis to your research project data.
  5. Analyse, collate and present data in an appropriate format relative to the discipline area of your research.
  6. Convey scientific knowledge clearly, concisely and precisely in the form of academic writing appropriate for the discipline area of your research.


Overview of Learning Activities

Under supervisor guidance you will develop a greater understanding and skills in research data processing, statistical analysis and data interpretation. You will gain skills to assist you to develop and implement an experimental plan, evaluate your data and integrate your research results and information into a coherent and logical evaluation.

The research project learning activities will vary depending on the project. They will comprise skills particular to the experiments or procedures of the specific research project and will include individual problem solving (guided by your supervisors’ advice, experience and published literature), and discussion and reflection with your supervisor, collaborators and peers.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will be based on individual performance in investigation, analysis, synthesis and reporting of research data from your individual research project. 

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Final Seminar
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

Assessment Task 2: Performance Evaluation
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 3 & 4

Assessment Task 3: Thesis
Weighting 80%
Note: Breakdown of thesis assessment is Abstract 8%; Introduction 8%; Methodology 12%; Results 16%; Discussion and conclusions 28%; Organisation and presentation 8% = Total 80%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

Note: The final mark for this course will be a combined mark for all three research project courses (ONPS2562, ONPS2421 & ONPS2422) that form the research component of the honours program.

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.