Research Studies in Vision and Optometry (OPTO90025)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 25On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Note: This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Doctor of Optometry.

This second year Doctor of Optometry capstone subject aims to provide an authentic research experience in the discipline by involvement in an investigation in vision science and/or optometry under the supervision of a member of the academic staff. The project will usually involve an in-depth appraisal of the scientific literature and, as appropriate to the topic, the use of biochemical, molecular biological, pharmacological, neurophysiological, psychophysical, computational, epidemiological or advanced clinical techniques. The practical component of the project will typically involve experimental work on humans or animals and will usually be undertaken as a collaborative team effort. The team will develop a research proposal (summarising the relevant literature, aims, methods and timeline), conduct the experiments, analyse the data and present the project outcomes as a poster in a conference setting. Individual students will build on the team’s work to prepare their own manuscript that is in a format suitable for publication in a journal.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • identify, plan and conduct research to test a hypothesis in the vision sciences and/or optometry; and
  • communicate research findings in written and oral form.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to new problems;
  • ; communicate clearly in written and oral forms;
  • work as part of a team to address a common goal;
  • demonstrate an appreciation of the design, conduct and reporting of original research;
  • manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work;
  • show a respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of scholarship:
  • articulate the interpretation of data in written form;
  • integrate knowledge from different domains; and
  • value the collection and recording of accurate and complete data.

Last updated: 4 March 2025