NUTRITIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RESEARCH SKILLS

DTN304

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject you will develop an understanding of the fundamentals of epidemiology, the main study designs and research concepts of direct relevance to the role of food and nutrition in the prevention and causation of disease. Nutritional epidemiology techniques for the assessment of diet and body composition of individuals and populations are covered in depth. The course covers sources of data on mortality and morbidity, measures of disease prevalence, incidence and risk, chance, bias and confounding. Standard and non-parametric statistical techniques will be reviewed and you will have the opportunity to analyse a population dataset. You will acquire knowledge and skills that form the foundation for research practice in nutrition.

School: Allied Health, Human Services & Sport (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: George Moschonis

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: No

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: Must be admitted into one of the following courses: HBFN, HBFNX or HOUA and must have passed DTN201

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: DTN4EPI OR DTN3EPO OR DTN404

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: This subject is offered via Open Universities Australia. La Trobe University students can undertake this subject as part of a cross institutional enrolment under certain circumstances, and must seek approval from the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition Course Coordinator for eligibility. Due to the nature of the subject content and online delivery, enrolments are generally not permitted past the published OUA enrolment date for the study period.

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

SPSS Survival Manual

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: Pallant, J

Year: N/A

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Introduction to Epidemiology: Distribution and Determinants of Disease

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: Macera C.A., Shaffer, R., Shaffer, P.M.

Year: 2013

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: Cengage Learning

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

SPSS 23/24/25

Resource Type: Web resource

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: IBM

Year: 2016

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: IBM - computer software

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Cultural Intelligence and Global Perspective
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Demonstrate and apply understanding of epidemiological terms, definitions and concepts used in measurements of disease
02. Critically review and evaluate the methodologies of different study designs used in nutritional epidemiology
03. Apply skills in nutrition related data collection and management including measurement and assessment of anthropometry, dietary assessment and body composition of individuals
04. Analyse small population datasets using biostatistics and interpret results in accordance with the NHMRC ethical code of conduct

On-Line, 2020, OUA study period 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: No

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: George Moschonis

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 23 - 34
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 23 to week 34 and delivered via online.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Assessment task 1: 3 Part Research project (1,750-words equivalent)1.Conduct an anthropometric and dietary self-assessment 10%2.Data cleaning, descriptive and inferential analysis 20%3.Results presented in Research Poster 20%

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO1, SILO3, SILO4

2 x Module Quizzes (total time 60 minutes - 1,000-words equivalent)Module 1 & 2 Quiz: single attempt, timed Module 3 & 4 Quiz: single attempt, timed

N/AN/AN/ANo20SILO1, SILO2, SILO4

Critical appraisal assignment (1,000-words equivalent)Students use a given critical appraisal checklist to critically appraise a given journal article

N/AN/AN/ANo30SILO2

On-Line, 2020, OUA study period 4, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: No

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: George Moschonis

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 49 - 0
One 3.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 49 to week 0 and delivered via online.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Assessment task 1: 3 Part Research project (1,750-words equivalent)1.Conduct an anthropometric and dietary self-assessment 10%2.Data cleaning, descriptive and inferential analysis 20%3.Results presented in Research Poster 20%

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO1, SILO3, SILO4

2 x Module Quizzes (total time 60 minutes - 1,000-words equivalent)Module 1 & 2 Quiz: single attempt, timed Module 3 & 4 Quiz: single attempt, timed

N/AN/AN/ANo20SILO1, SILO2, SILO4

Critical appraisal assignment (1,000-words equivalent)Students use a given critical appraisal checklist to critically appraise a given journal article

N/AN/AN/ANo30SILO2