Research Skills Project
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours
Aims and objectives
To develop the skills necessary to undertake a research project. To assist the student in identifying appropriate research topics and methodologies.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
2. Identify appropriate research topics and methodologies
3. Perform basic data management tasks and analyses using a computer
4. Apply tools of research preparation including problem formulation, undertaking a literature review, research designs, developing a hypothesis, ethical implications, time management, and assessing resourcing implications
5. Articulate the contributions of qualitative and quantitative methods to a specific discipline such as environmental health research
6. Complete initial critical appraisals of academic literature
7. Draft an academic paper appropriately structured for publication
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
*Scheduled face to face: Lectures (24 hours), Tutorials (12 hours)
*Scheduled synchronous online learning events (N/A)
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities (NA)
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (approx. 114 hours)
*Scheduled synchronous online learning events (N/A)
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities (NA)
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (approx. 114 hours)
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Examination | Individual | 40% | 2,4,5,6 |
| Mid-Semester Test | Individual | 20% | 2,4,5 |
| Assignments | Individual / Group | 40% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Minimum requirements to pass this unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass the unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) An aggregate mark 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
• Identification of proposed research topic, methodology and hypotheses.
• Research preparation: Problem formulation, research design, objectives and scope, ethics.
• Planning strategies, information sources, time management and teamwork.
• Research methodologies appropriate to the sciences.
• Literature review: abstracting and paraphrasing, citations and bibliographies.
• Research presentation and follow up: layout, style, press release and follow-up strategies
• Research preparation: Problem formulation, research design, objectives and scope, ethics.
• Planning strategies, information sources, time management and teamwork.
• Research methodologies appropriate to the sciences.
• Literature review: abstracting and paraphrasing, citations and bibliographies.
• Research presentation and follow up: layout, style, press release and follow-up strategies
Study resources
- References.
References
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.