EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RESEARCH METHODS

DTN4EPI

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject students will develop an understanding of the fundamentals of epidemiology and epidemiological study designs and research concepts. These will be of direct relevance to the role of food and nutrition in the prevention, causation and management of disease. Nutrition measurement techniques for the assessment of diet and body composition of individuals and populations will be covered in depth. This subject covers sources of data on mortality and morbidity, measures of disease prevalence, incidence and risk, chance, bias and confounding variables of relevance to nutritional epidemiology. Standard parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques will be reviewed and students will have the opportunity to use statistical software programs to analyse a population dataset.

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

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: George Moschonis

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 4 - UG/Hons/1st Yr PG

Exchange Students: No

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: Must be admitted in one of the following courses: HZHSDP, HZNDP, HBHN and must pass DTN2PNU and 120 credit points at year level 1 OR must be admitted in one of the following courses: HMDP, HBHNHK and no other rule applies All other students require subject coordinator approval

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: DTN3EPO OR DTN404

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

SPSS: analysis without anguish, version 18.0 for Windows

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Coakes SJ and Ong C

Year: 2011

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: Wiley

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Essential epidemiology: an introduction for students and health professionals

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: Webb, P. Bain, C. & Pirozzo, S.

Year: 2011

Edition/Volume: 2ND EDN

Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, UK, CAMBRIDGE

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

SPSS Survival Manual

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: Julie Pallant

Year: 2001

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: Allen and 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: Recommended

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

Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Prescribed

Author: Polgar S, Thomas SA

Year: 2014

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: Elsevier

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 advanced understanding of terms and definitions used in epidemiology and concepts of measurements of disease

02. Review and critically evaluate a range of different designs in nutritional epidemiology

03. Design an epidemiological nutrition study in practice

04. Critically reflect on the role of food and nutrition in preventing and causing disease

05. Apply technical skills to accurately assess dietary intake

06. Critically analyse and interpret a small population dataset using biostatistics

07. Evaluate the role of ethics in nutrition research and the ethics code of conduct as set out by the NHMRC

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Week 22-35, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: George Moschonis

Class requirements

LectureWeek: 22 - 35
One 2.00 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 22 to week 35 and delivered via face-to-face.

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 22 - 35
One 2.00 hours unscheduled online class per week on any day including weekend during the day from week 22 to week 35 and delivered via online.

WorkShopWeek: 22 - 35
One 2.00 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 22 to week 35 and delivered via face-to-face.
As part of this students will complete 16-hours in computer labs weeks 3 to 10.

Assessments

Assessment element	Comments	Category	Contribution	Hurdle	%	ILO*
One 1500-word assignmentStatistical programme used for data analysis.	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	30	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5, SILO6, SILO7
One 20-minute multiple choice quiz (350 words equiv)	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	10	SILO1, SILO4
One 1,000 word critical analysis assignment	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	20	SILO1, SILO2, SILO4, SILO7
One 2 hour test (2,000 word equiv)Short answer questions	N/A	N/A	N/A	No	40	SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO7