Spring 2018 - HSCI 484 D100

Senior Seminar in Population Health Research (3)

Class Number: 11366

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    HSCI majors with 90 units, including HSCI 330 and either STAT 302 or STAT 305.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Scientific research in population health. Developing and evaluating research protocols, taking a general research question and turning it into an analysis plan, carrying out the analysis, and writing up the findings for presentation and publication.

COURSE DETAILS:

Students will build upon the skills and knowledge they acquired in previous required health sciences courses in order to design a research study. This course will review foundational elements of the research process including study design, ethics, sampling techniques, measurement and data collection. Students will expand on this foundation and apply these skills by learning how to design and pilot test a survey questionnaire for use in the study they design and carry this process through to the development of a research proposal. Students will improve their competency with conducting a critical literature review and following informed consent procedures, while gaining experience in survey design, and the process of developing a research proposal that follows a typical grant-funding framework.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course intends expand upon the students’ foundational knowledge of the research methods used in health research. It is designed to equip students with the essential knowledge needed to conduct health research. By the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Apply the elements of the research process to health sciences problems;
  • Interpret and critically assess the research literature and judge its relevance to research questions;
  • Demonstrate competence in conducting a literature review for a health sciences research topic;
  • Distinguish the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of different study designs and the research questions they address;
  • Articulate and apply the principles of ethical research practice and identify common ethical dilemmas and their resolutions;
  • Construct valid and appropriate survey questions and create a comprehensive survey to answer a specific research question;
  • Explore common study feasibility issues;
  • Describe processes of knowledge synthesis, dissemination, and exchange; and
  • Demonstrate competence in applying these concepts in a research proposal

Grading

  • Participation 15%
  • Survey Assignment 25%
  • Oral Presentation 10%
  • Research Proposal 30%
  • Quiz 20%

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS