Handbook home
Biostatistics Research Project Part 1 (POPH90288)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
megha.rajasekhar@unimelb.edu.au
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/
Semester 2
megha.rajasekhar@unimelb.edu.au
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The aim of the capstone project is to deliver to the student a practical experience in a health and medical research work setting. The focus is on the application of knowledge and skills learnt during the core and elective coursework subjects. In this subject, students will learn to address the types of challenges that the practising biostatistician and their collaborator(s) typically face.
The statistical analysis of real data almost always requires compromises, since no single method is always guaranteed to be superior and more than one approach may be reasonable. Students will gain experience in applied, biostatistical work. This will require an iterative approach, involving refinement of the research question, planning and conducting statistical analyses, and presenting and discussing results and conclusions in close collaboration with subject-matter experts.
Effective communication with subject-matter experts is an important part of the biostatistician’s role in the workplace and, therefore, of the capstone project. Under the guidance of a biostatistical supervisor, students have the opportunity to work with subject-matter experts to apply appropriate statistical methods to answer proposed research questions. Students will give an oral presentation describing their methods and results, and provide a written report.
In this research project the student has the option for breadth or depth: two distinct research projects or one larger project with multiple challenges. Students must conduct their research over two consecutive semesters, ie students must enrol in POH90288 and POPH90289 Biostatistics Research Project Part 2 in two consecutive semesters.. The alternative research project, POPH90151 is identical but within one semester, whereas POPH90149 is limited in scope, ie less breadth and depth.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- Apply the knowledge and skills learned from coursework by participating in a substantive, collaborative project in health and medical research;
- Work with collaborators to translate a research question into a statistical question that can be answered by analysing available data;
- Develop a statistical analysis plan and execute the analyses proposed in that plan using existing statistical software;
- Interpret and explain the results of a statistical analysis of data including contextualising them by comparison with the published results of other studies; and
- Disseminate results in the form of an oral presentation and a written report aimed at colleagues in health and medical research who do not have specialised knowledge of statistics.
Generic skills
- Communicate effectively to a range of audiences.
- Think critically to answer research questions in the medical/health field.
- Effectively organize, time manage and plan.
- Demonstrate the technical skills for professional practice.
Last updated: 2 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
A minimum of 50 credit points of study, inclusive of:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAST90102 | Foundations of Regression | July (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| MAST90101 | Introduction to Statistical Computing | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
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: 2 March 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Portfolio or minor dissertation
| Due during the examination period of the second semester of enrolment | 80% |
An oral presentation
| Held during the 11th week of the second semester of enrolment | 20% |
Additional details
This assessment statement applies to the entire enrolment across Parts 1 and 2 of the subject (i.e. POPH90288 and POPH90289 together):
Last updated: 2 March 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Megha Rajasekhar Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Independent study with supervision Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
megha.rajasekhar@unimelb.edu.au
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/
- Semester 2
Coordinator Megha Rajasekhar Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Independent study with supervision Total time commitment 340 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
megha.rajasekhar@unimelb.edu.au
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/
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.
Additional delivery details
- This subject continues over two consecutive study periods, with students first enrolling in POPH90288 Biostatistics Research Project Part 1 and then subsequently enrolling in POPH90289 Biostatistics Research Project Part 2 for a total enrolment of 25 credit points. Students will receive an overall result for the subject following completion of the two-subject sequence.
- Information provided on this page applies to Part 1 and Part 2 of the subject (POPH90288 and POPH90289).
Last updated: 2 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Subject notes
This subject is not available in the Master of Public Health
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Biostatistics - Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 2 March 2024