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Syllabus

Master of Science in Applied Nutrition

APN 775 Advanced Research Methods – Summer 2019

Credits - 3

Description

Current nutrition and wellness literature will be critically reviewed and evaluated. Development and presentation of nutrition-related research will be performed. Quantitative and/or qualitative research methods including research design and methodology, data collection and analysis and interpretation of findings will be employed. Topics include appropriate use of statistical software, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) processes, research design, implementation and evaluation methods for a variety of nutrition research initiatives, and professional presentation of research findings.

Materials

Textbooks and Course Materials

  1. Drummond KE, Murphy-Reyes A. Nutrition research: Concepts and applications. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2018. ISBN: 978-1284101539
  2. Cody RP. SAS statistics by example. Cary, N.C.: SAS Pub.; 2011. ISBN: 978-1607648000
  3. SAS University Edition (statistical software – instructions on downloading, installation and setup)

Additionally, the following textbooks (primarily as optional readings) are available online and may be downloaded free of charge:

  1. McDonald, JH. Handbook of Biological Statistics, 3rd ed. Baltimore, MD: Sparky House Publishing; 2014. (includes SAS examples)
    Download a free online pdf version at www.biostathandbook.com/HandbookBioStatThird.pdf
  2. Swinscow T, Campbell M. Statistics At Square One [e-book]. [N.p.]: BMJ Books; 2002.
  3. Campbell MJ. Statistics at Square Two: Understanding Modern Statistical Applications in Medicine. 2nd;2; ed. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell; 2006;2008;.
  4. Norman GR, Streiner DL. PDQ Statistics (3rd Edition). 3rd ed. Shelton: PMPH USA Ltd. (People’s Medical Publishing House); 2003;2002;. (additional quick overviews) 

Additional resources are included or available through the UNE Library. 

A note on optional readings

Please note: though there are optional readings and/or videos included each week, it is strongly recommended that you review these materials and/or materials from APN 610, 615 or other courses as needed for any concepts about which you are unclear. It is assumed you understand all topics included under optional readings.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Level Learning Objectives

  • Interpret and modify explanations of complex nutrition concepts for various audiences
  • Research, develop and disseminate evidence-based and theory-driven educational materials and work-products at an audience appropriate level for topics related to nutrition and health promotion

Program Outcomes (Focus Level LO)

  • Analyze nutrition research literature to apply it to relevant and current nutrition situations 
  • Analyze and communicate the most recent developments in the field of nutrition to a variety of audiences 
  • Analyze and communicate trends in nutrition behaviors and nutrition research in nutrition-related disease prevention and progression to a wide variety of audiences
  • Design and implement nutrition and wellness research to include identifying research hypotheses, analyzing data, interpreting research results, and writing publishable reports

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe in detail the key concepts that must be considered when developing a research question and potential biases that may be encountered in nutrition research.
  2. Describe different study types and each of their strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Critically evaluate types of intervention and observational study designs used in nutrition and wellness research.
  4. Recommend the best methods for recruitment of study participants and data collection for different study questions.
  5. Appraise the most appropriate statistical analyses for a given research question and test for each statistical test’s assumptions.
  6. Describe the key concepts considered when designing and conducting a qualitative study and illustrate the ability to critically evaluate them in the published literature.
  7. Discuss the key steps of a systematic review, and meta-analysis and recognize their role in nutrition and wellness research, and illustrate the ability to critically evaluate them in the published literature.
  8. Develop an abstract, poster presentation, and oral presentation for a scientific conference integrating all components of a research question covered in the course.

As we move through the course, keep the following questions in mind:

  1. What key components need to be considered when 1) developing a research question? 2) choosing a study population? 3) choosing data collection methods?
  2. What are the different study designs used in nutrition and wellness research and how are the appropriate statistical analyses chosen for a given question and study design?
  3. What assumptions must be met for the statistical tests commonly used in nutrition research?
  4. How does a nutrition professional take the key components of their research study and develop presentations for a scientific conference?

