Unit Outline

Research and project management skills are core professional competencies. Undertaking a thesis as part of your Masters will equip you with the experience needed to undertake research independently or as part of a team, and the skills to design and manage projects utilising available resources and time. It is also essential if you are considering doing a PhD. In this unit, you will complete work on your research project that spans KGA742 Research Thesis A and KGA743 Research Thesis B. Working with your expert supervisor, you will implement your project plan, and employ appropriate methods (quantitative, qualitative and/or spatial) to collect data pertaining to your problem or hypothesis. In analysing the collected data, you will produce new knowledge in your chosen field, critically locate this in relation to existing research and literature, and produce a substantial research thesis. The combination of KGA742 Research Thesis A and KGA743 Research Thesis B comprise one quarter (50% of 200%) of the requirements for K7P Master of Planning, P7B Master of Environmental Geospatial Science and P7C Master of Protected Area Conservation. The research must address a topic of significance for environmental management/spatial science (P7B candidates), planning (K7P candidates) or protected areas (P7C candidates).

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.	Synthesise complex knowledge to support robust research decision-making
2.	Implement appropriate methodologies and methods to produce new research findings
3.	Critique research findings to advance knowledge in a chosen field

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No alternations have been made.

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:	Research Thesis	Refer to Assessment Description	100 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Research Thesis

Task Description:

Research thesis
You will prepare a thesis that addresses a research gap and/or problem of approximately 15,000 words in length. However, this length may be varied if the thesis consists of a journal article or other approved mode in which this number of words is inappropriate.
A thesis template is provided in MyLO. All theses require an introductory section that outlines the scope and content of the work, and a concluding section that highlights the significance and future directions. However, depending on your degree and topic, you may alter the format provided in the template. Please consult your supervisor about the appropriate length, format and structure of your thesis.
Some examples to consider are:
• A council report where the main body of the thesis is presented as an aldermanic report that ends in a set of recommendations;
• A management plan with a set of recommendations;
• A paper for an academic journal.

Task Length:

15,000 words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

100 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Undertake a research project that addresses a research gap/problem	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Apply a research methodology and methods appropriate to your field and research question(s)/hypothesis	LO2
3	Present and discuss research results and findings	LO3
4	Communicate in the form of a scholarly piece of work	LO1

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.