HPS742 - Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 1: Jarrad Lum |
| Cohort rule | This unit is only available to students enrolled in H650, H664 |
| Previously | Research Methods in Psychology C |
| Prerequisite | Nil |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | 1 x 2 hour on-campus seminar per week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | 1 x 2 hour online seminar per week |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
This unit aims to provide students with the necessary skills required to both write and critically evaluate systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The coursework covers how to prepare a review protocol, developing and executing a review methodology, undertaking an assessment of bias as well as synthesising data using meta-analysis. The unit also covers advanced meta-analysis topics including how to assess for publication bias and undertake moderator analysis.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Students will be able to read, evaluate and use electronic databases to locate systematic review and meta-analysis. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Students will be able to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis. This includes being able to search electronic databases using syntax and run basic analyses. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | When undertaking a meta-analysis, students will be able to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for averaging effect sizes and evaluating publication bias. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Students should be able to simultaneously integrate information from multiple sources (i.e., evidence table, results of meta-analysis, assessment of bias, assessment) to accurately evaluate a body of literature. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Students will be able to conduct and write-up a meta-analysis and systematic review that could be submitted for publication or for a formal report. This would include being able to re-write search syntax for use with multiple databases, use different types of software for running meta-analysis. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review | 1000 words (note: word count excludes tables and figures) | 40% |
|
| Assessment 2: Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review | 1000 words (note: word count excludes tables and figures) | 60% |
|
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for HPS742 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.