Assignments

Discussion Board: Each week you will be asked to respond to a prompt, and foster discussion by responding to responses by classmates. Your success in the course relies on robust discussion, critical thinking, and peer-response. Weekly posts responding to prompts posed are meant to facilitate a deeper understanding of the broader themes of the course as well as enrich the readings, handouts, and lectures. Your initial response should be 500 words or less*. This maximum word count is in place to encourage thoughtful yet concise writing. Though there is no minimum word count required, please make sure your weekly posts are thorough. Peer-responses are not always required but are strongly encouraged to promote thoughtful conversations, to build relationships with your peers, and to further expand upon your experiences in this online setting. All peer responses must maintain a professional tone and only offer constructive criticism.

*Note: Any SAS code included in your forum posts is not included in the word count.

If the initial post and response are not submitted within the discussion week you will be given a zero. Posts submitted after the discussion week will not be graded.

Initial Blackboard posts are due each Sunday at 11:59 pm ET. Post peer-responses, when required, by Tuesday at 11:59 pm ET. Please note: All times refer to Eastern time.

Worksheets: You will complete a series of worksheets that are intended to help you build the skills necessary to succeed in this course. All worksheets are due by Tuesday at 11:59 pm ET.

SAS Labs: You will have to complete assignments in SAS software and submit logs as required. SAS FAQ. All SAS labs are due by Tuesday at 11:59 pm ET.

Final Project

Purpose: The purpose of this final assignment is three-fold:

  1. To reinforce statistical concepts previously covered in APN 610 and/or APN 760 and build upon new concepts covered throughout this course. The goal is to promote critical thinking and give you an opportunity to apply your skills to a research question in your area of interest (i.e., within your concentration and/or potential field upon graduation). You will prepare a grant proposal or conduct a study with your own data.
  2. To equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to submit to and present at a professional conference. This assignment will require you to conduct all the formal steps one would follow when both submitting an abstract and presenting at a professional conference.
  3. To further prepare students for their capstone projects. This final assignment itself may carry over to your capstone project (e.g., it may be further developed into a manuscript for journal submission, a detailed grant proposal, a seminar, etc.). However, please note all capstone project proposals must be approved by your instructor to ensure it meets all requirements.

There are four components to this assignment, each with different audiences. Please review the complete details and the grading rubrics in the course before starting the assignments.

  1. IRB protocol (IRB Protocol FAQ)
  2. Abstract
  3. Conference Poster and a Brief Poster Presentation
  4. Oral Presentation.

(Please note: Though you will not be submitting your materials to the audiences stated below, your work should be prepared professionally as if you were submitting to or presenting to them.)

  • All assignments must be completed using AMA formatting where appropriate.
  • All times refer to Eastern Time (ET).
  • All questions about assignments and all general questions should be sent through email.
  • No extra credit will be made available.

Writing Statement

As professionals in the field, you will consistently be expected to clearly and concisely articulate advanced concepts for diverse audiences at a variety of educational levels.

Graduate students are expected to produce their best quality work, including screening their work prior to submission for clarity, grammatical, spelling, formatting and mechanical issues.

While there is often a portion of each assignment’s rubric dedicated specifically to grammar, spelling, mechanics, and formatting, it is critical to understand that failure to submit work that has been adequately proofed may result in a reduction of points in other areas of the rubric. These may include, but are not limited to metrics rating professionalism or content knowledge and synthesis; work submitted in graduate courses should provide evidence of strategic reading, writing, and academic speaking skills essential for success in the discipline.




Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentsPoint Value
Student Syllabus Contract1
Discussion Board Posts and Responses13
SAS Labs14
Weekly Assignments26
Final Assignment: Draft of Background and Objectives1
Final Assignment: Methods1
Final Assignment: IRB Protocol10
Final Assignment: Abstract and DUNE Contributor Agreement10
Final Assignment: Poster and Brief Presentation10
Final Assignment: Oral Presentation10
ePortfolio Reflection4
Total100

Grade Scale

Grade Points Grade Point Average (GPA)
A 94 – 100% 4.00
A- 90 – 93% 3.75
B+ 87 – 89% 3.50
B 84 – 86% 3.00
B- 80 – 83% 2.75
C+ 77 – 79% 2.50
C 74 – 76% 2.00
C- 70 – 73% 1.75
D 64 – 69% 1.00
F 00 – 63% 0.00

