Unit Outline

This unit prepares you to undertake honours research by strengthening your skills in critical analysis and your understanding of disciplinary and interdisciplinary theories and methodologies in the Social Sciences. You will develop your research skills and debate, examine and analyse theoretical and methodological approaches to research in the social sciences disciplines. You will develop a research proposal that incorporates, appropriate to your discipline, effective research design, data collection and data analysis techniques, and coverage of relevant ethical issues. You will engage in discussions and debates focused on contemporary social and political issues, then analyse these issues by applying various disciplinary and interdisciplinary concepts and perspectives from the Social Sciences. You will work independently and together with fellow students and a panel of academics to build your capacity to make connections between contemporary social and political issues, disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge, and your own research.

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	Analyse and evaluate concepts, theories, methodologies and perspectives from the Social Sciences that can be applied to research on contemporary social and political issues.
2	Apply concepts, theories, methodologies and perspectives from the Social Sciences to design research on contemporary social and political issues.
3	Communicate orally and in writing about concepts, perspectives and social and political issues in the Social Sciences using appropriate style and referencing conventions.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

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:	Brief Research Plan	Week 5	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Annotated Bibliography	Week 8	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Seminar presentation	Week 10	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Research Proposal	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Brief Research Plan

Task Description:

In consultation with the unit coordinator and your honours supervisor, develop a draft research question on a contemporary social or political issue (see Assessment task 4, below). Prepare a plan to help you organise your ideas. It should introduce the research topic, explain the need for and/or aims of your research, and identify the proposed social science theory, concepts, methodology and/or framework that you will use to analyse your chosen issue.

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify key methods, concepts and perspectives in the Social Sciences relevant to an analysis of a selected issue.	LO1
2	Specify and justify the theoretical and methodological focus of the project.	LO2
3	Communicate effectively in written form using: a logical and appropriate structure; clear verbal expression; and accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Annotated Bibliography

Task Description:

In consultation with the unit coordinator and your honours supervisor, identify 3-4 core texts in your disciplinary field that will be helpful for understanding and addressing your selected contemporary social or political issue. Prepare an annotated bibliography for these texts, including explaining their value to your discipline and chosen contemporary social or political issue as well as any limitations.

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain key insights provided by your selected texts to justify their inclusion in your literature review.	LO1
2	Critically engage with core arguments and note limitations of your chosen texts.	LO2
3	Communicate effectively in writing using a logical and appropriate structure and clear expression.	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Seminar presentation

Task Description:

Prepare a 10-minute oral presentation on your selected contemporary social or political issue (see AT1)(see AT1). In your presentation, provide a brief overview of relevant literature and explain how key concepts and theoretical perspectives can be applied to advance debates and understanding of the issue. You may develop up to 10 slides to support your presentation.

Task Length:

10-minute presentation

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain key concepts and perspectives and methods in Social Sciences relevant to an analysis of your selected issue.	LO1
2	Critically analyse the selected contemporary issue using key concepts and/or theoretical perspectives.	LO2
3	Communicate effectively in an oral presentation using a logical and appropriate structure and clear verbal expression.	LO3

Assessment Task 4: Research Proposal

Task Description:

Critically analyse existing literature relevant to your research topic. Justify the need for further research and specify the theoretical and methodological approach that will be adopted to address your research question. (see AT1)

Task Length:

2500

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain key methods, concepts and perspectives in Social Sciences relevant to an analysis of your selected issue.	LO1
2	Analyse the selected contemporary issue using relevant key concepts and/or theoretical perspectives in the Social Sciences through a critical review of scholarship and case studies or examples.	LO2
3	Justify the need for further research on the contemporary issue proposing a suitable methodology and theoretical/conceptual framework.	LO2
4	Communicate effectively in written form using: a logical and appropriate structure; clear verbal expression; and accurate written grammar, punctuation and spelling.	LO3

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.