Graduate Certificate in Research Methods in Health and Social Care

This course is an Exit Award for students who have completed 24 credit points from units selected from the Master of Philosophy (Health).

Course Aims

The Graduate Certificate in Research Methods in Health and Social Care aims to provide students with the research knowledge and skills to make a contribution to improving health and social care outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: understand the concepts of research, its ethical aspects and principles of sound research practice in health and social care; select an appropriate study design for any given research question; write a research proposal, and ethics committee submission; and prepare a manuscript and other scholarly presentations.

Graduate Attributes

Knowledge of a Discipline Graduates will be able to demonstrate a body of knowledge relevant to their area of study and a firm grasp of the principles, practices and boundaries of their discipline. They will situate their knowledge of research and inquiry in their area of study in national and international literature. This knowledge will be taught in lectures, unit materials and online activities and will be assessed throughout the course through a range of different activities. Communication Skills Graduates will demonstrate a high standard of oral and written communication skills relevant to their area of study. These skills will be taught and practised in lectures, and online activities. Graduates will recognise the importance of communication skills in the presentation of research activity and to be able to use appropriate communication technologies. Problem Solving Graduates will have advanced skills to locate, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources throughout their course and will critically appraise and integrate relevant theory and literature to the conduct of research. Information Literacy Graduates will have the skills to recognise relevant information and to use appropriate media, tools and methodologies to locate, access and use information. Through assessment tasks, they will learn how to critically evaluate the sources, values and validity of information, and to use information in critical and creative thinking. Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility Graduates will understand and be able to practise the highest standards of ethical behaviour associated with the conduct of research in their discipline or profession. They will acquire knowledge of the impact of social, cultural and linguistic diversity in Australia and the world on the ethical conduct of research and demonstrate ethical responsibility towards colleagues, research subjects, the wider community and the environment. Lifelong Learning Graduates will have developed intellectual capacity and critical thinking skills. This will be taught in lectures, unit materials and online activities. Through the completion of assessment tasks, graduates will develop the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write about and discuss a range of issues. These skills are transferable and essential lifelong skills. Independence and Collaboration Graduates will develop skills in independent study and show developed collaboration and group participation skills which will be developed through on-campus and online interactive teaching. Graduates will demonstrate importance of participating in discussions pertinent to research in a professional, respectful and ethical manner.