Schedule

Weekly Dates

Week 1 May 1 – May 7

Week 2 May 8 – May 14

Week 3 May 15 – May 21

Week 4 May 22 – May 28

Week 5 May 29 – June 4

Week 6 June 5 – June 11

Week 7 June 12 – June 18

Week 8 June 19 – June 23

Week 9 June 26 – July 2

Week 10 July 3 – July 9

Week 11 July 10 – July 16

Week 12 July 17 – July 23

Week 13 July 24 – July 30

Week 14 July 31 – Aug 6

Week 15 Aug 7 – Aug 13

Week 16 Aug 14 – Aug 18

Major Due Dates

Identify the IRB protocol required for your study

Week 5

Select your conference

Week 6

IRB Protocol is due

Week 9

Abstract and DUNE Agreement are due

Week 11

Final Poster and Brief Recorded Presentation is due

middle of Week 13

Oral Presentation is due

start of Week 15

Please note all due date times are according to Eastern Time. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your instructor.

Week One

Weekly Learning Outcomes

By the end of this week, you will be able to:

  1. Define key introductory research concepts, including the different types of variables and the difference between a null and alternate hypothesis.
  2. Describe the key components of a research question
  3. Broadly explain the rationale for conducting quantitative vs. qualitative vs. mixed methods studies
  4. Describe the different methods for collecting data.
  5. (SAS) Navigate the SAS environment and demonstrate how to import and clean data (e.g., rename variables, delete dropouts/those with missing data)

Lectures and SAS Lab Tutorials

Required Readings

  1. Drummond textbook: Chp 1, pp 3-25 (“Introduction to Research”), Chp 4, pp 101-107 (Section: “Anatomy of a Research Article)
  2. Farrugia, P., Petrisor, B. A., Farrokhyar, F., & Bhandari, M. (2010). Practical tips for surgical research: Research questions, hypotheses and objectives. Can J Surg, 53(4), 278-281.
  3. Boushey, C., Harris, J., Bruemmer, B., Archer, S. L., & Van Horn, L. (2006). Publishing nutrition research: a review of study design, statistical analyses, and other key elements of manuscript preparation, Part 1. J Am Diet Assoc, 106(1), 89-96.
  4. Deciding Data collection strategies (World Bank pdf, pp 91-101)
  5. SAS Lab: Cody, Chp 1, pp 1-17 (“An Introduction to SAS”)

Assignments

Pre-Course SAS Lab submission (due by Thursday); Week 1 Assignment; Week 1 SAS Lab; Review Final Assignment Details, Grading Rubrics and Due Dates

Discussions

Introduce yourself; Optional – SAS Lab questions

Week Two

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Describe various methods to recruit subjects for a study and the differences between them (i.e., What population is your research question specifically addressing? How well will your methods of participant selection for your study represent your population?)
  • Explain how to conduct descriptive analyses (e.g., calculate the mean, standard deviation, standard error of the mean, median, and interquartile range) and demonstrate how to calculate them in SAS
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to create and interpret frequency tables and commonly used figures (e.g., histograms, scatterplots, box plots)

Lectures and SAS Tutorials; How to Search PubMed

Required Readings:

Optional Readings:

  • Drummond, Chp 2, pp. 31-48 (“How to Find Appropriate Research Articles”)
  • Drummond, Chp 5
  • Ecker E, Skelly A. Conducting a winning literature search. Evidence-Based Spine-Care Journal. 2010;1:9-14.
  • Populations, samples, and randomization: Drummond, pp. 92-97
  • Descriptive statistics: Drummond, pp. 115-136

Assignments

Week 2 Assignment; Week 2 SAS Lab

Discussions

Share your topic of interest; Optional – SAS Lab Questions 

Week Three

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Define the main types of intervention and observational study designs.
  • Demonstrate how to evaluate quantitative research studies.
  • Comprehend the range of statistical tests that will be reviewed in this course (i.e., Once you identify your research question and how you will collect your data, what statistical test(s) can help you answer your research question?)
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to transform data (e.g., log transformations, categorize continuous data)
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to stratify results by a variable(s) of interest (e.g., gender or age)

Lectures

Required Readings

  • Drummond: 
    • Chp 6, pp. 155-180 (“Quantitative Research Designs: Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Descriptive)
    • Chp 7, pp. 185-211 (“Epidemiologic Research Designs and Predictive CorrelationalDesigns”)
    • Chp 8, pp. 219-236 (“Putting It All Together: Understanding and Evaluating Quantitative Research Studies”)
  • Hartz A, Marsh JL. Methodologic Issues in Observational Studies. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2003:33-42.

