Overview

This unit aims to guide students in to developing a research plan. The unit covers how to plan a research project, including reviewing the existing knowledge in each student’s chosen topic area and identifying a knowledge-gap. In addition, students will become familiar with the various research methods for data collection and analysis and learn how to choose the most appropriate research method to fill the knowledge-gap that has been identified. The project element will be designed to collect and analyse the data needed to fill the knowledge-gap and to communicate this proposal orally and in a written report.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Apply and show deep understanding of a range of research approaches applicable in the field of research and problem-solving
  • Formulate research questions and select an appropriate methodology for the chosen research task
  • Critically analyse the philosophical and theoretical assumptions underlying different research methods and approaches
  • Develop skills to write and structure a minor thesis

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Class
3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out)
Independent Learning
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Literature ReviewIndividual 10 - 20% 3,4 
Position PaperIndividual 30 - 40% 1,2,3,4 
Research ProposalIndividual 40 - 60% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Critiquing the literature
  • The different types of data
  • Different research paradigms
  • Research ethics
  • The nature and analyses of quantitative and qualitative data techniques
  • Writing the report or dissertation

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.