Assessment 4: Project Plan and Evaluation (45%)
Submission date: Midnight, Wednesday 14 June 2017
Word limit: 2,500 words
Assessment 4 is the culmination of the research that you have done throughout the semester. This
final assessment requires you to draw on what you have done in Assessment 2 and 3 to propose an
evidence-based solution to your public health issue. You will also need to develop and justify a way
of evaluating your proposed solution. You will need to provide a strong justification for each decision
you make, based on all you have learnt throughout the semester.
For your proposed solution:
Present a convincing argument that the health issue warrants a public health intervention by
summarising the magnitude of the public health issue, identifying the at-risk population(s),
and outlining the issue’s risk factors and/or enablers (10%)
Identify the population targets, goal, and objectives for your proposed intervention (10%)
Critically appraise the current intervention evidence base to address your health issue,
including identifying gaps and limitations (15%) [note: this section of the assignment
requires you to conduct a systematic literature search and review of the literature*]
Propose your intervention design, providing rationale underpinned by evidence, prevention
and health promotion values and principles and/or theoretical frameworks, where relevant
(25%)
Present an evidence-based evaluation design for your proposed intervention, including
setting appropriate indicators and measurement methods (20%)
You will also be assessed on your ability to write using appropriate academic structure and style
(10%).
*Literature search: you will need to produce a 1-page summary as an attachment (not included in
the word count), documenting your literature search strategy conducted for this assessment (10%).
The literature search strategy template can be downloaded from the Assessments page within
Blackboard.
The following pages provide further details on the standard expected for each of the criteria. Please
also adhere to the ‘Guide for completing Assessments 2, 3, and 4’ on Page 15 of this document.
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Assessment rubric for Assessment 4
FAIL PASS CREDIT DISTINCTION HIGH DISTINCTION
Present a
convincing
argument that the
health issue
warrants a public
health
intervention
(10%)
Description of the magnitude
of the public health issue is
limited, confusing, or
inaccurate. Discussion of the
risk factors/enablers is very
limited or not present.
Presents a very weak or
illogical argument for
intervention. Lacks
appropriate references.
Describes the magnitude of
the public health issue and
identifies the at-risk
populations and contributing
risk factors/enablers.
Argument for intervention is
reasonable but could be
strengthened. Supported by
some appropriate but limited
references.
Summarises the magnitude of
the public health issue and
briefly describes the at-risk
populations and contributing
risk factors/enablers. Draws
on this summary to present a
reasonable argument for
intervention. Supported by
some appropriate but limited
references.
Concisely summarises the
magnitude of the public
health issue and briefly
describes the at-risk
population(s) and contributing
risk factors/enablers that are
influential and amenable to
change. Draws on this
summary to present a strong
argument for intervention.
Argument is well supported by
appropriate references.
Concisely summarises the
magnitude of the public
health issue and briefly
discusses the at-risk
population(s) and contributing
risk factors/enablers that are
influential and amenable to
change. Draws on this
summary to present a very
strong argument for
intervention, including
highlighting any critical
strengths or limitations.
Argument is well supported by
appropriate references.
References show evidence of
wider reading.
Identify the
population
targets, goal, and
objectives for your
proposed
intervention
(10%)
Identifies an inappropriate
goal, associated objectives,
and/or target population.
Clarity of the goal and
objectives is very poor.
Identifies an appropriate goal
and associated objectives.
Clarity and/or the link
between the objectives and
the overarching goal could be
improved. The selected
population is appropriate.
Justification for goal,
objectives, and population is
logical but may be indirect or
limited.
Identifies an appropriate goal
and associated objectives.
Some minor issues around
clarity of the goal and/or
objectives. The objectives
clearly relate to the
overarching goal. The selected
population(s) is appropriate.
Goal, objectives, and
population are reasonably
well justified by the student’s
argument for intervention.
Identifies an appropriate goal
and associated objectives.
Goal and objectives are
generally easy to understand.
The objectives clearly relate to
the overarching goal. The
selected population(s) is
appropriate. Goal, objectives,
and population are clearly
justified by the student’s
argument for intervention.