Optional Readings:

Assignments

Week 3 Assignment; Week 3 SAS Lab

Discussion

Optional – SAS Lab Questions 

Week Four

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the chi-square test for goodness of fit and different t-tests and their assumptions.
  • Describe the difference between independent vs. paired samples and when to use parametric vs. non-parametric tests.
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to conduct the statistical tests covered this week in SAS.

Lectures, SAS Tutorials, and SNEB Recorded Webinars

Required Readings:

  • Drummond: Chp 5, pp. 138-139
  • Harris, Jeffrey E., DrPH, RD, Boushey, Carol, PhD, MPH, RD, Bruemmer, Barbara, PhD, RD, Archer, Sujata L., PhD, RD. Publishing Nutrition Research: A Review of Nonparametric Methods, Part 3. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2008;108:1488-1496.
  • Cody textbook: 
    • Chp 5, pp 69-78 (“Inferential Statistics- One-Sample Tests)
    • Chp 6, pp 79-89 (“Inferential Statistics- Two-Sample Tests)
    • Chp 10, pp 163-182 (“Categorical Data”), pp 206-210 (Performing Wilcoxon Rank-Sum (aka Mann Whitney U) and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests)

Optional Readings:

Though these are not required readings for this week, it is expected that students understand the differences between the tests below. Please review last week’s readings, previous courses’ notes and/or the material below if a refresher is needed.

  • Student’s t-test: independent and paired samples – McDonald, pp. 110-113, 176-180; PDQ, pp. 35-40
  • Exact test for goodness of fit: pp. 21-24 
  • Chi-square test for goodness of fit- McDonald, pp. 34-40; Swinscow & Campbell, pp. 78-94, Norman & Striner, pp. 87-88
  • Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel test for repeated tests of independence – McDonald, pp. 81-87
  • Nonparametric tests: 
    • Chi-square test of independence – McDonald, pp. 52-57, PDQ, pp. 86-88
    • Fisher’s exact test of independence – McDonald, pp. 64-68, Swinscow & Campbell, pp. 95-101, PDQ, pp. 89-91
    • Binomial cells – PDQ, pp. 88-89
    • McNemar’s test – McDonald, pp. 91-92
    • Mann Whitney U test – McDonald, pp. 153-159, PDQ, p. 94.

Assignments

Week 4 Assignment; Week 4 SAS Lab

Discussion

Optional – SAS Lab Questions 

Week Five

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Describe ANOVA, ANCOVA, and MANOVA, their assumptions, and when to use parametric vs. non-parametric tests.
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to conduct the statistical tests covered this week in SAS.

Lectures, SAS Tutorials, and SNEB Recorded Webinars

Required Readings:

Optional Readings:

  • ANOVA- McDonald pp. 115-top of 117, pp. 119-120, PDQ, pp. 41-46, 52
  • Kruskal Wallis 1-way ANOVA by ranks
  • ANCOVA – McDonald, pp. 211-215; MANOVA – PDQ, pp. 130-135.

Assignments

Week 5 Assignment; Week 5 SAS Lab; Final Assignment:

Discussions

Share your study question and the IRB choice; Optional – SAS Lab Questions 

Week Six

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Describe Pearson correlations and simple linear regressions, their assumptions, and when to use parametric vs. non-parametric tests.
  • Define normality, linearity, and homoscedasticity
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to conduct the statistical tests covered this week in SAS.

Lectures, SAS Tutorials, and SNEB Recorded Webinars

Required Readings:

  • Sheean, Patricia M., PhD, RD, Bruemmer, Barbara, PhD, RD, Gleason P, PhD, Harris, Jeffrey, DrPH, RD, LDN, Boushey, Carol, PhD, MPH, RD, Van Horn, Linda, PhD, RD. Publishing Nutrition Research: A Review of Multivariate Techniques—Part 1. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2011;111:103-110.
  • Drummond: Chp 7, pp. 185-211 (“Epidemiologic Research Designs and Predictive Correlational Designs”)
  • Cody: Chp 8, pp. 111-134 (“Correlation and Regression”)

Optional Readings:

  • Correlations and linear regressions

Assignments

Week 6 Assignment; Week 6 SAS Lab; Draft of Background and Objectives (Abstract) Due

Discussions

Share your conference choice; Optional – SAS Lab Questions (or questions about power calculations) 

Week Seven

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Define confounders and effect modifiers and explain why they may need to be addressed in intervention vs. observational studies
  • Recognize different types of biases commonly seen in studies and methods to reduce them
  • Recognize the different types of study types and designs covered thus far
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to improve the aesthetics of SAS output (e.g., providing labels to numerical variables, changing colors of data points in figures, and adding title and axes labels to figures).

