UWA Handbook 2024

Unit Overview

Description

This unit is taken over two successive semesters and parts 1 and 2 must be completed to fulfil the requirements of the unit. Students can commence the unit in either semester 1 or semester 2. Honours students undertake an original research project under the guidance of supervisors and produce a dissertation. At a very early stage, students prepare a written outline of their proposed research project in the form of a two-page project plan. The dissertation, submitted at the end of the project, includes an abstract, introduction, critical review of the relevant literature, aims and hypotheses, materials and methods (including the experimental and sampling design and any laboratory, field and statistical methods), results, discussion and bibliography. Detailed guidelines are provided at the beginning of the unit. Students acquire sound research skills which enhance their ability to present research in written form, discuss their work in detail with other scientists, and demonstrate their understanding of the significance and scientific basis of their research. Students participate in a viva—an oral defence of their thesis.

Credit

18 points

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) write and compile a scientific dissertation in a format appropriate for the discipline; (2) show understanding of scientific methods relevant to their research project; (3) use statistical tools to assess reliability of their findings; (4) obtain, analyse and present original research data; (5) interpret and critically appraise their own and other research data; (6) explain the relationship of their findings to other work in the field; and (7) respond to questions on their dissertation in a manner that shows mastery of the content and some knowledge of related areas.

Assessment

This comprises a project plan (0 per cent), dissertation (80 per cent), a viva (13 per cent) and a supervisor's assessment (7 per cent). An examining panel, comprising specialist and general examiners, and the head of school, assess the dissertation and the viva (oral defence of the thesis). The dissertation is a formal written presentation of the project. Formatting guidelines are provided. In the viva, students engage in rigorous and critical discussion of the project and dissertation to demonstrate an understanding of the project including its significance and scientific basis. Unless permission is formally obtained, work submitted after a deadline has 5 per cent deducted for the first day (or part day) it is late and 2 per cent for each extra day (or part day). For example, a piece of work initially marked as 60 per cent but handed in two days late is graded as 53 per cent. In the same circumstances, an initial mark of 90 per cent is graded as 83 per cent. This applies to all assessment items.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Gavin Pinniger

Unit rules

Prerequisites

enrolment in

honours in Physiology
or Graduate Diploma in Science (50300)

Co-requisites

PHYL7404/PHYL7401 Physiology Honours Written and Oral Skills Part 1/Part 2

Texts

Texts Allen, L. V. et al. Ansel's Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, 9th edn: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins 2011 Aulton, M. Pharmaceutics: the Design and Manufacture of Medicines, 3rd edn: Churchill Livingstone 2007