Research Training Domain
The Research Training Domain (RTD) is one of the four domains of learning and assessment in the Fellowship Training Program.
The RTD for the role competency of Scholar-Researcher has learning outcomes, formative learning expectations and summative assessments.
The overall aim of the RACMA RTD is to raise Candidate awareness of the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to apply a scholarly approach and critically evaluate information for decision making in health service management.
The learning outcomes of the RTD are that Candidates will be able to:
- identify an information/data-driven health services project question relevant to the practice of medical administration;
- choose an appropriate method for deriving knowledge from study of a health service management question;
- acknowledge relevant human research ethics issues and Human Research Ethics Committee processes associated with dealing with a service-related question;
- undertake a collation of relevant and current information about a health service management issue;
- analyse, interpret and discuss evidence adduced from a formal study; and
- draw conclusions and make recommendations relating to outcomes identified from the project.
Candidates are expected to complete formal study at Master level in Research Methods, or Epidemiology and Statistics or Evidence-informed decision-making. This may be undertaken as a course in a concurrent Master’s degree, or credit may be granted for previous learning. It is expected that Candidates undertake this course as early as possible in their candidacies in order to maximise their preparation, and the time available for their projects.
Candidates have several options for development of their RTD projects:
- a curiosity-driven health services research project;
- a substantial investigation for a quality improvement management task, using a scholarly approach;
- a systematic analysis of literature, utilising a standardised protocol, relevant to a health service/medical management task; or
- a bio-ethical disputation of a health service dilemma arising in the training workplace or otherwise relevant to medical administration.
Those Candidates who have not yet commenced or wish to change their research-based project may contact the College for advice.