Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Advances in science require a sound understanding of previously published investigations, and an ability to analyse critically scientific reports and their significance to the area of investigation. Scientific investigations by an individual or a group of researchers from Australian Institutions require funding and research support. Research project proposals are submitted to national competitive funding bodies that include the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC). Acquisition of the skills and strategies for critically analysing scientific papers and for writing a competitive research proposal is a prerequisite for a successful scientific career.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with the skills and strategies to examine critically the significance of scientific papers and to write a succinct critical evaluation of a published scientific manuscript.

Objectives

On successfully completing this unit it is expected that you will have:

1. developed and refined your skills in critical thinking and applied analysis in understanding scientific publications.


2. gained knowledge to propose appropriate corrections and improvements to scientific publications.


3. gained confidence in writing research reports.


4. developed and refined your information retrieval and communication skills.

Content

Topics covered will include examination and critical analysis of a scientific paper, skills for writing scientific research reports, the requirements for a good research proposal and aspects that make research proposals non-competitive.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit is integrated with HLP105 Research Strategies 1 and HLP106 Research Strategies 2, where lecture/discussion sessions on good scientific writing, critical analysis of scientific papers and grant writing will be presented by experienced researchers who have been successful in obtaining grants and reviewing scientific publications. The unit also demands that you develop information retrieval and communication skills because these are seen as essential to life-long learning. You will be required to submit a written research grant application related to your project, and a written critical analysis of a research paper in an area outside your project area.

Assessment

You will be graded in this unit on the basis of a written critique of a scientific paper. In your critique of a paper, you will provide a written critique of a scientific paper on a topic outside of your Honours project area.You will be provided with extensive formative assessment during classroom activities on scientific writing and on the analysis and assessment of scientific publications, integrated with the companion unit HLP106 Research Strategies 2. Additionally, your project supervisor(s) will review your progress through weekly/fortnightly one-on-one meetings with you. In preparation for writing your paper critique, you will read a published paper and discuss its positive and negative aspects as a discussion group, under the guidance of a senior researcher. Following summative assessments, you will be provided with written feedback from your assessors, and you will be encouraged to discuss these comments with your project supervisor(s).

Assessment name: Critique (written)
Description: You are provided with a scientific paper in an area outside your project area, and you are required to submit a written critique of the paper.
Relates to objectives: 1-5
Weight: 100%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are no textbooks for this unit. Copies of requirements for the unit and the assessment criteria are provided in the Honours Booklet available from the Unit Coordinator and on Blackboard. Individual supervisors will be able to direct you to where to begin your searches for information about your specialised area of investigation. Other materials will be supplied as required during the formal sessions.

Risk assessment statement

This unit conducted entirely in traditional lecture or seminar room settings, and no risks beyond the ordinary need to be considered.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 03-Oct-2012