University of Technology Sydney

96092 Research Project

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health (GEM)
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 96084 Sub-acute Rehabilitation AND 96085 Outpatient Rehabilitation AND 96088 Acute Physiotherapy Care AND 96086 Research Design in Physiotherapy
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject provides an opportunity for students to conduct a supervised research project in an area related to physiotherapy. Under supervision, students participate in the collection of data and use current technology to perform statistical analysis to interpret the information gained. Students learn how to present the results of their analysis by independently writing a research paper and delivering a poster presentation. The research paper typically includes an abstract, introduction, a description of the methods used, a description of the results obtained plus any analysis undertaken, figures and tables of the results, and a discussion of the results in the context of the relevant literature using an appropriate reference style. The poster presentation and paper defence provide students with leadership and verbal skills required to educate other healthcare professionals, academics, and first-year physiotherapy students. The research paper provides students with an understanding of how to write a research paper for publication using scientific and academic language.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

039. Maintain professionalism in verbal and written communication
044. Educate physiotherapists and other health professionals including students
059. Locate scholarly literature relevant to a given topic
060. Critique selected research
061. Formulate a research question
063. Select a research methodology relevant to a given research question
066. Conduct a research project
067. Interpret research data
068. Evaluate research findings in the context of the literature
069. Disseminate findings of a research project to a range of audiences
070. Write a research paper suitable for journal publication

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

The learning outcomes for this subject are as follows:

  • Critical thinker: Critically analyse the evidence underpinning practice and effectively apply new knowledge to practice; conduct and disseminate high-quality research to improve professional knowledge and influence direction of future practice. (02.05)
  • Research-enabled: Apply scientific research skills to advance the evidence base supporting physiotherapy practice. (02.09)
  • Communication: Communicate effectively using high-level interpersonal skills in both traditional modes of communication and when integrating advances in technology and methods of intervention delivery into patient care. (03.06)
  • Teamwork and leadership: Engage in leadership and collaboration, representing the profession in interprofessional teams and seeking advanced practitioner roles to ensure the future vitality of the profession. (03.07)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Research-enabled

Graduates of the Master of Physiotherapy effectively integrate research evidence into practice, are proactive in identifying gaps in knowledge and are competent to undertake research to advance the evidence base and inform future physiotherapy practice.

Professionally Competent

Graduates of the Master of Physiotherapy embody professional and ethical practice, maintaining knowledge and competence at local and global standards. Graduates embrace opportunities for leadership and advanced roles, utilise deliberate practice to optimise physiotherapy care and advocate for the profession in interdisciplinary contexts.

Teaching and learning strategies

Prep work

Prep work is undertaken prior to masterclasses and workshops. Prep work can include watching a video, reading a blog entry/website/textbook chapter/journal article/magazine article and/or listening to a podcast/video/interview. Questions often accompany the prep work so students read with intent which encourage deep reading. Content covered in prep work is strongly linked to content covered in masterclasses and workshops. Please ensure prep work is carried out so that you have spent some time accessing and making sense of ideas. Attending the masterclasses and workshops will allow you to test these ideas and get feedback from your teachers and peers which will further consolidate your learning. Your knowledge and understanding of the prep work will be tested and applied using quizzes, group discussions and practical activities in masterclasses and workshops.

Masterclasses

Masterclasses are conducted in groups of 60 or more. There is usually a presentation of content by the teacher followed by activities which build on the prep work and the content presented. These activities are varied and require students to work alone, work in pairs or work in groups of 3 or more. Examples of these activities include class presentations, group discussions and “One Minute Paper” where students reflect on what they have learnt in class and share this with the class. Group discussions often involve solving a problem or answering a question based on their research project or the content topic. All activities are facilitated by the teacher. Feedback is provided by the teacher where there is discrepancy in the knowledge and understanding of the content or disagreement in opinions between groups. Feedback can also be provided by peers.

Workshops

Workshops are conducted in groups of 15-35. Content in classes often include the practice of practical skills and further consolidation of information gained in masterclasses. These activities are varied and often require students to work in pairs or work in their assigned research groups. Examples of these activities include the practice of research skills (i.e., making figures, using statistical software), class presentations, group discussions, and brainstorming sessions. In the classes where practical research skills are taught, the teacher demonstrates these skills and provide guidance on how feedback should be provided. After the demonstration, students work in their research groups of 3 or more to practice. Feedback on their progress is provided by the teacher or their peers. Feedback on common errors and suggestions for improvement will also be included. In the classes where theoretical content are consolidated and applied, feedback is provided by the teacher where there is discrepancy in the knowledge and understanding of the content or disagreement in opinions between groups. Feedback can also be provided by peers.

Content (topics)

This subject makes a major contribution to producing research enabled and practice ready physiotherapists. The subject builds on knowledge gained in 96086 Research Design in Physiotherapy, by advancing knowledge and putting knowledge into practice.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Poster presentation

Intent:

Dissemination of research is a key capability for practitioners and researchers. This assessment task gives students the opportunity to present their research project in a format commonly used at conferences and professional gatherings. Further, the timing of this task allows students to gather feedback on their preliminary data and make required adjustments if necessary.

Objective(s):

This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives:

044, 059, 060, 061, 063, 067 and 069

This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes:

02.05, 02.09, 03.06 and 03.07

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 20%

Assessment task 2: Journal article

Intent:

Dissemination of research is a key capability for practitioners and researchers. This assessment task gives students the opportunity to present their research project in a written format using formal/academic language relevant to the scientific/academic community. Students will work collaboratively in a group to co-author their journal article.

Objective(s):

This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives:

059, 060, 066, 067, 068 and 070

This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes:

02.05, 02.09, 03.06 and 03.07

Groupwork: Group, individually assessed
Weight: 30%
Criteria:

Available in Canvas

Assessment task 3: Oral Defence of Article (Must Pass)

Intent:

Dissemination of research is a key capability for practitioners and researchers. This assessment task gives students the opportunity to verbally communicate and defend their research project to an educated but non-expert audience. Students will be asked questions on various aspects of the project and submitted journal article to ensure they have an understanding of all aspects of their research project.

Objective(s):

This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives:

039, 044, 068 and 069

This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes:

02.05, 02.09, 03.06 and 03.07

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%
Length:

15 min viva/interview

Criteria:

Available in Canvas

Assessment task 4: Online quiz

Intent:

This individual assessment task will give students the opportunity to consolidate their understanding of various aspects important for physiotherapy research.

Objective(s):

This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives:

060, 063 and 067

This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes:

02.05 and 02.09

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%
Length:

2 x 30 min quizzes

Criteria:

Available in Canvas

Minimum requirements

Attend 85% of compulsory classes.

Note that submission of each assessment task is compulsory. If you fail to submit one of the assessment tasks below you will fail this Subject, regardless of your performance in the remaining tasks.

There is a must-pass assessment in this subject. Please check assessment descriptions for details.

Required texts

Coursework Assessments Policy

Coursework Assessments Procedures

Graduate School of Health Policy, Guidelines and Procedures (login required)

Recommended texts

Hoffmann T, Bennett S and Del Mar C (2013) Evidence-Based Practice across the Health Professions (2nd ed. NSW: Churchill Livingstone.

Hicks C (2009) Research Methods for Clinical Therapists: Applied Project Design and Analysis (5th edition). London, UK: Churchill Livingston, Elsevier.