Identifies an appropriate,
well-constructed, and easily
understood goal and
associated objectives. The
objectives clearly relate to and
underpin the achievement of
the overarching goal. The
selected population(s) is
appropriate. Goal, objectives,
and population are clearly
justified by the student’s
argument for intervention.
Critically appraise
the current
intervention
evidence base to
address your
health issue
(15%)
Outlines the evidence base for
the intervention. No or weak
link to argument for
intervention and/or the stated
goal, objectives, and target
population. Lacks appropriate
references.
Describes the evidence base
for the intervention. Indirect
links to argument for
intervention and the stated
goal, objectives, and target
population. Supported by
some appropriate but limited
references.
Discusses the evidence base
for the intervention. Clear
links to argument for
intervention and the stated
goal, objectives, and target
population. Supported by
some appropriate but limited
references.
Critically analyses the
evidence base for the
intervention as a whole. Clear
links to argument for
intervention and the stated
goal, objectives, and target
population. Identifies any gaps
and limitations in the evidence
Presents a thorough critical
analysis of the evidence base
for the intervention as a
whole. Explicit and wellfounded
links to argument for
intervention and the stated
goal, objectives, and target
population. Discusses gaps
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FAIL PASS CREDIT DISTINCTION HIGH DISTINCTION
base. Argument is well
supported by references.
and limitations in the
evidence base. Argument is
well supported by references.
References show evidence of
wider reading.
Propose an
intervention,
providing
rationale
underpinned by
evidence, health
promotion
principles and
values, and/or
theoretical
frameworks,
where relevant
(25%)
Proposes a weak, unclear, or
irrelevant intervention or one
with no or very weak
justification. The links
between the student’s critique
of the evidence base and the
proposed intervention are
very unclear. Inappropriate
values and principles and/or
theoretical frameworks may
be identified. Lacks
appropriate references.
Proposes a relevant
intervention, with a limited
but reasonable justification.
The intervention’s
components are described but
some elements are unclear.
There are indirect links
between the student’s critique
of the evidence base and the
proposed intervention.
Relevant values and principles
and theoretical frameworks
may be identified and
described. Supported by some
appropriate but limited
references.
Proposes a relevant
intervention, with a
reasonable justification. The
intervention’s components are
generally well described.
There are clear links between
the student’s critique of the
evidence base and the
proposed intervention.
Relevant values and principles
and theoretical frameworks
are used where appropriate
and with some limited
justification provided.
Supported by some
appropriate but limited
references.
Proposes a relevant
intervention, with a strong
justification. The
intervention’s components are
clearly described. There are
clear links between the
student’s critique of the
evidence base and the
proposed intervention.
Relevant values and principles
and theoretical frameworks
are also used where
appropriate and with
reasonable justification
provided. Limitations of the
proposed intervention are
highlighted. Argument is well
supported by references.
Proposes a relevant
intervention, with a very
strong justification. The
intervention’s components
are clearly described. There
are explicit and well-founded
links between the student’s
critique of the evidence base
and the proposed
intervention. Relevant values
and principles and theoretical
frameworks are also used
where appropriate and with
strong justification provided.
Limitations of the proposed
intervention are highlighted
and addressed, including
identifying any issues that
may influence translation to
policy or practice. Argument is
well supported by references.
References show evidence of
wider reading.
Present an
evidence-based
evaluation design
(20%)
Presents an irrelevant or
poorly described evaluation
framework. Connection to the
proposed intervention is
either missing or very unclear.
Indicators and measurement
methods are inappropriate,
with very weak or no
justification provided. Lacks
appropriate references.
Describes a relevant
evaluation design. May not
consider all evaluation levels
or focus extensively on one or
two levels at the expense of
the others. Indicators and
measurement methods are
appropriate but with limited
justification provided.
Supported by some
Discusses a relevant
evaluation design, addressing
all evaluation levels. The
discussion is clearly connected
to the proposed intervention.
