Research Methods in Science
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 48
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2024 teaching periods
| Hawthorn Higher Ed. Semester 2 |
||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
The unit aims to enable students to develop and demonstrate essential research methods skills required to undertake and complete a research project in science, for example, acquisition and critical analysis of literature, experimental design, selecting and using alternative methods to address the hypothesis or research or technical problem, record keeping, problem solving, data generation and critical analysis, delivering scientific proposals, reports and assignments, and team work. The topics together provide the strong foundation essential for undertaking further research projects in the course as well as research-focussed employment.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Investigate a research or technical problem with confidence in an unstructured environment.
2. Demonstrate skills in the research methods of undertaking literature review related to the issue, critical analysis of the findings, identifying gaps or opportunities, and designing a clear and concise research question
3. Demonstrate skills in experimental design to address the problem, including application of theoretical principles, suggesting and/or theoretically applying appropriate laboratory technique(s), calculations, graphics, statistics and/or computer-based tools, use of appropriate controls, sample sizes, and recognising and avoiding flaws in experimental design
4. Develop and demonstrate skills in a selection of research methods such as (but not restricted to) pre-clinical and clinical trials, ethical considerations such as animal ethics, human ethics and/or gene technology ethics, occupational health and safety matters, select bioinformatics tools for analyses of genes and/or proteins and accessing the relevant databases.
5. Demonstrate skills of organisation, planning of work, record-keeping, problem-solving and effective communication with work partner/team
6. Critically analyse and interpret the results and present written reports and/or multimedia presentations
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
Scheduled face to face: Lectures (36 hours), Tutorials (12 hours )
*Scheduled synchronous online learning events N/A
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities N/A
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (102 hours approx.)
*Scheduled synchronous online learning events N/A
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities N/A
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (102 hours approx.)
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Literature Review | Individual | 10 – 15% | 1,2,6 |
| Mid-Semester Test | Individual | 15 – 20% | 3,4,5 |
| Oral Presentation | Group | 10 – 15% | 5,6 |
| Project Proposal | Group | 15 – 20% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Examination | Individual | 30 – 40% | 3,4 |
Minimum requirements to pass this Unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an overall mark for the unit of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) an overall mark for the unit of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
General skills outcomes
During this unit students will receive feedback on the following key generic skills:
• Teamwork Skills
• Analysis Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Communication Skills
• Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
• Ability to work independently
Content
• Undertaking literature review related to selected scientific issues, summation and critical interpretations of the findings, identifying gaps, and preparing professional reports.
• Investigating aspects of experimental design(s) for appropriately addressing scientific issues, including selection of sampling methods, identification of appropriate analytical tools for addressing the research question and troubleshooting/problem-solving.
• Introduction to basic bioinformatics methods and their principles.
• Introduction to a selection of other research-related considerations, such as occupational health and safety matters for laboratory work, ethics, and environmental considerations.
• Investigating aspects of experimental design(s) for appropriately addressing scientific issues, including selection of sampling methods, identification of appropriate analytical tools for addressing the research question and troubleshooting/problem-solving.
• Introduction to basic bioinformatics methods and their principles.
• Introduction to a selection of other research-related considerations, such as occupational health and safety matters for laboratory work, ethics, and environmental considerations.
Study resources
- References.
References
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.