Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

Undertaking research enables you to acquire advanced architectural knowledge in specialist areas of personal interest. As well as mastering relevant methods/techniques, you can expect to develop high-level skills in investigation and critical thinking and extensive knowledge in a particular area. This unit follows on from DAN110 in which you will have established a research topic, which is explored in this unit.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to allow you to undertake a program of research into a chosen area of specialised interest, and document in a rigorous and scholarly manner empirical and/or theoretical investigations and findings.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Conduct and evaluate research related to a specific topic
2. Demonstrate techniques applicable to an empirical and/or theoretical investigation
3. Demonstrate an ability to effectively gather and analyse data
4. Present research findings in a range of outputs at an academic level
5. Critique and discuss research outcomes and architectural theory

Content

The content to be covered in this unit is dependent on the research topic selected by each individual student.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: Hours per week

Lecture: 1 hour
Tutorial: 2 hour

Learning Approaches:
Your learning in this unit will be supported through a combination of one-on-one tutorials and group discussions together with appropriate online materials. Your appointed supervisor or group leader will work with you in the development of your individual research activity. The unit fosters critical enquiry and self-agency, and it is anticipated that students will be pro-actively involved in setting their own research direction in consultation with their supervisor. You will be entirely responsible for the research, organisation, presentation and use of appropriate language and illustrations throughout the final document. The supervisors will be responsible for guidance and feedback on work presented.

Learning approaches will cover the following:
- Independent investigations
- Case studies
- Reflective analysis including online support materials

Assessment

Overview of Assessment:
Assessment tasks are designed so that you can demonstrate:
- your developing attitude to research in a specific topic with appropriate methodology
- a critical approach to architectural theory collecting and evaluating data, information and research outcomes
- skills in communication of your research outcomes

The main project for this unit is the development of a research which will be evaluated through the assessment of a journal article. During the semester feedback on the research activity will be given within the tutorials.
You will be required to have two official drafts of your paper plus a final version.
The first draft will be the subject of the second project: you will have to review other students' paper and provide them constructive comments. Your feedback will be assessed as second assignment.
The second draft will have to fully document your research and will be evaluated by two readers.
The final assignment is the formal presentation of your research in a conference thought the final version of the journal article and an oral presentation.

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 the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.Formative Assessment:
Assessment type: Ongoing
Weighting: Nil

Structured formative feedback will be offered on assignment work during the semester at key times.

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: A journal article (approx 8,000 word) to document your research activity. The article will have two drafts: the first one for peer review and the second one for summative assessment.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 5
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Late Semester

Assessment name: Peer Review
Description: A documented critical review of three other students' journal article first draft.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 5
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Presentation & Final Article
Description: Conference Talk and Research Paper
Relates to objectives: 1 to 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of 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 are no set texts for this unit, however the following references may be of use:

Groat, L. & Wang, D. (2002). Architectural research methods. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Silverman, D. (2000). Doing qualitative research: A practical handbook. London: Sage Publications.
QUT cite|write Details at http://www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/

Additional Costs
None.

Risk assessment statement

In doing your research, you may need to undertake unsupervised field trips, e.g. visits to libraries off-campus or other sites of interest. With respect to the delivery of this unit on-campus, there are no out-of-the ordinary risks involved. You are reminded of your obligation to make yourself aware of your responsibilities under the Workplace Health and Safety Act and the evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and undertake associated study.

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-May-2012