Principles of Clinical Research (CLRS90027)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
March
Email: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Contact hours: https://unimelb.edu.au/professional-development/contact-us
Overview
| Availability | March |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Medical research studies can be split into five distinct phases—conception, design, execution, analysis, and publication/reporting. The quality of a study is highly dependent on the selection of a proper study design and this in turn is determined by the research question to be answered.
This subject will introduce participants to the principles of research within a clinical (ie health) setting, in particular:
- turning an idea into a research question that is measurable and evaluable
- examine different study designs used in clinical/medical research
- selecting a study design appropriate to answering the research question
- refining a research question by examining the current literature through the construction of a 'literature review' of published scientific studies
- assessing the strengths, weakness and biases of qualitative and quantitative study designs commonly encountered in the medical literature
- literature searching and critical appraisal of published scientific
This subject provides individuals from medical and allied health professions (such as nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists etc) and others with a biomedical science-based background with a conceptual framework in research which is undertaken in clinical and medical settings. This subject serves as a basis for advanced study in the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research, the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research and the Master of Clinical Research.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students should be able to;
- describe the different types of research questions and the characteristics of a ‘good’ research question (PICO)formulate an answerable research question and develop a conceptual hypothesis
- compare and contrast different types of quantitative (eg randomized control trial, case-control, experimental, cross-section, cohort, etc) and qualitative (eg ethnography, case studies, in depth interviewing, document analysis etc) study designs at an introductory level
- develop principles for selecting an appropriate research design that best answers the research question
- describe the various tools available to assess the quality of published qualitative and quantitative research studies and critically appraise the quality of published studies
- demonstrate effective use of online literature databases to find relevant published research studies including how to develop and record a search strategy, identify and apply relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria and select appropriate key words and limits
- differentiate between a narrative, systematic and meta-analysis review identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the three different review types
- demonstrate sufficient preparatory knowledge for more detailed study in clinical research at the Diploma level
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- foundational understanding of the principles of research design;
- analyse, evaluate and interpret published scientific evidence using appropriate techniques;
- interpret data from electronic databases;
- apply their understanding to research conception and design;
- communicate advanced concepts in written and oral form;
- the ability to comprehend complex science information
- exercise responsibility for their own learning;
- manage their time effectively.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following:
- N28AA Professional Certificate in Clinical Research
- N12AA Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research
- N34AA Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research
- N01AA Master of Clinical Research
This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Oral presentation (equivalent to 500 words) describing development and justification of a research question
| Due midway through the intensive teaching period | 10% |
Examination (equivalent to 1000 words) due on the last day of the intensive teaching period
| End of the teaching period | 20% |
Development and execution of a systematic search of the medical literature in an area of interest
| 2 Weeks after the end of teaching | 30% |
Quality assessment of two published research articles identified through the systemic search of the medical literature
| 2 Weeks after the end of teaching | 20% |
Critical analysis of a published literature review
| 4 Weeks after the end of teaching | 20% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- March
Coordinator Monira Hussain Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 24 February 2025 Pre teaching requirements Students are encouraged to complete the pre-readings in preperation for the start of the subject. Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 6 March 2025 Last self-enrol date 25 February 2025 Census date 7 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 28 March 2025 Assessment period ends 15 April 2025 March contact information
Email: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Contact hours: https://unimelb.edu.au/professional-development/contact-us
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Clinical Research Course Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research Course Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 4 March 2025