2011 MBBS Honours Overview & Expectations ‘Getting Started’ Di Eley MBBS Research Coordinator

1. 2011 MBBS Honours Overview & Expectations ‘Getting Started’ Di Eley MBBS Research Coordinator

2. OVERVIEW OF MBBS HONOURS 2011 • Handbook – PDF on website – update alerts • Website – ‘Research Options in the MBBS’ • Protocol for Offers • Enrolment • What is required: Assessment • Grade calculation • Leaving Honours / Reverting to Pass Degree • Key Dates • Getting Started • Choosing your Supervisor / Project • Ethics • Statistical Assistance • The Research Process –start thinking like a researcher

3. PROTOCOL FOR OFFERS From 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.

4. ENROLMENT • It’s Your Responsibility to Enrol Properly • ‘My Advisor’ http://www.uq.edu.au/myadvisor/

5. WHAT IS REQUIRED (Handbook pg 9 &10) • Four Assessment Tasks • Oral presentation of your Project Plan • Literature Review - MEDI 3009 • Project Plan and Methodology • Thesis • All within an 18 month time frame alongside your full time MBBS Year 3 and 4 clinical rotations.

6. ASSESSMENT

7. Honours Grade Calculation • Grade 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.

8. 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-liable • revert 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 REMEMBER • If you wish to withdraw or revert to the Pass degree you must • Consult with the MBBS Honours Course Coordinator • Complete the courses you are currently enrolled • apply to revert to the Pass Degree

9. KEY DATES (Handbook pg 13)

10. Statistical Assistance • Think 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’

11. Research Ethics Ethical considerations of your project should NOT be an afterthought

12. Your Next Best Friend UQ Website – RESEARCH Research & Innovation Division (RID) http://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/ Ethical Clearances http://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/ethical-clearances Human Ethics Downloads , Forms & Guidelines http://www.uq.edu.au/research/rid/human-guidelines

13. CLEARANCE NOº (office use only) Application Form for Ethical Clearance for Research Involving Human Participants For review by: Medical Research Ethics Committee (MREC) Behavioural & Social Sciences Ethical Review Committee (BSSERC) For Staff and Student Research Refer to last page for website and other information, including mailing address Please tick boxes:

14. Everything we do has possible ethical considerations. Everyone must consider the possible ethical implications of your research. This is fundamental to your research design

15. The really important bits to get out of your Honours Research • 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 • Get your hand in on every aspect of the process – start acting like a researcher • ‘investigator’ vs‘assistant’ • Keep it small and simple - a small research project done well is superior to a large research project done poorly • Publication – always your aim.

16. Getting Started • Choosing your Supervisor • Be Strategic • Choose 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'

17. Choosing your Project • Be 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’

18. 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

19. Understanding the Research ‘Process’ Research Question/Hypothesis Design Methodology Analysis Interpretation Dissemination

20. Structure of Research

21. Understanding the Research ‘Process’ Research Question Methodology DESIGN Ethics Quantitative - RCT Qualitative - survey Mixed methods *** Interpretation Data collection Writing Submission DISSEMINATION Analysis Journal articles Conferences FAME FORTUNE