| Effective Term: | 2024/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Honours Research Methods |
| Unit ID: | SCHON4001 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 019999 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit develops the skills necessary for conducting and managing an honours research project. The unit is also important for preparing students for a higher degree by research. Topics addressed will include, among others, research ethics, developing a research project, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and scientific writing and communication. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:No |
| Supplementary assessment is not available to students who gain a fail in this Unit. |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | |  | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Identify occupational health and safety standards and ethical responsibilities, and understand their relevance to effective research outcomes; |
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| K2. | Define characteristics of effective research hypotheses and objectives, and the role of the literature review; |
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| K3. | Explain and appreciate the importance of robust experimental design; |
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| K4. | Recognise the qualities of effective communication of research through publication, text, oral presentations and visual media; |
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| K5. | Describe the principles of different qualitative and quantitative approaches to data analysis. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Prepare a research proposal, incorporating OH&S, ethics and risk assessment documentation as required; |
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| S2. | Appreciate the necessary qualities of a productive research project; |
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| S3. | Critically analyse research from journals, books and seminars; |
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| S4. | Deliver clear and professional oral communication of research to colleagues and collaborators. |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Demonstrate ability to critically analyse published research; |
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| A2. | Design and deliver research seminar. |
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| A3. | Write a research proposal relevant to project; |
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| Unit Content: |
This unit will assist students in the design and management of a research project. The unit will primarily serve to address the issues and challenges of the student`s honours research project, though it will also provide an introduction to research philosophy, post graduate research, and the challenges facing an early career researcher. The unit will introduce students to the methodologies of disciplines other than their own, and hence it serves as an introduction to the broader scientific community. The unit is designed to be taken in the first semester of the one-year BSc(Hons) program, and to contribute to the graduate attributes expected of an honours graduate.
•Occupational Health and Safety issues relating to research
•Research ethics
•Developing a research proposal
•Qualitative and quantitative research
•Experimental design
•Literature review and critical reading
•Data collection and management issues
•Data analysis and interpretation
•Scientific writing for a thesis and journals
•Science communication, including seminar presentations
•Intellectual property |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K3, K4, S3, A1 | Discuss and critically analyse research papers | Short report | 10% - 30% | | 2. | K1, K3, K4, S4, A2 | Oral presentation of research proposal | Presentation(s) | 20% - 40% | | 3. | K1, K2, K5, S1, S2, S4, A2, A3 | Research proposal | Report | 40% - 60% |
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