Outline

Overview

This unit of study introduces students to both qualitative and quantitative research methods that are essential tools for dietitians. Methods include the development of questionnaires and conduct of focus groups. Students will learn about study design and methods used in epidemiology to be able to critically analyse the scientific literature of nutrition and dietetics. An introduction to statistical tests with practical computer classes will also be included. Scientific writing techniques will also be covered.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	NTDT5601 and NTDT5503 and (NTDT5504 or NTDT5604)
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Vasant Hirani, vasant.hirani@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Margaret Allman-Farinelli, margaret.allman-farinelli@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Vasant Hirani, vasant.hirani@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Anika Rouf, anika.rouf@sydney.edu.au
	Virginia Chan, virginia.chan@sydney.edu.au
	Arpita Das, arpita.das@sydney.edu.au
	Rebecca Luong, rebecca.luong@sydney.edu.au
	Juliana Chen, juliana.chen@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam	End of semester examination Short question Exam	60%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Library task Use of Library	0%	Week 02	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Presentation	10%	Week 10	10 mins
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Questionnaire design report Write an abstract and pilot study report.	30%	Week 10	4 A4 pages +Appendices
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Library task: All students are required to complete a library quiz on Canvas prior to attending the Searching Library Databases
Questionnaire design report: In a group of 4, students will develop and pilot a questionnaire on a topic of their own choosing, and prepare a report on their findings including writing an abstract.
Presentation: In a group of 4, students will prepare a presentation based on the development and pilot testing of their questionnaire. The presentation to s the class will be in Week 10. Peer assessment & peer feedback will be included through comments to the presenting group which will be anonymous.
End of semester examination: Written examination, including questions that address the content covered in the Nutritional Epidemiology and Statistics learning modules.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Marking criteria NTDT5602

GRADE

DESCRIPTION

High Distinction (HD)

(85 – 100)

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.

Distinction (DI)

(75 – 84)

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a high standard.

Credit (CR)

(65 – 74)

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.

Pass (PS)

(50 – 64)

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.

Fail (FA)

(0-49)

