Overview
Integrating evidence-based practice with clinical expertise to solve research problems improves patient outcomes. This postgraduate unit will allow you to apply scientific research skills to a clinical problem, formulate a clinical question, gain knowledge of the skills required to undertake critical inquiry, and interpret data and research findings to inform your practice. You will practice research using scientific rigour whilst applying ethical principles of research.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: Enrolment into CG91 Bachelor of Medical Sonography/Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography AND completion of 120 credit points OR CV69 Bachelor of Echocardiography and Cardiac Physiology/Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography AND completion of 120 credit points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Search, analyse and critically appraise relevant evidence-based information
- Formulate a clinical question
- Interpret data and research findings to devise how this might be applied to clinical practice
- Practice research with scientific rigour whilst applying ethical principles of research
This unit links to the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR):
- Foundation Units of Competence 2, 3 & 5
- Standard Seven: Research and Scholarship, Criteria 7.4 & 7.5.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 50% | ||||
2 - Written Assessment - 50% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Knowledge | ||||
2 - Communication | ||||
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
4 - Research | ||||
5 - Self-management | ||||
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
7 - Leadership | ||||
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.quinton@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
- Evidence-based practice for health practitioners
- Ethics in clinical practice
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday night, 7-8pm AEST
Module/Topic
- The clinical information needs of a health professional
- Using the Participant, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) formula to answer a clinical question
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Basic research studies
- Hierarchy of evidence
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday night, 7-8pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Search strategies to find the evidence to answer your clinical question
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 1 opens Saturday 9am AEST week 4, closes Monday 1pm AEST week 5.
Module/Topic
- Critical appraisal of published articles
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday night, 7-8pm AEST
Module/Topic
Enjoy the break!
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Assessing validity, bias and confounding of published articles
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Critical Appraisal Tools (CATs) and Risk of Bias (RoBs)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday night, 7-8pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Statistical versus clinical significance
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) and hallucinations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 2 opens Saturday 9am week 9, closes Monday 1pm AEST week 10.
Zoom tutorial Tuesday night, 7-8pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Understanding and appraising clinical practice guidelines
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Appraising a scientific article
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom tutorial Tuesday night, 7-8pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Critical reflection to support evidence-based practice
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 due
Written assessment 2 Due: Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 4:30 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Associate Professor Ann Quinton, BAppSc (MRS), GradDip (Ultrasound), MAppSc (Ultrasound), PhD (Medicine), GradCert (Higher Education), AMS, FASA, is the unit coordinator for MEDS28002 Clinically Applied Research and Scholarship in 2025. The best way to contact Ann is via email: a.quinton@cqu.edu.au or Ph: +61 2 9324 5008 as she is often in the labs with students. Ann is based at the Sydney, NSW campus.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
For this assessment you will complete two (2) separate online quizzes. These will assess your knowledge on content from the unit Moodle site which will be provided in the form of lectures and tutorials.
Quizzes will be accessible online via the unit Moodle site.
- Quiz 1 will assess content from Weeks 1-4.
- Quiz 2 will assess content from Weeks 5-9.
- Each quiz will contain 15 multiple choice questions (MCQs) randomly drawn from a larger pool of questions, with a time limit of 1.5 minutes per question (total 22.5 minutes).
- Only one attempt per quiz can be made and once started the quiz cannot be paused or restarted.
Important Information.
- This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual, and is not approved as group work.
- No late submissions are permitted after the quizzes have closed so please ensure adequate time for completion.
- If your internet is unreliable, please ensure you attempt these quizzes on campus.
- If a sudden technical (Moodle site) interruption has occurred, please take a screen shot or photo with your phone to provide evidence of this technical issue. You need to contact TaSAC as soon as possible for assistance and email the unit coordinator to give notification of the technical issue.
- An extension request for this Assessment item must be applied for via the Student Support tab 'Assessment Extension Request' section on Moodle and submitted with approved documentation. These requests must be received prior to quiz end time. In the absence of an approved extension, or documented technical issue, there will be no opportunity to complete the quizzes after they have closed.
Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1. You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Please note: The 72 hour grace period DOES NOT APPLY to this assessment.
2
Other
Quiz 1 opens Saturday 9am of week 4 and closes Monday 1pm AEST of week 5. Quiz 2 opens Saturday 9am of week 9 and closes Monday 1pm AEST of week 10.
Students will receive their results once all students have completed the quiz.
- Students must demonstrate a reasonable attempt to complete both quizzes by the set due date and time.
- Answers to the MCQs will be either correct or incorrect and tabulated by the unit's online Moodle system.
- Search, analyse and critically appraise relevant evidence-based information
- Formulate a clinical question
2 Written Assessment
With the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in all aspects of daily life, it is inevitable that health care professionals will use Gen AI now and in the future to answer a clinical question. While Gen AI can save time and condense information quickly and succinctly, it is prone to hallucinations providing inaccurate, outdated and false information. This means it is essential health care professionals can fact check the information produced by Gen AI.
This assessment requires you to use Gen AI Microsoft CoPilot for Part A of this assessment to write and answer a clinical question. The clinical question will be written using the PICO (participant/population, intervention, comparator, outcome) formula. Using an iterative process, you will critique the accuracy of the Gen AI output in answering the clinical question and reflect on how you will use these skills in your clinical career. The steps to perform this assessment are:
- Choose a clinical topic you wish to have answered (the title to your work).
- Select the PICO elements needed to develop a clinical question.
- Enter these PICO elements into CoPilot and instruct it to write a clinical question and provide a 150-word summary plus two scientific peer-reviewed references to support the summary.
- Save a copy of your PICO elements, Gen AI instructions, clinical question, and the summary. Cut and paste these into your Word document as Part A.
- Part B (300 words) requires you to fact check and critically evaluate the Gen AI summary and references to assess if the output provides current evidence, and correctly and accurately answers your clinical question. The critical evaluation written in your own words, will include referenced evidence from a literature search of medical databases. You will check the Gen AI supplied references are valid, relevant and aligned with the clinical question.
- Part C (300 words): By applying critical thinking, write a reflection in your own words on what you have learned from using and critiquing the Gen AI output and how this will inform your clinical practice and patient outcomes.
- Provide a reference list for Part B in Vancouver style. The reference list is not included in the word count.
Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 4
Al may be used to complete any elements of the task, with students directing Al to achieve the assessment goals. Assessments at this level may also require engagement with Al to achieve goals and solve problems. You may use Al extensively throughout your work either as you wish, or as specifically directed in your assessment. Focus on directing Al to achieve your goals while demonstrating your critical thinking.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 4:30 pm AEST
Online submission via the Moodle site.
Will be returned at or after 2 weeks after submission date.
The criteria to receive a pass are as follows:
- Relevant topic and PICO elements selected.
- Gen AI instructions and output included in assessment.
- Critical evaluation of Gen AI summary is a relevant, correct and ethical critique of the topic that answers the clinical question, includes all the required elements and is written in student's own words.
- Critical reflection exhibits critical interpretation and understanding of the process of using Gen AI in relation to student's clinical practice and patient care and is written in student's own words.
- Sustained academic voice written in a scholarly style with appropriate plain English research language used.
- Written style is culturally and ethically aware.
- Correct spelling and grammar.
- Within the word limit to demonstrate concise clear scientific communication.
- Referenced accurately in Vancouver style.
A marking rubric is available to students on the unit Moodle site.
- Search, analyse and critically appraise relevant evidence-based information
- Formulate a clinical question
- Interpret data and research findings to devise how this might be applied to clinical practice
- Practice research with scientific rigour whilst applying ethical principles of research
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
