Units / NUT1002
NUT1002 · Evaluating the evidence: Nutrition and population health
2026 Handbook12 credit pointsLevel 1Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit will introduce you evidence-based practice in nutrition. You will consider nutrition research methodologies including quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry, study design, data collection and analysis, basic statistics, and ethical issues related to research and population health interventions. You will also learn to critically appraise nutrition evidence. Emphasis is place on a population view of health, nutrition and the social determinants of health. An understanding of the concepts and approaches to researching nutrition issues and interventions at a population level will also be explored.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Second semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Critical analysis of a scientific paper (2,000 words) | Written | 20% | — |
| 2 | Analysis of Indigenous nutrition program (Group oral presentation - 15 mins, approx. 500 words) | Presentation | 25% | — |
| 3 | Mid-semester quiz (MCQ/EMQ - 20 marks, 40 mins.) | Quiz / Test | 10% | — |
| 4 | Analytical essay (Part 1-approx. 2,500 words 20%; Part 2-essay 2,500 words, 25%) | Written | 45% | — |
| 5 | Allies in Indigenous Health - First Steps (Pass/Fail) | Project | — | Competency |
Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
prerequisite
- NUT1010 — Human nutrition: An introduction to nutrients
Learning outcomes
- Apply the principles of evidence-based practice to nutrition.
- Interpret the demographics of the Australian population and their nutrition and health issues.
- Explore health equity and nutrition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Evaluate a socio-ecological approach to improving health.
- Search the scientific literature related to common questions on nutrition and health.
- Appraise the scientific literature, including study designs, related to nutrition and health and communicate findings.
- Design quality research questions on nutrition and health.
- Identify and apply quantitative statistical analysis using methods common to nutrition research and interpret statistical results.
- Describe and apply basic methods of qualitative data collection and analysis.
Workload
8 hours contact per week plus 16 hours self directed study.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | 32 hours |
| Seminars | 24 hours |
| Lectures | 24 hours |
Ask about NUT1002
Answered from the Handbook fields above — no AI, no guessing. Every answer links back to the source.
Community discussions about NUT1002
CommunityStudent experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.