MEDIMAGE 307 : Research Methods

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to the principles of research methodology and evidence-based practice as applied to medical imaging. Addresses the knowledge required to evaluate research and the development of skills and research ethics necessary to conduct medical imaging research.

Course Overview

Provides students with an understanding of evidence-based practice, high-quality published research studies, research methods, data collection, analyses and reporting. Students will use a critical approach to develop a literature review and a research proposal. Core ethical requirements and measures to address the integrity of the research process will be emphasised.

Course Requirements

Restriction: MEDIMAGE 723

Course Contacts

Course Director
Dr Pippa Bresser
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: pippa.bresser@auckland.ac.nz
Course Coordinator
Dr Soo-Hee Jeong
Lecturer
Email: s.jeong@aucklands.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe evidence-based practice within the context of medical imaging (Capability 3 and 4)
  2. Discuss the variety of research approaches in medical imaging, and their relative strengths and weaknesses (Capability 4 and 5)
  3. Evaluate research data using suitable methods (Capability 3 and 4)
  4. Select a research question, and prepare an appropriate search strategy and data protocol (Capability 2, 3 and 5)
  5. Review published research using discipline-specific language (Capability 3 and 4)
  6. Describe ethical considerations in medical imaging research associated with collecting research data, interpreting, and reporting findings (Capability 3 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Test 30% Individual Test
Research Proposal 30% Individual Coursework
Literature Review Part A 10% Individual Coursework
Literature Review Part B 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Test
Research Proposal
Literature Review Part A
Literature Review Part B
This course is 100% internally assessed. An aggregated mark of 50% or more is required to successfully pass this course. In addition to achieving an overall pass mark, it is a requirement to attempt and submit all the assessments related to this course.  Resubmission of failed assessments is not permitted.  

Guidelines on the use of Gen-AI software to complete assessments in this course will be provided for each assessment.

Penalties for excessive word count and/or late submission (without prior written approval for an extension) will be applied in accordance with the 'Medical Imaging Assessment Requirements and Presentation Criteria' document.

The course Canvas page has more detailed information on assessment processes and requirements.

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 30 hours of lectures, tutorials and workshops, 60 hours of self-directed reading, class preparation and thinking about the content and 60 hours of work on assignments, self-directed learning and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lectures, tutorials and assessments to successfully complete the components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings where practicable. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials/workshops will not be available as recordings.
The course will include live face-to-face or online events including group discussions/tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly block timetable.

Learning 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.

The required textbook for this course is: 

Ramlaul, A. (2020). Medical imaging and radiotherapy research skills and strategies. (2nd ed.). Cham: Springer.  
 Students will not be expected to purchase this textbook as they can access it online via the Philson Library catalogue. 

Students will also be directed to a large selection of readings and other resources that will be accessible online via Canvas and the Philson Library databases.  

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester 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 and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course was offered for the second time in 2024. In general, students enjoyed the course structure and organisation. The workshops and tutorials for the assignments were very useful and promoted active engagement. Most students found that although the assessment types were 'new' experiences, they served as good learning opportunities. General improvements to be made in timing of teaching sessions to better inform the development of the assignments. This will be refined in 2025. Additional guidance was recommended for the literature review assignment that was found to be a challenging assessment in 2024. As such, additional learning opportunities in preparation for the assignment be provided in 2025. Redistribution of the weighting of the assignments will be implemented to address the above.

Other Information

Communication
All ocial communication to a student will be sent to the student’s current University email address (username@aucklanduni.ac.nz) and the student is responsible for ensuring that any desired forwarding to other addresses is in place and operating correctly. Sta will not be responsible for any consequences if students fail to read and respond to University correspondence in a timely manner.
Students are encouraged to use the course ‘Discussion’ forum on Canvas as much as possible for communication with sta and other students. Email may be used for more private matters. Email communication to University sta and supervisors must be sent from the student’s University email address. As a general rule, students are advised to log-on at least twice a week. Logging on regularly allows regular checking of 'Announcements' as well as reading and engaging on relevant communication.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

The way to avoid plagiarism is to reference your work. Please refer to the following website for further information about academic referencing: www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/
The Student Academic Conduct Statute (2021) provides further advice on how to avoid plagiarism. More information can be found in the ‘Medical Imaging Programme Information’ on Canvas. 
The penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including losing some or all of the marks for the assignment. Major offences can be sent to the University’s Discipline Committee, where further penalties can be imposed.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

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.

Fitness to practise (FTP)
As health professional students, in addition to meeting the University of Auckland graduate prole capabilities, students in the Medical Imaging programmes are required to demonstrate their tness to practise. This applies to students at all times, whether they are on campus, on placement or elsewhere.
Fitness to practise (FTP) is concerned primarily with patient and public safety. It also is concerned with upholding professional standards, including the relevant professional code of conduct, and contributing to the maintenance of the reputation of the profession and public confidence in the profession.
For further information visit FMHS Fitness to Practise Policy (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/theuniversity/how-university-works/policy-and-administration/teaching-and-learning/fmhs-code-of-fitness-topractise/fmhs-fitness-to-practise-policy.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.

Published on 31/10/2024 08:29 a.m.