Accident and Injury Prevention Research

Page content: Department/Institution Offering Unit | Unit Points | Contacts | Overall Objectives | Content | Assessment Breakdown | Student Numbers |

Unit Code

01365

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Accident Research Centre
Monash University
PO Box 70A Monash University
Victoria 3800 Australia

web: www.monash.edu.au/muarc

Unit Points

Research Points: 100

Coursework Points: 0

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Dr Sjaanie Koppel
Accident Research Centre
Monash University
PO Box 70A Monash University
Victoria 3800 Australia

tel: +61 3 9905 4739
email: Sjaanie.Koppel@muarc.monash.edu.au

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Overall Objectives

The aim of this unit is to provide the student with research experience in the area of accident and injury causes and prevention. A particular emphasis in this research experience will be to provide insight into the translation of research outcomes into prevention policy and programs. The projects offered may range from studies in epidemiology and public health, injury biomechanics through to behavioural sciences. Projects may involve an extensive literature review, experimental design, data collection and/or analysis, and interpretation of findings. The overall outcomes for the student are to develop their skills and knowledge of research tools in accident and injury research, expand their knowledge of accident and injury prevention from an interdisciplinary perspective and to enhance their skills in scientific writing and oral presentation. The student will be expected to participate in journal club meetings, student seminars and other Centre seminars. In addition, the student will present at one student seminar and one journal club meeting.

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Content

Coursework: N/A

Research: Research may be undertaken in a number of areas related to accident and injury prevention including epidemiology and public health, injury biomechanics and/or behavioural sciences.

Sample Research Topics:

1. Investigation of compliance with and enforcement of safety regulations (e.g. pool fencing, dog regulations)
2. Investigation of the facilitators and barriers to the use of safety equipment
3. Insight and self-regulatory driving behaviour in older drivers
4. Medical conditions and older driver safety
5. Injury among animal veterinarians participating in the Health Risks of Australian Veterinarians Cohort Study
6. Comparison of the injury profile of older and younger farmers
7. Development and testing of protocol for a randomised controlled trial of farm safety training programs
8. Biomechanics of vehicle occupant injury
9. Vision impairment and driving
10. Environmental and safety considerations and driving style
11. Determinants of vehicle choice by young people
12. Social norms and political decision-making in injury prevention
13. Investigation of the inadequacy of building codes in protecting against falls from heights
14. Human factors in intelligent transport systems
15. Investigation of childhood poisoning due to agents required to be packaged in child resistant packaging
16. Study of motor vehicle exhaust gassing suicide in late model motor vehicles
17. Motivation for safe/unsafe driving behaviour
18. Development of a set of criteria to determine the severity of arm fractures and the development and validation of a coding system
19. Injury trends, hazards and safety precautions in the homes of a cohort of young people with intellectual disability
20. Evaluation for injury reduction in two behavioural modification intervention projects for children with intellectual disability

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 100 points
Research Report (up to 10,000 words): 85%
Oral presentation of research project at one student seminar: 10%
Oral presentation at one journal club meeting: 5%

Hurdle requirements:
Attendance at 6 journal club meetings
Attendance at student seminar presentations and Centre seminars

Coursework Component: 0 points
N/A

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Student Numbers

Number of places available: 3