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Unit outline_

SDDM5114: Research 1

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Westmead, Sydney

This Unit of Study will commence with introducing the basic concepts in epidemiology, research and Evidence Based Practice (EBP). Students will become familiar with University of Sydney Library resources and services to DMD students, sources of dental information, conducting literature searches and managing scientific information. Students will also gain skills in identifying different study types, critically appraising clinical research literature and assigning levels of evidence to published research. Students will apply EBP principles in developing patient care plans for simple clinical case scenarios.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Discipline of Oral Surgery, Medicine and Diagnostics
Credit points 1
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
SDDM5111 and SDDM5112 and SDDM5113
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Shanika Nanayakkara, shanika.nanayakkara@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Shanika Nanayakkara, shanika.nanayakkara@sydney.edu.au
Lajos Bordas, lajos.bordas@sydney.edu.au
George Ridgway, george.ridgway@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam hurdle task Final exam (for SDDM5124)
Written Assessment
60% - 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO3 LO2
Assignment hurdle task group assignment Research assignment (for SDDM5114)
Group Assignment
40% Week 07 Four weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Research assignment (for SDDM5114): Students will be given clinical scenarios and asked to prepare a structured (PICO-type) questions. They will use these questions to develop a search strategy to find the best evidence to answer the clinical questions.

Detailed information for the 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.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t 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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late assignments that have not been granted extensions will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark each day they are late, except week-ends and public holidays.

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week -02 Study types Lecture (1 hr) LO5
Week -03 Introduction: epidemiology, research, and EBD Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 01 Asking the right question Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO3
Bias and confounding Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO6
Week 02 R U ready for health research? Online class (1.5 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 03 Literature searching Computer laboratory (1.5 hr) LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: Attendance is a professional responsibility required of all students admitted to academic programs within the Sydney Dental School. All programs in the Sydney Dental School have a 90% attendance policy, for all compulsory components of Units of Study, as detailed in the Faculty of Dentistry Attendance Provisions 2015. This includes all clinical and practical sessions. The course requirements cannot be satisfied if more than 10% of any section of a course is missed for any reason.

  • Professionalism: Students in all Sydney Dental School programs are subject to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Professionalism Requirements 2019 and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Professionalism Provisions 2019. Professionalism is an essential component of developing competency to practice. It is important for students to demonstrate professional behaviour in all contexts and environments. In accordance with these local provisions: candidates who demonstrate serious or repeated unprofessional behaviour may be required to show cause as to why their enrolment should be continued. Failure to show cause may result in exclusion from the course.

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 1 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 20-25 hours of student effort in total.

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. define and identify the steps in evidence-based dentistry
  • LO2. identify the importance of, and challenges in evidence-based dentistry
  • LO3. formulate well-built clinical questions, and demonstrate skills in developing a search strategy to attain information to answer the clinical questions
  • LO4. understand the principles of searching computerised databases for research evidence, and select appropriate databases to find information to answer clinical questions
  • LO5. demonstrate knowledge of various study designs, their strengths, and their weaknesses
  • LO6. identify scholarly refereed or peer-reviewed journal articles, and assess the strength of evidence provided based on study methodology.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Professional competencies of the newly qualified dentist - ADC
3.1. locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
4.4. understand the design, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based health promotion
6.2.4. formulate and record a comprehensive, patient-centred, evidence-based oral health treatment plan
LO2
Professional competencies of the newly qualified dentist - ADC
3.1. locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
4.4. understand the design, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based health promotion
6.2.4. formulate and record a comprehensive, patient-centred, evidence-based oral health treatment plan
LO3
Professional competencies of the newly qualified dentist - ADC
3.1. locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
4.4. understand the design, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based health promotion
6.2.4. formulate and record a comprehensive, patient-centred, evidence-based oral health treatment plan
LO4
Professional competencies of the newly qualified dentist - ADC
3.1. locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
LO5
Professional competencies of the newly qualified dentist - ADC
3.1. locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
LO6
Professional competencies of the newly qualified dentist - ADC
3.1. locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
Professional competencies of the newly qualified dentist -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
3.1 T P A locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Work, health and safety

Students must comply with work health and safety, infection control and dress standard policies of all laboratories, placement sites and Local Health Districts (LHDs).

Disclaimer

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