This is a core course of Graduate Diploma 5372 and Master of Science in Health Data Science 9372.

Health Data Scientists need to interface with audiences from a broad and varied array of backgrounds, and across the full technical spectrum from lay through to specialist. Thus effective communication is an essential attribute. Further, this capability is required across different media in the forms of the written word, oral presentation and Vis (data communication via a visual medium).

First, this course considers the written and oral forms. Within the written domain protocols, ethics applications, data management plans, analysis plans, literature reviews, abstracts, and manuscripts will be considered. Poster, ePresentations, TED, and Pecha Kucha presentations will be covered in the oral context. The latter part of the course is devoted to the specialist skill of Vis. The coverage of Vis will offer a basic introduction to cognitive psychology (how the eye and brain combine to form visual perception). Understanding how we ‘see’ is essential for the design of effective Vis, since humans are only capable of holding a surprisingly small amount of visual information at any one time.

1. Compose effective written communication across a range of formats relevant to Health Data Science.
2. Prepare and deliver effective oral presentations in a variety of formats relevant to Health Data Science.
3. Appraise the role of cognitive psychology in Vis.
4. Design effective Vis for communicating health data and research findings, employing best practice.

Tutorials: 3 hours
Web-based online learning activities: 7 hours