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Nutrition Research Guide | Brooklyn College Library

HNSC 7931X Principles of Nutrition Research: Home

Prof. Xinyin Jiang's Fall 2020

Instructor

Associate Professor: Xinyin Jiang, PhD, RD
Email: XinyinJiang@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Phone: 718-951-5000 Ext. 2738
Location: IH- 4110 C
Office hours: 3:00-4:00 W   

Xinyin Jiang.

Syllabus

Health Sciences Librarian

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Lee Ann Fullington
she/they
Contact:
Email me for help or to set up a research consultation (in-person or Zoom): lafullington@brooklyn.cuny.edu

I respond to email Mon-Fri. Please allow 2 business days for a response. Thank you!
Website

Course Information

Examination of experimental design as applied to nutrition research, including intervention, observational, survey, and animal models. Development of research topics; methods of data collection; interpretation and presentation of results; ethical considerations; application of principles for development of research proposals and evaluation of the nutrition literature. (Prerequisites: advanced coursework in Nutrition and a course in Biostatistics)

After successfully completing this course, you are expected to be able t:

  1. Objectively evaluate nutrition research
  2. Design a nutrition and health related study
  3. Write a research proposal
  4. Collect research data to fulfill study objectives
  5. Analyze study data and interpret the results
  6. Write a manuscript

Readings:

Students are required to read assigned articles before class in order to participate in discussions in class.

Exams

There is no exam for this class

Attendance and Participation:

Class attendance for in-person sessions is mandatory. You can take 1 unexcused absence without any point deduction. However, if you need to have additional classes off, you will need to obtain approval from the instructor. Otherwise, 1% of your grade will be deducted for each absence. A maximum of 5% of your grade can be deducted due to poor class attendance. Students are also expected to actively participate in class discussions and group work, which will be evaluated by peer reviews in the middle and end of the semester, as well as by the instructor. Attendance and active participation in class will take up 5% of your final grade.

Grade Distribution

Item

Grade Percentage

Due Date

Proposal draft 1

20%

9/23/2020

Proposal final

10%

10/28/2020

Proposal review

10%

10/7/2020

CITI training completion

5%

9/30/2020

Structured interview

20%

11/4/2020

Term paper draft 1

20%

12/9/2020

Term paper final   

10%

12/20/2020

Attendance

5%

 

IMPORTANT: The final grade will not be curved, and no extra credit projects are planned.

 

Number-letter grade equivalents
Numerical grade Letter Grade
97-100 A+
93-96.9 A
90-92.9 A-
87-89.9 B+
83-86.9 B
80-82.9 B-
77-79.9 C+
73-76.9 C
70-72.9 C-
67-69.9 D+
63-66.9 D
60-62.9 D-
Below 60 F

 

Tentative Lecture Schedule
Date Topic Assignment Due Readings
8/26

Introduction

  Wk 1
9/2 Literature search and citation (library)    
9/9 Research question and research proposal Research question submission
Survey question submission
Wk 3
9/16 Research design I: observational study   Wk 4
9/23 Research design II: intervention Term project proposal draft 1 Wk 5
9/30 Research ethics CITI training completion Wk 6
10/7 Proposal review  (mock NIH study section) Critique of proposal Wk 7
10/21 Quantitative data collection (questionnaire, structured interview)
Finalize the survey
  Wk 8
10/28 Qualitative research Proposal final version Wk 9
11/4 Preclinical studies (in vitro, animal research) Term project survey data/ structured interview submission Wk 10
11/11 Data analysis and result interpretation   Wk 11
11/18 Use of databases and medical records   Wk 12
12/2 Meta-analysis and systemic review   Wk 13
12/9 Term project presentation Term paper first draft  
12/20  

Term paper final version

 

CUNY Policies

Brooklyn College's Diverse Center for Student Disability Services group smiling.
 

The Brooklyn College Center for Student Disability Services is back to working in-person on campus, though you can still reach out via email and phone. Please email them at testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu for assistance.

Location: 138 Roosevelt Hall
Phone: 718.951.5538
FAX: 718.951.4442
Department Office Hours:

  • Monday: 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 9 a.m.–6:45 p.m.
  • Thursday: 9 a.m.–6:45 p.m.
  • Friday: 9 a.m.–4:45 p.m.

Note: Office hours during summer and winter intersession breaks varies.

Students should inform the professor if they have a disability or any other situation that may require Section 504/ADA accommodations.  The faculty and staff will attempt to work out whatever arrangements are necessary.

Please provide your professor with your course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with your professor as soon as possible to ensure accommodations are met in a timely fashion.

