Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program undertaken in the Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation can be taken on either a full or part-time basis. The PhD is a research degree, the main purpose of which is to prepare a substantial piece of original research, designed to be completed within three years of study (five years part-time).
The PhD course is taught principally by individual supervision; each student has a Principal and Associate Supervisor who are considered to have expertise in the research topic or/and methods/methodology. Apart from research training undertaken within the Griffith Graduate Research School and RCCCPI the degree has no specific course requirements although Supervisors or the Dean (Research) can suggest specific coursework is undertake where the candidate has apparent gaps in their knowledge. The course has key elements such as a candidate is expected to complete an oral defense of their research proposal within 12 months (18 months for part-time students), in the second year (3rd year for part-time) students undertake data collection and analyse data and in the third year (4-5th year part-time) students write up their thesis.
A thesis must represent a significant contribution to learning, takes account of previously published work on the topic and is clearly and concisely written and usually around 80,000 words. The final award of the degree is decided solely on the results of the candidate's research presented in the PhD thesis and the examination reports from two external examiners appointed by the university.
Following are examples of research training offered in the GU Graduate School and the Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation:
- Project management for thesis writers
- Developing your research question
- Introduction to statistics
- Preparing your confirmation seminar
- Writing up and pulling it all together
- Research methods workshops
Full list of services, support and resources available for Research Higher Degree students can be obtained from Griffith Graduate Research School.
Examples of key areas of research being undertaken in each of the Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation's research strands:
- Acute and Critical Care - Recovery from Critical Illness, Patient Safety, Symptom Management, Intravascular Devices, Emergency Services and Family Centered Care
- Ageing and Older People - Quality of Life, Dementia Care, Family , Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and Staffing and Leadership
- Maternity and Family
- Nutrition - Healthy Places: Putting Health in Context, Partnerships and Pathways: Transitions to Better Health, Capable Consumers: Managing Your Own Health, Competencies for Contemporary Health Practice, Abilities: Social Inclusion and Value for all Citizens and Health Planning, Innovation and Reform
HDR Students' Research Projects
Examples of recently completed thesis
- Hsu, MC. Complementary and alternative medicine use for patients with depression.
- Jones, CJ. Emotional disturbances during pregnancy and postpartum: A national survey of Australian midwives and an educational resource.
- Schluter, J. Skillmix in acute care settings.
- Whitehead, D. Health promotion and health education in nursing education, clinical practice and policy: What are the contexts, how are they applied and how can they be improved?