Research and Professional Skills
Overview
This unit is designed to provide Honours students with an overview of key research skills necessary develop confidence and competencies for fundamental and applied research. The approach will allow students to develop these aptitudes in a collaborative and supportive environment, and will involve interactive and peer supported activities. The unit will introduce research trainees to the concept of scholarly community and the requirements with regard to academic integrity and referencing. The unit will consolidate and build on prior research skills units that students may have undertaken during their bachelor’s degree and will explore professional development.
Requisites
26-May-2024
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critically analyse the literature and identify gaps to formulate an appropriate research question
- Apply and execute working and learn processes independently and effectively
- Demonstrate the ability to collect, process, analyse and organise information and ideas
- Communicate ideas and results clearly and fluently, in both written and spoken forms
- Formulate and investigate problems, create solutions, innovate and improve current practices
- Exhibit an advanced understanding of major theoretical paradigms underpinning research
- Demonstrate high level of technical proficiency in the use of tools relevant to the study field
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On Campus Lecture |
2.00 | 8 weeks | 16 |
| Live Online Lecture |
2.00 | 4 weeks | 8 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
10.50 | 12 weeks | 126 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Individual | 100% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Hurdle
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:
An aggregate mark for the unit of 50% or more.
Content
The unit is divided into five common modules and one technical competency module specific to the field of study.
Literature search and evaluation
- Bibliographies
- Evaluation of research, including referencing, reviewing
Critical thinking
- Abstract, creative, systematic and communicative thinking
- Inductive/deductive reasoning
- Principles of lateral thinking
- Decision making
Research design
- The Scientific Method
- Formulation of research problem
Professional skills
- OHS
- Research Integrity
- Intellectual Property
- Research Funding
Writing and presenting
- Organising and presenting research
- Abstracts and papers for publication, conferences and journals
Technical competencies
- Proficient use of research tools, techniques and facilities
- Experimental design
- IT skills
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.