Lectures and SAS Tutorial

Required Readings:

  • Drummond textbook: pp. 86-90 (Reliability and Validity), 90-92 (“Error and Bias”), 98-101 (“Instruments and Measurement”)
  • Step-by-step analysis of biological data – McDonald, p. 3
  • Cody textbook: p. 9 (title statement), pp. 46-48 (creating labels associated with values).

Assignments

Week 7 Assignment; Week 7 SAS Lab – to complete but no submission is needed this week

Discussions

Share your study objective, methods, and statistical analyses and why; Optional – SAS Lab Questions

Week Eight

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Describe how qualitative study designs differ from quantitative study designs and define their guiding theories
  • Describe commonly used qualitative data collection procedures (e.g., interviews, focus groups)
  • Recognize common biases encountered in qualitative research.

Lectures

Required Readings

For this week’s assignment:

Optional Readings: 

Assignments 

Week 8 Assignment; Final Assignments – Methods Section of your Abstract Due

Discussion

Share a qualitative component(s) you could tie into your final assignment’s data collection to further inform your research

Week Nine

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Recognize different coding concepts and describe how coding and memoing techniques are used during qualitative data analysis
  • Describe how qualitative studies move from codes to theme and theory development
  • Demonstrate how to critically evaluate a qualitative research study.
  • Additionally, in regards to your abstract: Illustrate how to report study results and conclusions.

Lectures and Supplemental Videos

Required Readings

  1. Drummond textbook: Chp 11, pp. 301-314 (“How to Evaluate Qualitative Research”)
  2. Fade SA, Swift JA. Qualitative research in nutrition and dietetics: data analysis issues. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2011;24:106-114.

Recommended textbook for future work in qualitative research:

  • The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers by Johnny Saldana (2016, SAGE Publications)

Assignments

Week 9 Assignment; Final Assignment – IRB Protocol Due

Discussions

Share an idea for a qualitative research study that could follow and build upon your final assignment; Optional – SAS Lab Questions

Week Ten

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Choose the right design and statistical tests for different types of study questions
  • Illustrate how to write an abstract.

Lectures

Required Readings

Required for next week’s assignment: Skim the following three articles and choose one of most interest to read in detail. You will use the chosen article for next week’s poster assignment (see Week 11 assignment for details). Please note: If there is a different article you would like to use for next week’s assignment (e.g., the topic or study design of the alternate article is more similar to your poster topic or study design, respectively), you must submit your request to your instructor in Week 10 and receive approval prior to completing the Week 11 assignment. 

Assignments

Week 10 Assignment

Discussion

Optional – SAS Lab Questions

Week Eleven

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Properly format a poster for a conference poster presentation
  • Recognize how to reformat analysis results from SAS tables into Word tables. (E.g., understand the dos and don’ts when creating tables in Excel, understand key poster presentation recommendations)

Lectures and Supplemental Videos

Required Reading:

  • Review poster formatting guidelines for your conference of choice

Optional:

  • Textbook: McDonald, pp. 242-249, 271-273

Assignments

Final Assignment: Abstract and DUNE Contributor Agreement Due; Week 11 Practice Poster Submission

Discussion

Optional – Ask the Instructor Forum (PowerPoint Questions)

Week Twelve

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate how to report analysis results in figures and tables (via SAS and Excel).
  • Construct a professional poster presentation and accompanying 30-second oral presentation incorporating key recommendations.

Lectures, SAS Tutorials, and Supplemental Videos

Optional Reading

  • Textbook: McDonald, pp. 250-260

Assignments

None this week

Discussions

State what tables and/or figures you plan to include/exclude in your poster and why; Optional – SAS Lab Forum (plus any Excel questions)

Week Thirteen

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate how to best utilize, alter, and expand upon your abstract and poster for your oral presentation.

