Overview

This unit focuses on the principles of research that guide and inform evidence-based translation and clinical practice. Specifically, this unit consolidates research ethics, design, methodology and statistical concepts. Students will critique, interpret and evaluate the evidence and research within and relevant to physiotherapy.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Admission into:

MA-PHYS - Master of Physiotherapy, or
MA-PHYS1 - Master of Physiotherapy

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain the principles of ethical, evidence-based practice and how these impact on the physiotherapy profession and its advancement
  • Evaluate the quality of research using appropriate appraisal tools
  • Apply skills to formulate a clear research question from a practice problem
  • Systematically search, critically analyse and interpret findings from different types of research design relevant to physiotherapy practice and diverse communities
  • Communicate research findings to different audiences, in various formats and using different media

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
On-campus Class 6 6 weeks 1
On-campus Class 24 12 weeks 2
Specified Activities Various 36 12 weeks 3
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 84 12 weeks 7
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 13

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  25%  3,4,5
Assignment 2 Individual 45%  1,2,3,4,5
Presentation Group 30% 2,4,5

Content

  • Critical appraisal of research with respect to ethics, design and the validity of conclusions
  • Clinometric properties of quantitative and qualitative tools used in clinical practice
  • The essential components of human ethical research, including artificial intelligence
  • Interpretation of findings from statistical tests and their relevance to clinical practice, professional and policy development
  • Evidence based practice
  • Paradigms, methodology and methods
  • Writing research questions
  • Searching research databases
  • Culturally safe research, including indigenous ways of knowing
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.