EXERSCI 705 : Research in the Exercise Sciences
Science
2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course aims to increase students’ understanding of the scope, process and impact of research - to be better able to evaluate, assimilate and interpret scientific evidence to apply in further research or evidence-based practice. It is a required course for BScHons, PGDipSci in Exercise Sciences and PGDipSci in Clinical Exercise Physiology students.
This is a seminar-based course. Typically, the topics will be introduced and then led by a member of the teaching team. Whole class and small group work and discussion are the usual format thereafter. Students are invited to share their own experiences and interests in research and research topics. Structured opportunities for peer discussion and learning are regularly available. In small groups, students develop a notional research project from conception to the dissemination of findings throughout the course.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the nature and process of scientific research and discuss its value and importance. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
- Identify and apply strategies to select and summarize quality original research articles. (Capability 1 and 3)
- Propose and formulate research questions to test, refine, and build scientific evidence. (Capability 2 and 4)
- Select and explain principles behind research design and data collection strategies. (Capability 1, 2 and 6)
- Identify and explain guiding ethical principles in the design and conduct of research with human participants. (Capability 5 and 6)
- Identify and apply fundamental concepts in statistics and their appropriate visual presentation. (Capability 1, 3 and 4)
- Plan and interpret the results of data analyses to answer research questions. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Interpret research findings and construct appropriate conclusions. (Capability 1 and 2)
- Discuss and assess the quality of scientific publications, focussing on the research process and presentation, including research design and statistical analyses. (Capability 1, 2, 4 and 5)
- Prepare and present research findings to peers in an in-class scientific forum. (Capability 1 and 4)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| Quizzes | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 10% | Group Coursework |
| Assignments | 45% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
Key Topics
The process of scientific research
Sourcing, selecting and synthesizing original research
Ethical principles in research with human participants
Research design and implementation
Data analysis, presentation and interpretation
Quality and impact of scientific research
Research dissemination
Learning Resources
There are a number of textbooks on the Reading Lists on CANVAS and available via the library that provide additional related and background material.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 2 guided seminar hours, a 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours of investigating, reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of individual and peer work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Students are expected to prepare for, attend and actively contribute to twelve 2-hour seminar-type classes. The sessions include structured opportunities for peer discussion and learning and follow a sequence of topics aligned with the process of research. A one-hour group project session each week will support seminar learning and research skill development.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.