In order to receive academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or who suspect that they might have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell or the Assistant Director, Josephine Patterson or their general email testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Center for Student Disability Services (CSDS) Mission:
It is the mission of the Center for Student Disability Services (CSDS) to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to all campus facilities, curricula, and activities. The program’s objective focuses on providing students with reasonable disability-related accommodations and the opportunity to maximize their academic success at Brooklyn College. The goal is to ensure an inclusive environment while maintaining and enhancing the college’s academic excellence by providing students with disabilities the opportunity to achieve their highest possible academic potential.

Academic dishonesty of any type, including cheating and plagiarism, is unacceptable at Brooklyn College. Cheating is any misrepresentation in academic work. Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work, words, or ideas as your own. Students should consult the Brooklyn College Student Handbook for a fuller, more specific discussion of related academic integrity standards.

Academic dishonesty is punishable by failure of the “…test, examination, term paper or other assignment on which cheating occurred” (Faculty Council, May 18, 1954).

In addition, disciplinary proceedings in cases of academic dishonesty may result in penalties of admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, or ejection (Adopted by Policy Council, May 8, 1991).

NOTE: If you have a question about how to cite correctly ask your teacher BEFORE submitting your work.

  • The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism.
  • Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both.
  • View complete text of CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation.
  • If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must report the violation.
  • Please read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of the College.

Bereavement Policy:

  • Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice). Contact Email: studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu
  • Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.
  •  As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the Leave of Absence Bereavement after the Standard Bereavement.
  • Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
  • Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.

Bereavement Procedure:

  • Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of notification to the Division of Student Affairs, of excused absence.
  • Should the student feel that he/she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
  • The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student’s faculty and academic staff of the student’s courses.
  • Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
  • Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus.
  • Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.

Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure:

  • Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
  • The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
  • Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following semester without having to reapply to the college.
  • Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester will be required to reapply for the following semester.
  • Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
  • Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to request incompletes from the faculty member.
  •  Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this option.
  • The New York State Education Law provides that no student shall be expelled or refused admission to an institution of higher education because he or she is unable to attend classes or participate in examinations or study or work requirements on any particular day or days because of religious beliefs.
  • Students who are unable to attend classes on a particular day or days because of religious beliefs will be excused from any examination or study or work requirements.
  • Faculty must make good-faith efforts to provide students absent from class because of religious beliefs equivalent opportunities to make up the work missed; no additional fees may be charged for this consideration.
  • If classes, examinations, or study or work requirements occur on Friday after 4 p.m. or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, or study or work requirements will be made available on other days, where possible and practical.
  • The faculty and the administration will not allow any adverse or prejudicial effects to accrue to students availing themselves of this regulation.
  • If students have complaints about the application of this policy, they are entitled to bring action or a proceeding for enforcement of their rights in the Supreme Court of Kings County
Number-letter grade equivalents
Numerical grade Letter Grade
97-100 A+
93-96 A
90-92 A-
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C-
67-69 D+
63-66 D
60-62 D-
Below 60 F

 

Helpful Information on Accessing Resources Remotely

To access some items you need to use your CUNYFirst login and others you will need to enter a password given to you by your professor.

The following icons will let you know what you will need to do to access the items. 

If an item has no icon, then you don't need to do anything to access it.

Off-campus access. You will be prompted to enter your Brooklyn College ID and login.Off-campus access. Use your CUNYfirst Username and Password to log in (same credentials for logging into Blackboard).

Password protected iconPassword protected item.  You will be prompted to enter the password given to you by your Professor.

open access item.Open Access item.  Free to use, no need to create an account to access.

internet archive resource.Internet Archive Item. Need to create a free Internet Archive account to access items fully.

NYTimes logo.Items located on the NYTimes site, access with free CUNY account.

Wall Street Journal logo (wsj initials).Items located on Wall Street Journal site, access with free CUNY account.


Need assistance with off-campus access? Go to the library's Library Remote Access page for assistance and instructions.

The Brooklyn College Library's electronic resources (e.g. journals, ebooks, databases, etc.) are available to registered students, faculty, and staff when off-campus, including while abroad.

IMPORTANT:

  • To authenticate for remote access to Library databases you will be prompted to use your CUNYfirst Username and Password to log in (same credentials for logging into Blackboard). You may see a redirection screen to the new login screen.
  • Using Firefox as your browser is recommended.
  • For further assistance go to the library's Ask a Librarian or read more on Library Remote Access.

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All CUNY members have free access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

  • Use CUNY.edu email to sign up.
  • Faculty & staff renew every year.
  • Students have access until graduation.
    • renewal requires working CUNY.edu address.  

NY Times: Anyone who initiates an account will have an active subscription for one year from the date she/he creates the account. If you already have an annual subscription to the NYTimes, you can cancel it and will receive a refund. However, if you only have a monthly subscription, the New York Times will not issue a refund for that month.

Newspaper Icons

NYTimes logo.Items located on the NYTimes site, access with free CUNY account.

Wall Street Journal logo (wsj initials).Items located on Wall Street Journal site, access with free CUNY account.