Unit Outline

This unit provides postgraduate students with the skills and knowledge to undertake policy-based research - a key transferable employability skill. Practical skills development focuses on undertaking research to inform evidence-based policy positions for a topical real-world issue. Upon completing this unit, you will gain an understanding of how to: define a research problem, use research databases, apply a tailored method to generate policy-relevant data, systematically analyse and present this data, interpret and communicate results, and make evidence-based policy recommendations based on research findings. This unit is one of two capstone offerings in the professional stream of the Master of Environmental Geospatial Science [P7B], Master of Planning [K7P], and Master of Protected Area Governance (K7E), taken in place of KGA742/3 Research Thesis A/B in the research stream. Students specialising in environmental management, planning, protected area governance, and spatial sciences will find the unit complementary and enriching to their core training.

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	Identify a research problem to inform a discipline-specific systematic review
2	Formulate research questions to guide discipline-specific enquiries
3	Analyse data collected using a systematic literature review to answer research questions
4	Interpret research findings derived from a systematic literature review
5	Construct policy recommendations informed by systematic appraisals of discipline specific knowledge

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	none

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Lecture (Online)	Online lectures are provided for each week's content in weeks 1-10. You are expected to watch these before the workshop each week.	1	Weekly
	Workshop	You are expected to attend the in person workshop each week.	2	Weekly
	Project	You will meet your staff client, together with the rest of your group, for one hour a week during weeks 2-9.	1	Weekly
	Independent Learning	You are expected to engage with the learning resources and readings on MyLO independently each week.	6	Weekly
	Project	You are expected to work independently on assessment tasks weekly across the semester, for 10 hours a week.	10	Weekly
Online	Lecture (Online)	Online lectures are provided for each week's content in weeks 1-10. You are expected to watch these before the workshop each week.	1	Weekly
	Workshop (Online)	You are expected to attend the workshop online each week.	2	Weekly
	Project	You will meet your staff client, together with the rest of your group, online for one hour a week during weeks 2-9.	1	Weekly
	Independent Learning	You are expected to engage with the learning resources and readings on MyLO independently each week.	6	Weekly
	Project	You are expected to work independently on assessment tasks weekly across the semester, for 10 hours a week.	10	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 or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, 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:	Scoping the review (combination group and individual task)	Week 4	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Implementing method (combination group and individual task)	Week 8	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Data analysis and presentation (combined group and individual task)	Week 11	25 %	LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:	Major report	Week 14	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Scoping the review (combination group and individual task)

Task Description:

Working with your group, and in discussion with your staff client, identify research questions suitable for a Systematic Quantitative Literature Review. Develop a project plan that details individual tasks and responsibilities for AT2 and AT3 within your group. Your individual mark will be based on your contributions to the discussion board and meetings with your staff client.

Task Length:

Discussion board and meeting contributions

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Devise an overarching research question and a set of operational research questions for your study.	LO1
2	Define key terms for your study with reference to scholarly literature	LO1, LO2
3	Make a list of project tasks and deliverables, and identify individual responsibilities for these. Prepare a graphic to visualise project timeline and responsibilities	LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Implementing method (combination group and individual task)

Task Description:

You will work with your client and team to develop:
1. Inclusion and Exclusion criteria and a PRISMA diagram that describes the complete corpus.
2. A group Excel database, including categories of analysis, based on the keywords and research questions developed from AT1. Input bibliographic data for each paper included in the database. As a group, test the coherence of the categories by each reviewing the same 5 papers and comparing results. Finetune your spreadsheet accordingly.
3. Individually review the 10 papers assigned to you, and put them into the group database. Provide a brief summary of each of the ten papers, describing how each relates to the research questions.

Task Length:

Individual 500-1000 word report Group PRISMA diagram and completed Excel database

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Develop exclusion and inclusion criteria and present a PRISMA diagram	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Develop a group database including categories of analysis in columns, and input bibliographic information for each paper in the corpus	LO2, LO3
3	Review 5 papers as a team to test the coherence and clarity of your categories of analysis	LO3
4	Review 10 papers individually and add these to your group database	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Data analysis and presentation (combined group and individual task)

Task Description:

This task is in two parts.
Part 1. (small group) Present a brief review of a published SQLR - this is a 5% task carried out during one of the workshop sessions.
Part 2. (project group) Plan with your team which aspects of the analysis and interpretation of the whole corpus each team member will carry out. Produce visualisations of the data, and present your findings to the class, including discussion of how they relate to policy and/or practice (20%). Your individual mark will be based on your contributions to the client meetings and presentations.

Task Length:

Part 1: (small group) 10 minute presentation reviewing a published SQLR paper. Part 2: (project group) 30 min presentation of your group's data analysis and interpretation.

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Generate output tables and charts	LO3, LO4
2	Analyse data	LO3, LO4
3	Present the results and describe their relevance to policy or practice	LO4, LO5
4	Identify a relevant published SQLR and report on the quality of its application of methods, visualisations, findings and interpretation.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Major report

Task Description:

This task is to be completed as an individual. You will build upon your group's data collection and analysis to write a professional report that presents the research questions and methods, interprets the findings from your research using clear and effective visualisations, uses correctly attributed sources, and makes relevant policy recommendations based on findings.
Students must pass this assessment task in order to pass the unit.

Task Length:

5000 words maximum, excluding figures, tables and reference list.

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Write a professional report based on your review, presenting research questions, methods, findings and policy recommendations.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
2	Present research findings in correctly captioned figures, charts and tables to a professional standard	LO3, LO4, LO5
3	Communicate policy recommendations with convincing arguments for a professional audience	LO5

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.