XNH279 Evidence Based Practice in Exercise Science
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | XNH279 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | XNB173 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,040 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $957 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,024 |
| International unit fee | $4,224 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | XNH279 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | XNB173 |
| Equivalent: | XNB276 |
| Coordinators: | Meg Doohan | m.doohan@qut.edu.au Geoffrey Minett | geoffrey.minett@qut.edu.au |
Overview
On completion of this unit you will have a fundamental understanding of the research process and how research informs the practice of exercise professionals. The skills you will develop will include the ability to critically evaluate research literature and interpret qualitative and quantitative data in the field of exercise science. This unit provides an introduction to the research process and basic analytical methods commonly used in this field to design evidence-based practice. This is a crucial part of the professional role of an exercise scientist, exercise physiologists and other sport, physical activity and exercise specialists. The development of research skills in this unit provides the basis for students undertaking future studies in exercise research.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Explain what is meant by 'evidence', what the principles of evidence-based practice are, and how these apply to those working in the field of exercise, sport and movement science;
- Distinguish between the terms 'qualitative' research, 'quantitative' research and quality of research evidence;
- Conduct systematic literature searches of primary sources using on-line databases, and understand quality of evidence; and
- Perform basic statistical and textual analyses and interpret the results.
Content
This unit is delivered across 3 modules of learning.
Module 1: What is Research?
- Understanding scientific process.
- Quantitative and qualitative approaches.
- Forming a research question: What to ask, why, and does anybody care.
- Information literacy, searching for evidence, and deciding if it is useful information.
- What are the processes and techniques used to gather data: Measuring stuff and other ways of 'coming to know'.
- Cool rules: validity, reliability, objectivity, trustworthiness: Why are these important?
Module 2: Statistical Analysis of Data
- Making sense of numerical data: Getting to grips with stats:
- Being descriptive.
- Understanding variance.
- Is anything associated with or related to anything else here?
- Are there any differences between groups - t Tests and ANOVA as powerful tools?
- Making sense of 'other' data.
- Intelligent writing: Make it compelling or nobody will care.
Module 3: Translation of Evidence into Practice
- Critical appraisal of evidence summaries and primary research evidence and how it informs practice.
- Critical analysis and synthesis of a body of evidence at a developing level.
Learning Approaches
This unit will be delivered using a blended approach with online lectures and weekly tutorials. It will use a combination of learning and teaching approaches, including problem-based learning, individual learning and experimental learning, by exploring and manipulating data. Industry-relevant technologies and software will be used to collect and analyse exercise-related data to inform decision-making. Further, this unit interfaces with support provided by the Student Success Group to assist those needing to develop underpinning maths or statistics understanding.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback to Students
Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning to that point. Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- You will be provided with verbal and/or written feedback on each piece of formative and summative assessment during the semester;
- Criteria sheet grading;
- Comments on summative assessment work in addition to criteria sheets; and
- Generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas.
You are encouraged to communicate with the unit coordinator or unit tutor if you have any questions or concerns about the assessment items.
Assessment
Overview
General Assessment Information
Each assessment item is designed to measure your knowledge and mastery of professional skills stated in the learning outcomes.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Quiz
A mixture of question types will be used to assess content from Week 1-5 (Quiz 1) and Week 6-10 (Quiz 2), as a means to assess understanding along the way.
Assessment: Presentation
You will assume the role of a research exercise scientist, collaborating within a team to develop a research proposal for your organisation. Your task involves thoroughly reviewing academic literature to substantiate your proposal. Finally, your team will present the proposal to your manager during the monthly meeting.
Assessment: Exam
In this exam, you will analyse case examples to identify types of research and evidence, explain evidence based practice as it relates to sports and exercise science, and perform basic statistical and textual analyses.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.
Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Students will also be required to have access to the SPSS statistical software package. SPSS is available in all QUT Student Computing laboratories, but must be purchased for home use.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.