Lectures, SAS Tutorials, and Supplemental Videos

Optional Reading

  • Textbook: McDonald, pp. 250-260

Assignment

Final Assignment: Conference Poster and Brief Poster Presentation Due (by Wed)

Discussions

Conference Poster and Brief Poster Presentation Forum (post by Wed; questions by end of Week 13); Optional – SAS Lab Forum

Week Fourteen

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Construct a professional PowerPoint presentation incorporating key recommendations for your oral presentation.

Lectures and PowerPoint Tutorials

Required Reading

Assignment

No assignments due this week; continue working on your oral presentation due at the start of next week (Week 15)

Discussions

Conference Poster and Brief Poster Presentation Forum (respond to all questions by end of Week 14); Optional – Ask the Instructor about the PowerPoint lab

Week Fifteen

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Describe multiple linear (MLR) and logistic regressions and their assumptions.
  • (SAS) Demonstrate how to conduct the statistical tests covered this week in SAS

Lectures and SAS Tutorials

Required Readings

  • Sheean, Patricia M., PhD, RD, Bruemmer, Barbara, PhD, RD, Gleason P, PhD, Harris, Jeffrey, DrPH, RD, LDN, Boushey, Carol, PhD, MPH, RD, Van Horn, Linda, PhD, RD. Publishing Nutrition Research: A Review of Multivariate Techniques—Part 1. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2011;111:103-110.
  • Cody textbook: 
    • Chp 9, pp 135-161 (“Multiple Regression”)
    • Chp 11, pp 183-204 (“Binary Logistic Regression”)

Optional Readings

  • Drummond textbook: Chp 7, pp. 196-211 (“Epidemiologic Research Designs and Predictive Correlational Designs”)
  • MLR: McDonald, pp. 217-218; Campbell, pp. 12-22 (through 2.4.2), 32 (start section 2.9)-35, PDQ, pp. 56-61
  • Logistic regression – McDonald, pp. 224-231, Campbell, pp. 37-40 (Section 3.7), 49-54, 55-57, PDQ, pp. 67-71
  • PROC GLM: PDQ, pp. 71-73.

Assignments

Final Assignment: Oral Presentation Due by Wed of Week 15; Week 15 Assignment; Week 15 SAS Lab Assignment

Discussions

Oral Presentation Forum (post by Wed of Week 15; ask questions by end of Week 15); Optional – SAS Lab Questions

Week Sixteen

Weekly Learning Outcomes

  • Define what systematic reviews and meta-analyses are, why they are done, and how they are used in research
  • Describe what risk of bias assessments and strength of evidence grading systems are and why they’re used
  • Critically evaluate published systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Lecture (Systematic Review)

Required Readings

  • Drummond textbook: 
    • Chp 12, pp. 319-346 (“Understanding and Using Sources of Evidence: Systematic Reviews and Evidence-Based Nutrition Practice Guidelines”)
    • Appendix E, pp 461-462 (“PRISMA Checklist”)
  • Montori VM, Swiontkowski MF, Cook DJ. Methodologic Issues in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2003:43-54.

Optional Readings

Note: Since you conducted a systematic review in a past course, this is listed under optional reading.

Assignments

Week 16 Assignment; ePortfolio Reflection

Discussions

Oral Presentation Forum (respond to the questions by end of Week 16); Optional – SAS Lab Questions

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.

Questions? Visit the Student Support Applied Nutrition page

UNE Libraries:

UNE Student Academic Success Center

The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:

Information Technology Services (ITS)

  • ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673

Accommodations

Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.

Policies

Questions

We strive to address students’ concerns and questions in a timely and efficient manner. The SAS forum, Ask the Instructor Forum, and Announcements in the course are the ways for the instructor(s) to address common questions. Please refer to the Announcements, Ask the Instructor and SAS forums first when you are looking for clarification or need help with SAS.  If you ask a question that has already been addressed in a previous announcement, the SAS forum, or the Ask the Instructor forum, you will likely not hear back within 24 hours.

AMA Writing Style Statement

In keeping with the requirements of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, the American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course and is available at both UNE libraries under the title "AMA Manual." Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.

Online resources: AMA Style Guide

Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool

The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.

Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in AMA citation and academic writing.

You can learn more about Turnitin in the Turnitin Student quick start guide.

Technology Requirements

Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements

Course Evaluation Policy

Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.

Attendance Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.

Late Policy

Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.

Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.

Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures

The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.

UNE Online Student Handbook

UNE Course Withdrawal

Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations.  Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final.  Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.