Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This is a unit designed for third year CI students as a preparation for the Creative Industries Faculty Honours program and/or as an introduction to professional and commercial research contexts.

Aims

This unit aims to deliver skills and understandings for independent research practices for third year students. The unit will prepare you for the Creative Industries Faculty Honours program or for professional and commercial research contexts.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Write a literature/contextual review, analysing and synthesising published material
2. Communicate effectively in written and oral forms
3. Frame a research question
4. Completion of Advanced Information Retrieval System tasks via the QUT Library
5. Identify an area of interest in your field and discover what is known about it

Content

This unit addresses content such as:
- what is research? understanding the research process
- the contemporary research and professional/commercial environment
- developing a research question and situating this in the context of an exegesis
- formulating a literature/contextual review
- developing a range of practical research skills

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Your learning will be facilitated by interactive workshops, guest lectures, seminars and tutorials. In addition, you will be mentored by experienced staff researchers.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester. Weight 0%

Assessment name: Formative Assessment
Description: You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and discussions throughout the semester.
Relates to objectives: --
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Assessment name: Literature Review
Description: Using essay conventions, write a formal literature review
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Semester

Assessment name: Written response
Description: Developing a research question and presenting this information in an oral presentation.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3, 5
Weight: 35%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: A.I.R.S
Description: AIRS (Advanced Information Retrieval System) tasks via the QUT Library AIRS tutorials.
A series of short investigative research tasks. You will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale.
Relates to objectives: 2, 4
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Throughout Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There is no set text for this unit

Recommended References
Dawson, Catherine. (2006) A Practical Guide to Research Methods: A User-Friendly Manual for Mastering Research Techniques and Projects. Oxford, UK: howtobooks.
Fink, Arlene. (2005) Conducting research literature reviews: from the Internet to paper. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
Dunne, Mairead. (2005) Becoming a Researcher: A Companion to the Research Process. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks for this unit

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 30-Apr-2012