2011 MBBS Honours

Overview & Expectations‘Getting Started’

Di EleyMBBS Research Coordinator

OVERVIEW OF MBBS HONOURS 2011Handbook – PDF on website – update alertsWebsite – ‘Research Options in the MBBS’Protocol for OffersEnrolment What is required: AssessmentGrade calculationLeaving Honours / Reverting to Pass DegreeKey Dates

Getting StartedChoosing your Supervisor / ProjectEthicsStatistical Assistance The Research Process –start thinking like a researcher

PROTOCOL FOR OFFERSFrom the Handbook: ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (page 6)

The minimum eligibility criterion for entry into the Honours program is a GPA of 6.5.

Additionally students must have achieved satisfactory clinical performance in Year 2.

**Students who are already engaged in a research project, under supervision of a SOM researcher, but who do not fulfil the eligibility criteria but may contact the MBBS Research Coordinator to discuss options.

ENROLMENTIt’s Your Responsibility to Enrol Properly

‘My Advisor’ http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/

WHAT IS REQUIRED (Handbook pg 9 &10)

Four Assessment TasksOral presentation of your Project PlanLiterature Review - MEDI 3009Project Plan and MethodologyThesis

All within an 18 month time frame alongside your full time MBBS Year 3 and 4 clinical rotations.

Part Assessment Item Word Length Due Allocation of Marks

1 Oral presentation of the literature review

n/a End of Semester 1 Year 3

The marks are allocated to each Honours Stream Rotation in Semester 1

2 Scientific Literature Review and Research Question

5,000 words Mid-semester 2 Year 3

The marks are allocated to MEDI3009 – Scientific Literature Review (Hons) only.

3 Methodology and data collection

End of Semester 2 Year 3

The marks are allocated to each Honours Stream Rotation in Semester 2.

4 Thesis 10,000 words (incl the Literature Review)

End of Semester 1 Year 4

The marks are allocated to each Honours Stream Rotation in Year 4.

ASSESSMENT

Honours Grade CalculationGrade calculations for Honours Rotation Courses include both the clinical component and the results of the Honours task for the particular semester.

• Oral Presentation• Project Plan and Methodology• Final Thesis

The exception is that marks for the Literature Review go solely to MEDI3009.

The final Honours course grade calculation i.e. CLASS OF HONOURS is determined at the final Year 4 Examination Board meeting for the year.

Leaving the Honours Program and Reverting to the Pass Degree

 A student may: withdraw from Honours in Semester 1 by 31 March &not be fee-liablerevert to Pass Degree in Semester 2 by 30 August & not be fee-liable

responsible for amending enrolment to Pass Degree on mySi-net.

If you revert to the Pass Degree all assessable components of the Honours courses must be completed. failure to complete will result in a zero awarded to these components

will influence final grades

PLEASE REMEMBERIf you wish to withdraw or revert to the Pass degree you must

Consult with the MBBS Honours Course CoordinatorComplete the courses you are currently enrolled apply to revert to the Pass Degree

Workshops Workshop 3A: Overview and Expectations

Getting Started Wednesday 23 February 2011

Workshop 3B: Presenting the Project Plan (preparation for the oral presentation)

Wednesday 13 April 2011

Workshop 3C:Structure and Content of a Literature Review 1

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Workshop 3D: Structure and Content of a Literature Review 2

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Workshop 3E: Structure and Content of Methodology & Project Plan

Wednesday 10 August 2011

Assessment Due Dates Assessment Task 1 – Oral Presentation 27 – 29 April & 16 – 20 May 2011

provisional (presentation – will be scheduled according to topic, or by negotiation with the Research Coordinator)

Assessment Task 2 – Literature Review 29 June 2011 Assessment Task 3 – Methodology &

Project Plan Wednesday 7 September 2011

Assessment Task 4 – Completed Thesis o For students in Year 4 in 2012

20 July 2012

KEY DATES (Handbook pg 13)

Statistical AssistanceThink now about your data analysis as part of

your Research Plan

When you have your data - you may request assistance with your statistics

Handbook (pg 30-31) On-line form

Stats Programs available: SPSS: ‘Statistical Package for Social Sciences’ SAS: ‘Statistical Analysis Software’

Research EthicsEthical considerations of your project should NOT be an afterthought

Your Next Best Friend UQ Website – RESEARCH

Research & Innovation Division (RID)http://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/

Ethical Clearanceshttp://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/ethical-clearances

Human Ethics

Downloads , Forms & Guidelineshttp://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/human-guidelines

MREC BSSERC

Full Review Expedited Review

Project Title:

Principal Investigator:Staff Noº/Student Noº:(cross out if not relevant)

Co-Investigator/s:Project Co-ordinator (or authorised contact)

Supervisor/s: (if applicable)

Schools/Departments:

CLEARANCE NOº(office use only)

Application Form for Ethical Clearance for Research Involving Human ParticipantsFor review by: Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC)Behavioural & Social Sciences Ethical Review Committee (BSSERC)

For Staff and Student ResearchRefer to last page for website and other information, including mailing address

Please tick boxes:

Everything we do has possible ethical considerations. Everyone must consider the possible ethical implications

of your research. This is fundamental to your research design

The really important bits to get out of your Honours Research

1. An understanding of the “Research Process” logical flow of thought and critical insight behind

every good project answer a question/explore a topic to gain knowledge

2. Get your hand in on every aspect of the process – start acting like a researcher ‘investigator’ vs ‘assistant’

3. Keep it small and simple - a small research project done well is superior to a large research project done poorly

4. Publication – always your aim.

Getting StartedChoosing your Supervisor

Be StrategicChoose someone in your area of interest + co-supervisor

Look for ‘mutual respect’ • someone you can work with and is interested in you• someone who you respect and have confidence in

Mutual responsibilities and expectations• understanding between you and your supervisor

Start with a ‘Planning Meeting’• map out timeline of your assignments and meetings

Balance between ‘respectful requests’ & ‘destructive demands'

Choosing your ProjectBe Strategic

Choose an area of interest that will build on your career• you have a question or an observation • why do you want to answer the question?

How are you going to answer your research question? • practical? available? possible for you? • consider timeframe, cost, support, relevance

Don’t worry about limitations of the project’s scope. • good research asks as well as answers questions

Do it, enjoy it and think about how well you answered your research question

Remember ‘quality’ versus ‘quantity’

Planning is Everything"Well begun is half done" -- Aristotle

Plan your Honours with your Supervisor(s) now!

DESIGN – MOST Important – take time to PLAN• Choose appropriate methodology

ETHICAL ISSUES and considerations – • how will you address these in your research?

Don’t underestimate your project before your start

Understanding the Research‘Process’

Research Question/Hypothesis

Design

Methodology

Analysis

Interpretation

Dissemination

Structure of Research

Research Question DESIGN Methodology

Analysis

Interpretation

DISSEMINATION

Understanding the Research ‘Process’

Journal articlesConferences

EthicsQuantitative - RCTQualitative - surveyMixed methods ***

Data collectionWriting

Submission

FAME FORTUNE