Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Problems that confront professionals are ill-defined and complex. The ability to define a problem, and collect and analyse relevant information using appropriate research methods is essential to professional practice. From a learning perspective, one of the most effective ways of achieving this is to consolidate and extend previously gained skills through an activity that is relevant to industry and, where possible, is associated with a specific workplace.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with research skills that acknowledge prior learning and that can develop further through an authentic learning project of relevance to your profession and industry.

Objectives

Discipline Specific Capabilities:
On completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate the following capabilities in a discipline specific context:
1. Identify and define a relevant industry related problem
2. Retrieve information at an advanced level from various sources using appropriate strategies and techniques
3. Review literature in order to understand the context of the problem from a variety of theoretical and practical perspectives and to develop and support your research plan
4. Use creative and analytical thinking to determine the most suitable research method
5. Implement the research plan in a systematic, rigorous and ethical way
6. Reflect on your approach and outcome in a critical and constructive way
7. Communicate your research process and outcome through discussion, research proposal and report
8. Work independently and collaboratively as required

Content

The content of this unit will include aspects of:

• approaches to defining problems and determining suitable research methods


• critical thinking and reflective practice


• research design


• research rigor and ethics including intellectual property


• information retrieval and literature reviewing


• qualitative and quantitative research methodologies relevant to the disciplines including associated methods of data gathering and analysis


• research dissemination and reporting.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Your learning in this unit will take place through an independent work-related project supervised by an appointed supervisor. If you are working in an industry organisation related to this course, you are encouraged to select a project of relevance to the organisation. In such case, your project may be supervised jointly by an academic as well as someone from the organisation. If you are not employed in a related industry, you are encouraged to approach a relevant organisation in order to understand the nature of the problems confronting industry as well as explore the potential to work temporarily with the organisation during the course of your project. Your supervised learning will be supported by lectures and tutorials during the first few weeks of semester, followed by individual interaction with your supervisor(s).

The project is to be an empirical/evidence-based research project with the findings adding to the factual base of the topic or to an improved organisation of theory for the purposes of explanation or prediction.

The on-line Blackboard teaching site will be another forum for learning, interaction and collaboration.

Learning Approaches:
Authentic learning, incorporating some aspects of work-integrated learning, informs the pedagogical approach in this unit. Associated learning approaches include problem/project based learning, experiential learning and reflective learning.

Assessment

QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP C/5.1.

Assessment will be formative involving an emphasis on constructive and progressive feedback using a criterion referencing approach. Your performance in the unit will be assessed through three items of assessment due at specified times in the semester. You will have the opportunity to present drafts of your proposal and report to your supervisor for comment and rewriting prior to the date for final submission. The assignments will contribute to the overall summative grade for the unit.Feedback will be provided by the individual supervisors during regular meetings throughout the semester.

Assessment name: Project Proposal
Description: For this item you will be required to prepare a written report identifying your research topic and its relevance, reviewing a selection of relevant literature and outlining your research methodology, and a timeline for implementing your project.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: You will be required to maintain a reflective diary or journal of your research process and experiences associated with the project. The journal wil be used progressively for consultation with your supervisor, with final submission at the end of semester.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Assessment name: Project Report
Description: For this item you will be required to include the analysis and outcome of the research synthesising this with the information in Item 2 to produce a report of the project as a whole. This will be a written report structured according to standard research reporting requirements.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 60%
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

Most of the readings will be determined by your individual project requirements. A list of other general readings will be provided on-line at the commencement of the semester.

Risk assessment statement

In general, there will be no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. However, if you are spending part of your time for this project in the work place participating in a range of activities associated with professional practice you should make yourself familiar with the organisation's workplace health and safety plan/s. In addition, you should ensure that any relevant safety courses and safety permits/cards (such as site safety cards) have been attended or attained prior to participating in regulated activities such as site visits.

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: 04-Jun-2012