Unit Outline

This unit examines the principles and processes used to identify a research opportunity, and to articulate and justify the focus and purpose of a research study. The unit will examine topics such as 1) how research contributes to the development of theory, policy, and professional practice, 2) types of research and research contribution, 3) the role of theory in research, 4) Tracking development of a theory over time, and 5) alternative ways of framing a research focus. It will also examine strategies and practices for reviewing literature, including approaches for mapping a literature to figure out what work has been done and what gaps remain, and approaches for presenting a literature review to justify a particular research focus.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Explain the significance of theory in academic research.
2.	Critically review the functions of an Honours dissertation in Accounting and Business Management.
3.	Demonstrate application of the academic skills of analysis and interpretation in evaluating the literature pertinent to your research topic.
4.	Justify research question(s) based on the literature reviewed.
5.	Communicate complex research ideas in both oral and written forms.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	BMA403, BFA406

Alterations as a result of student feedback

To Be Determined

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Essay	Week 5	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Literature review	Week 10	50 %	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Essay

Task Description:

Write a critical analysis of the key functions of a Honours research dissertation paying particular attention to an evaluation of the role of theory in academic research in your discipline area.

Task Length:

2500 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify the importance of theory to academic research in your topic area.	LO1
2	Outline components of a research Honours dissertation.	LO2
3	Evaluate the significance of each function to the overall dissertation.	LO2
4	Evaluate the importance of the academic skills of analysis and interpretation in evaluating the literature pertinent to your research topic.	LO3
5	Outline the significance of research question(s) and the role of theory in academic research.	LO4
6	Communicate complex research ideas in a written format.	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Literature review

Task Description:

Select fifteen articles relevant to your Honours research project, identify the main ideas and arguments of the articles and write a review of the literature contained in the articles which analyses and synthesises the main arguments. Finish your review by outlining your research opportunity or problem and include a draft version of your research question(s).

Task Length:

2500 words

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

50 %

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

There is no prescribed text but there is a list of essential readings that will be available on MyLO. You are also expected to supplement available readings by seeking additional relevant resources to enhance your knowledge and your assignments. Contemporary analysis of theory is best represented to top journals.

Recommended reading materials

Adams, D 2004, ‘Usable knowledge in public policy’, Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 63, no. 1, pp.29-42.

Cisco Systems, 2014, The Internet of Everything http://www.cisco.com/c/r/en/us/internet-of-everything-ioe/tomorrow-starts-here/index.html

Denholm, C, & Evans, T, 2008, Doctorates Downunder, ACER, Camberwell, Victoria Chapter 16, 26.

Evans, D, Gruba, P & Zobel, J 2014, How to write a better thesis, 3rd edn, Springer, Switzerland.

Fawcett, B, & Pockett, R , 2015 Turning Ideas into Research: Theory Design and Practice, Sage

Feak, C, & Swales, J, 2009, Telling a Research Story: Writing your literature review, University of Michigan Press

Fink, A, 2014, Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper, Sage

Heale, R & Noble, H 2019, ‘Integration of a theoretical framework into your research study’, Evidence Based Nursing, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 36-37

Machi, L & McEvoy, B., 2016, The Literature Review: Six steps to Success, Corwin

Murray, R, 2011, How to Write A Thesis [electronic resource], McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead access via UTas library.

Polonsky M, & Waller, D, 2011, Designing and Managing a Research Project: A Business Students Guide, Sage, Thousand Oaks. Chapter Chapter 7.

The University of Queensland 2019, Sections of a thesis, The University of Queensland, Australia.

Trudeau, L,(ed), 2016, Contemporary literary criticism. Volume 390 [electronic resource]

UNSW Sydney 2015, Thesis Structure, UNSW Sydney, viewed 31 March 2019, .

There are also a broad range of internet sources available on Literature Reviews.

Other required resources

In addition to the texts/software recommended above, you are also expected to be familiar with the key academic journals in the discipline from which useful insights may be derived. In particular, you are encouraged to review regularly the relevant papers that are published in:
Abacus: a Journal of Accounting Finance & Business Studies.
Academy of Management Jounal
Academy of Management Review
Accounting and Business Research
Accounting and Finance
Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal
Accounting Organisations and Society
Annals of Tourism Research
Asia Pacific Journal of Management
Australian Accounting Review
Contemporary Accounting Research
European Journal of Marketing
Human Resource Management
Human Resource Management Journal
Human Resource Management Review
International Journal of Human Resource Management
Industrial Marketing Management
International Journal of Consumer Studies
International Journal of Research in Marketing
Small Business Economics: An entrepreneurship journal
Tourism Management
Journal of Sustainable Tourism