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

To bridge the gap between the practice of professionals and research knowledge that may inform their practice, professionals need to be confident in actively seeking research evidence on aspects of their own practice and to develop critical reflection skills towards reported findings. This Unit focuses on the needs of professionals for reading, understanding and evaluating professional research both within and across different paradigms.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop your skills in understanding and appreciating the process and techniques used in research in order to critically read and interpret a wide range of research studies

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. identify the understandings and assumptions underlying different research paradigms/ designs/ methodologies; GC: A


2. critically evaluate published research reports from a number of different perspectives using criteria appropriate to that paradigm; GC: B, F

3. identify research evidence regarding problems and issues in professional practice; GC: B

4. understand the role of information communication technologies (ICT) in research, and have well developed ICT skills in relation to their own studies; GC: C, D and

5. apply features of good academic writing and apply to your own work. GC: C

Content

This unit includes the following topics:

1. The epistemological and theoretical background to research based on quantitative/experimental and qualitative/interpretivist designs;

2. Design issues for quantitative/experimental and qualitative/interpretivist studies e.g. types of data, introduction to descriptive statistics, distributions, basic parametric and non-parametric tests, analytical induction and interpretation, reliability, validity, trustworthiness;

3. Evaluation of quantitative/experimental, qualitative/interpretivist and mixed method research studies;

4. Scholarly academic writing skills; the use of information communication technologies in research, search strategy development, QUT Library Catalogue skills, electronic database searching, Internet skills, and general information evaluation;

5. An examination of the ethical considerations involved in undertaking research, interpreting research and making decisions based on research findings.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be offered in a flexible mode through utilisation of synchronous and asynchronous communication technologies. Content will be packaged as learning objects capable of being accessed both on campus and off campus at times that suit the student. Combined on/off campus workshops will be conducted using web based communication technologies that support interactive transmission of audio and video. This will support the learning objects and provide one strategy to bring together off campus and on campus students to form learning communities. Other strategies will include the formation and support of study groups, consisting of a combination of on campus and off campus students, through the provision of on line discussion and chat areas. At all times a proactive effort will be made to diminish the distinction between on campus and off campus students

Assessment

You will complete two assessment items addressing both theoretical and applied components of the objectives. All assessment items take the form of a written discourse.Completion will be required at different points during the semester.Formative assessment will be provided through feedback on workshop tasks and in electronic communication or in class as appropriate.

Assessment name: Critique (written)
Description: A Critical Analyses of a Published Research Paper.
You will select a peer reviewed research paper in an area of interest that employs a qualitative/interpretivist research approach and complete a critical analysis of the paper utilising the guidelines discuss in the content of the unit.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-Semester

Assessment name: Critique (written)
Description: A Critical Analyses of a Published Research Paper.
You will select a peer reviewed research paper in an area of interest that employs a quantitative research approach and complete a critical analysis of the paper utilising the guidelines discuss in the content of the unit.
Length: 2000 words
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End-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

Creswell, J. W. (2005). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Reference List

Burns, R. B., (2000). Introduction to research methods. Melbourne: Longman Cheshire.

Glesne, C. (1999). Becoming qualitative researchers. New York: Longman.

Further relevant readings will be supplied through the Course Materials Database

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with 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: 03-Jul-2012