This course is the second of a two-course capstone sequence intended to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the Health Science program in an applied context. In this course, students will use the knowledge gained during their coursework across the areas of the social and biological causes of illness, determinants of mental health and psychopathology, and disease prevention and health promotion to identify a topic in the health sciences. Using the identified topic, students will develop and pilot a research proposal that frames the research question(s), discusses the rationale for the question(s), includes a review of the literature on the topic, and describe the planned data collection and analysis activities.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Evaluate and critique research articles to identify and support a health science research topic using credible supporting evidence. 
2. Apply the scientific method to develop one or more research questions that identify a problem in the health sciences.
3. Synthesize knowledge across the areas of the social and biological causes of illness, determinants of mental health and psychopathology, and disease prevention and health promotion to develop and pilot a research proposal that addresses a problem in the health sciences. 
4. Demonstrate effective teamwork by collaborating to evaluate data collection strengths and weaknesses.
5. Analyze the ethics of a research project in relation to human subject rules and regulations.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).

Week 1: Unit 1 – Research Project Foundations

Week 2: Unit 2 – Annotated References and Literature Review

Week 3: Unit 3 – Methods

Week 4: Unit 4 – Instrument Development

Week 5: Unit 5 – Data Collection

Week 6: Unit 6 – Data Analysis

Week 7: Unit 7 – Discussion of Findings

Week 8: Unit 8 – Assembling the Final Report

Week 9: Unit 9 – Course Review and Final Exam

Learning Guide

The following outlines how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Research Project Foundations

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 2: Annotate References and Literature Review

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 3: Research Methods

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 4: Instrument Development

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum) – Non-graded
• Complete and submit the Group Project – Instructor Graded
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 5: Data Collection

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Complete the Data Collection Assignment
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 6: Data Analysis

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Data Assignment – Instructor Graded – pass/fail
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 7: Discussion

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Make entries to the Learning Journal

Unit 8: Assembling Your Final Research Project

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Final Research Report

Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam

• Complete the Capstone Experience Evaluation Form