Indicators and measurement
methods are appropriate and
with reasonable justification.
Identifies any issues that
influenced the evaluation
framework design and/or
Presents a good and well
justified evaluation framework
that is clearly connected to
the proposed intervention.
Addresses all evaluation
levels, including describing the
relationship between them.
Indicators and measurement
methods are appropriate and
well justified. Identifies any
issues that influenced the
Presents an excellent and very
well justified evaluation
framework that is clearly
connected to the proposed
intervention. Addresses all
evaluation levels, including
discussing the relationship
between them. Indicators and
measurement methods are
appropriate and very well
justified. Identifies and
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FAIL PASS CREDIT DISTINCTION HIGH DISTINCTION
appropriate but limited
references.
weaknesses or limitations.
Supported by some
appropriate but limited
references.
evaluation framework design
and/or weaknesses or
limitations. Argument is well
supported by references.
discusses any issues that
influenced the evaluation
framework design and/or
weaknesses or limitations.
Where appropriate, identifies
any evaluation issues that may
influence translation to policy
or practice. Argument is well
supported by references.
References show evidence of
wider reading.
Write using
appropriate
academic
structure and style
(10%)
Unstructured or very poorly
structured. Introduction,
body, and conclusion are
missing or indistinct.
Information is poorly
organised and does not flow
logically. Large number of
grammatical, spelling, and/or
punctuation errors, rendering
parts of the text
incomprehensible.
Referencing style is
inappropriate, incomplete, has
missing information, or
contains many errors.
Adequate structure but some
information is poorly
organised and does not flow
logically. Introduction and/or
conclusion may be missing,
inadequate or not well linked
to the body of the assignment.
If used, headings and subheadings
may be unclear or
over-used. May rely too
heavily on direct quotes.
Meaning is generally conveyed
clearly but parts of the text
are difficult to comprehend. A
number of grammatical,
spelling, and/or punctuation
errors. Referencing style is
appropriate but may contain
some minor errors or
omissions.
Well structured, including an
adequate introduction and
conclusion. Information is
reasonably well organised and
generally flows logically. If
used, headings and subheadings
generally used
appropriately. Some
grammatical, spelling and/or
punctuation errors. The text is
generally easy to
comprehend. Referencing
style is appropriate but may
contain some minor errors or
omissions.
Very well structured. Clear
introduction, body, and
conclusion. Information is well
organised and flows logically.
If used, headings and subheadings
used appropriately.
Assignment is well written.
Some minor grammatical,
spelling, and/or punctuation
errors. Most of the text is easy
to comprehend. Referencing
style is appropriate and
complete.
Excellent structure. Very clear
introduction, body, and
conclusion. Information is very
well organised and always
flows logically. If used,
headings and sub-headings
used appropriately. Of a
similar standard to published
academic work. Very few or
no grammatical, spelling, or
punctuation errors. Excellent
use of the English language.
All of the text is easy to
comprehend. Referencing
style is appropriate and
complete.
Develop a
coherent
literature search
strategy
(10%)
Research question is missing,
unclear, or not relevant.
Search strategy is weak, very
unclear, or fundamentally
flawed. Strategy would need
to be substantially revised.
Formulates a relevant
research question. Search
strategy generally uses
appropriate databases and
keywords but some
information may be unclear or
missing. Strategy is not
Formulates a relevant
research question. Describes a
logical search strategy, using
appropriate databases and
keywords. Some important
information required in order
to replicate the search
strategy completely.
Formulates a clear, relevant,
and searchable research
question. Describes a logical
and efficient search strategy,
using appropriate databases
and keywords, with clear
inclusion and exclusion
criteria. Search strategy could
Formulates a clear, relevant,
and searchable research
question. Describes a logical
and efficient search strategy,
using appropriate databases
and keywords, with clear
inclusion and exclusion
criteria. Search strategy could
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FAIL PASS CREDIT DISTINCTION HIGH DISTINCTION
replicable without a lot of
additional information.
be replicated with some minor
additional information.
be replicated without any
additional information.