When you do not meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Information Literacy. Epidemiology and its application to nutrition; The hypothesis concept; Study Design and levels of evidence	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	1.Searching the Literature for Evidence-Based Practice. 2. Measures of frequency and association	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	1. Tutorial: Study design/types and how this might affect the interpretation of results; 2. NHMRC levels of evidence; 3. Measures of frequency; 4. Confounding and effect modification 5.Systematic Literature Review	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 04	1.Systematic Literature Review 2.Sources of Nutrition and Health data 3.Developing Survey and Research Protocol; Designing and Analysing Questionnaires	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 05	1. Writing for publication in a scientific journal; 2. Quality of evidence: What is GRADE?; 3. What factors are used to evaluate the quality of evidence?;	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 06	1.Ethics applications; 2.Confounding and bias 3.Literature search for Assessment	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 07	1. Validity and reliability 2..Assessing the overall quality of a research paper; 3.Designing a Focus Group Protocol	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 08	1. Qualitative research and analysis	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	1. Participating in a focus group	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	1.Pilot Project Presentations 2.Introduction to Statistics and Descriptive Statistics; Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 11	1. Introduction to statistics; 2.The normal and t distributions; t test and analysis of variance	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 12	1. The normal and t distributions; t test and analysis of variance; 2. Chi-squared distribution and tests: non-parametric tests; logistic regression	Lecture and tutorial (5 hr)
Week 13	1. Chi-squared distribution and tests: non-parametric tests; logistic regression; 2. Statistics revision	Tutorial (5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance requirements for this unit of study have been amended. Where online tutorials/workshops/virtual laboratories have been scheduled, students should make every effort to attend and participate at the scheduled time. Penalties will not be applied if technical issues, etc. prevent attendance at a specific online class. In that case, students should discuss the problem with the coordinator, and attend another session, if available.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Required textbook: Bonita R, Beaglehole R, Kjellstrom T. Basic Epidemiology. 2nd Edition. World Health Organisation, Geneva, 2006. ISBN: 924 154465.
Required textbook: Lawrence M and Worsley T (Editors). Public Health Nutrition ‐ From Principles to Practice. Allen and Unwin, 2007. ISBN: 978 74175 102 4.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. critically appraise diet and nutrition literature to enable evidence-based practice.
LO2. apply and interpret both qualitative and quantitative research methods including design of a survey and research protocol including describing strengths and limitations.
LO3. apply the process and justification for a human ethics application.
LO4. conduct basic statistical analysis and interpret statistics in research papers.
LO5. learn about dissemination and present research findings in oral and written form
LO6. gain an understanding about the process of conducting a systematic literature review including GRADE.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia (2015) - 3.1.1. Adopts a questioning and critical approach in all aspects of practice. 3.1.3. Applies problem-solving skills to create realistic solutions to nutrition problems or issues. 3.2.1. Identifies and selects appropriate research methods to investigate food and nutrition problems. 3.2.3. Collects, analyses and interprets qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation data.
	National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia (2015) - 1.1.6. Accepts responsibility for own actions. 1.2.1. Exercises professional duty of care in accordance with relevant codes of conduct, ethical requirements and other accepted protocols. 1.2.3. Prepares appropriate documentation according to accepted standards. 1.3.4. Participates in mentoring. 1.3.5. Demonstrates initiative by being proactive and developing solutions to problems. 1.4.4. Utilises relevant technology and equipment efficiently, effectively and safely. 2.3.2. Displays effective active listening, interviewing and interpersonal skills to better understand perspectives of clients, carers, groups and key stakeholders to inform approaches and influence change. 3.1.1. Adopts a questioning and critical approach in all aspects of practice. 3.1.2. Gathers, critiques, uses and shares research and information to support sound decision making with key stakeholders. 3.2.1. Identifies and selects appropriate research methods to investigate food and nutrition problems. 3.2.3. Collects, analyses and interprets qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation data. 4.3.2. Participates in collaborative decision making, shared responsibility, and shared vision within a team. 4.3.3. Shares responsibility for team action, recognising the diverse roles and responsibilities other team members play. 4.3.4. Guides and supports other team members and peers.
	National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia (2015) - 1.2.1. Exercises professional duty of care in accordance with relevant codes of conduct, ethical requirements and other accepted protocols. 1.2.3. Prepares appropriate documentation according to accepted standards. 3.2.2. Applies ethical processes to research and evaluation.
	National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia (2015) - 1.3.5. Demonstrates initiative by being proactive and developing solutions to problems. 1.4.4. Utilises relevant technology and equipment efficiently, effectively and safely. 3.1.1. Adopts a questioning and critical approach in all aspects of practice. 3.2.1. Identifies and selects appropriate research methods to investigate food and nutrition problems. 3.2.3. Collects, analyses and interprets qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation data.
	National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia (2015) - 1.1.4. Shows a commitment to professional development and conduct and lifelong learning. 3.1.1. Adopts a questioning and critical approach in all aspects of practice. 3.2.3. Collects, analyses and interprets qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation data. 3.2.4. Accurately documents and disseminates research, quality improvement and evaluation findings. 4.1.4. Adapts and tailors communication appropriately for specific audiences. 4.1.5. Communicates clearly and concisely to a range of audiences using a range of media. 4.3.2. Participates in collaborative decision making, shared responsibility, and shared vision within a team. 4.3.3. Shares responsibility for team action, recognising the diverse roles and responsibilities other team members play. 4.3.4. Guides and supports other team members and peers.
	National Competency Standards for Dietitians in Australia (2015) - 3.1.1. Adopts a questioning and critical approach in all aspects of practice. 3.2.3. Collects, analyses and interprets qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation data. 4.2.1. Shares information with and acts as a resource person for colleagues, community and other agencies.

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The statistics sessions have been revised for lectures and tutorials and more tutors have been available to assist students for tutorials.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

NTDT5602: Methods in Nutrition Research

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect