Foundations of Inquiry in Health and Social Care

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Key facts

UNE unit code: HLTH500

*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start

Trimester 1 - Online
Trimester 2 - Online
Trimester 3 - Online

24/7 online support

Intensive schools

Supervised exam

Credit points

UNE student studies on a laptop on her lounge at home

The complex problems we face in health and social care demand evidence-based solutions. Explore the nature of inquiry and research in health and social care and develop research skills that will help you to thrive in this rapidly evolving sector.

This unit is designed to foster your ability to formulate practical, researchable questions and explore problems founded on current evidence.

With an introduction to foundational concepts and paradigms that underpin research approaches commonly used in health, you will critique the suitability of different research designs and apply your learning to real world practice problems and dilemmas.

The unit also offers opportunities to examine the array of legal and ethical obligations and considerations you may face in health and social care settings within the context of research.

Offerings

Teaching period	Mode/location
Trimester 1	Online
Trimester 2	Online
Trimester 3	Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites

candidature in a postgraduate award in the School of Health and 24 credit points; or candidature in the Bachelor of Health with Honours or Bachelor of Human and Community Services with Honours.

Restrictions

EHPS590 and EDRM590

Notes

You must enrol in this unit by the Monday before the Trimester starts. If there are insufficient student numbers this unit will not run and you will be withdrawn from the unit and offered an appropriate alternate unit by the course coordinator.

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

Benjamin ChantLecturer, Interdisciplinary Health Research - School of Health

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

formulate a practice based research question;
determine whether the research question can be researched and whether it is practical to proceed;
critically evaluate and synthesise research evidence to produce a coherent review of the relevant literature;
critically evaluate and reflect on the suitability of various research designs often utilised by health and social science researchers; and
demonstrate an understanding of the legal and ethical obligations of a researcher working in the health and social care.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Title	Must Complete	Weight	Offerings	Assessment Notes
Assessment 1 - Assurance Task	Yes	25%	All offerings	There is a supervised exam during the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be offered online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit. To pass this unit, you must attempt this task and achieve a cumulative mark of at least 50% across all assessments No. Words: 1500
Assessment 2	Yes	15%	All offerings	Online activities - group work or forum participation. All activities must be completed to pass the assessment. This assessment must be passed in order to pass the unit. No. Words: 1500
Assessment 3	Yes	60%	All offerings	Written assignment that may include tables and/or figures. No. Words: 3500

Title

Must Complete

Weight

Offerings

Assessment Notes

Assessment 1 - Assurance Task

Yes

25%

All offerings

There is a supervised exam during the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be offered online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit.

To pass this unit, you must attempt this task and achieve a cumulative mark of at least 50% across all assessments

No. Words: 1500

Assessment 2

Yes

15%

All offerings

Online activities - group work or forum participation.

All activities must be completed to pass the assessment. This assessment must be passed in order to pass the unit.

No. Words: 1500

Assessment 3

Yes

60%

All offerings

Written assignment that may include tables and/or figures.

No. Words: 3500

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Recommended material may be held in the University Library — purchase is optional.