Unit Outline

This unit is designed to give ICT research students an appreciation of the significance of research and to provide students with research skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable them to conduct their own research in a rigorous manner. The unit encourages students to acquire a critical understanding of both qualitative and quantitative approaches in research and to explore the research process embodied in methodology. The unit includes the design of data collection tools and an introduction to quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Students will gain an understanding of the theory and practice of methods and approaches applicable to the conduct of ICT research. Students will build skills and capacity to design and communicate research proposals for ICT projects and to critically assess and evaluate alternative approaches to conducting research on ICT issues. Students will consider the ethical issues involved in planning, conducting and reporting research. Students will also be challenged to apply concepts and critically engage with issues as they relate to personal and professional research needs. Assessment items have been designed to relate to key aspects of the unit.

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 and critically evaluate peer reviewed literature relevant to a research topic through the preparation of a Literature review chapter
2.	Apply different research methodologies to conduct ethical ICT research.
3.	Design, implement, evaluate and communicate ICT research through the preparation of a Methodology chapter
4.	Critically assess and evaluate approaches to conducting research on ICT issues

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	KIT714 AND KIT701

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Add an associated presentation in the final assessment based on the feedback from students and their supervisors.

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Seminar	A real-time (i.e. synchronous) activity in which a topic is discussed by a teacher and a small group of students. The students enrolled in the seminar are expected to attend.	2	Weekly
	Independent Learning	Involving reading, listening to audio, watching video, and/or completing exercises and/or quizzes, self-study is individual work undertaken when the student chooses (i.e. asynchronous), most likely through engagement with MyLO. The content is examinable, and may need to be completed prior to attending classes and/or attempting assessment tasks.	1	Weekly
	Tutorial	A structured real-time (i.e. synchronous) activity in a small-group setting where the primary purpose is the clarification, exploration or reinforcement of subject content presented or accessed at another time or place (e.g. lecture, preparatory work). It is reliant on student-teacher and student-student interaction and dialogue for achievement of its learning outcomes. The students enrolled in the tutorial are expected to attend.	2	Weekly

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

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:	Qualitative Report	Week 8	20 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Quantitative Report	Week 11	20 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Literature Review and Methodology	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Quiz	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Qualitative Report

Task Description:

Communicate effectively at a professional level - This practical exercise will engage students in a qualitative research exercise that will enable them to directly deploy skills, tools and techniques covered in the unit. Each student will be required to complete the exercise and prepare a written report that displays their level of qualitative research understanding and competence.

Task Length:

2,000 - 2,500 words

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply different qualitative research methodologies to a given case study	LO2
2	Analyse qualitative approaches when conducting research applied to a given scenario	LO4
3	Justify chosen qualitative approach through critical discussion in a report	LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Quantitative Report

Task Description:

Practical Quantitative Exercise - This practical exercise will engage students in a quantitative research exercise that will enable them to directly deploy skills, tools and techniques covered in the unit. Each student will be required to complete the exercise and prepare a written report that displays their level of quantitative research understanding and competence.

Task Length:

2,000 - 2,500 words

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply different quantitative research methodologies to a given case study	LO2
2	Analyse quantitative approaches when conducting research applied to a given scenario	LO4
3	Justify chosen quantitative approach through critical discussion in a report	LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Literature Review and Methodology

Task Description:

Literature Review and Methodology Chapter - Students are to submit their Literature review and Methodology chapter in the relevant assignment folder on MyLO and give a presentation.

Task Length:

15,000 - 20,000 words and 20 mins presentation

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Use appropriate methodology to conduct research to progress project.	LO2, LO3
2	Justify the chosen research methodology’s relevance to the research questions.	LO3
3	Coherently describe relevant literature and research methodology to the intended audience	LO1, LO3
4	Select ethical research processes with appropriate methodologies	LO2, LO3
5	Justify research question based on critical analysis of literature	LO1
6	Use appropriate level of professional writing and clear presentation of relevant data and results	LO1, LO3
7	Critically evaluate literature relevant to a research topic	LO1

Assessment Task 4: Quiz

Task Description:

Completion of quiz questions on MyLO related to understanding of lecture content. Quizzes will be conducted in weeks 7 and 9.

Task Length:

10 questions

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Correctly answer questions related to qualitative and quantitative research methodologies	LO2

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

N/A