Course Outline
Code: ART411
Title: Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
Faculty of Arts and Business
School of Social Sciences
Teaching Session: Semester 1
Year: 2016
Course Coordinator:
Dr Peter Innes
Room:
T2.29
Phone:
(07)5459 4802
Email:
pinnes@usc.edu.au
1.
What is this course about?
1.1
Course description
This course is designed to assist you to clarify and refine your approach to undertaking your research. You
will acquire knowledge about research in your chosen field and develop methodological understandings
relevant to your topic. The course will familiarise you with the fundamental principles of literature reviews
and research design through the production of a research proposal. Its multidisciplinary workshop based
approach will expose you to a range of theoretical approaches, methodologies and methods and enhance
your understanding of your own research and its relationship to other disciplines.
1.2
Course content
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2.
12 units
The nature of research
Methodological and theoretical approaches in different disciplines
Advantages and limits of different methods
Qualitative and quantitative approaches
Ethical protocols
The role and function of literature reviews
Research proposal writing
Unit value
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Course Outline: ART411 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
3.
How does this course contribute to my learning?
Specific Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks
Graduate Qualities
On successful completion of this
course you should be able to:
You will be assessed on the
learning outcome in task/s:
Completing these tasks successfully
will contribute to you becoming:
Acquire knowledge of research
principles and methods and
distinguish their
appropriateness in different
applications and disciplines
Construct and justify a proposal
for conducting independent
research.
Exhibit professional collegiality
by providing constructive
comments to your peers about
their learning and proposed
research practices.
2a and 2b
Knowledgeable.
Empowered.
3
Creative and critical thinkers.
Engaged.
1
Ethical.
Engaged.
4.
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of “pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites”
4.1
Enrolment restrictions
Must be enrolled in Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) or by approval of
the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Business
4.2
Pre-requisites
Enrolled in AR401 or AR402 or by approval of the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Business
4.3
Co-requisites
Nil
4.4
Anti-requisites
CMN574 or CMN575
4.5
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills
You should have acquired an insight into knowledge and problems inherent in their disciplinary areas
(including interdisciplinary knowledge where appropriate). It is this disciplinary knowledge and awareness
of applied and theoretical debates which directs students to addressing proposed research contributions.
This course provides the further scaffolding into methodology and method.
5.
How am I going to be assessed?
5.1
Grading scale
Standard – High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)
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Course Outline: ART411 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
5.2
Assessment tasks
Task
No.
Assessment Tasks
Individual
or Group
Weighting
%
1
Active
participation and
feedback
Workshop
presentation
Essay
Individual
Research
proposal
2a
2b
3
When
should I
submit?
During class,
Weeks 2-13
Where should I
submit it?
10%
What is the
duration /
length?
N/A
Individual
25%
15 minutes
In Class
Individual
25%
1500 words
Individual
40%
3000 words
During Class
Weeks 7-10
During Class
Weeks 7-10
Friday,
Week 13
Blackboard,
Journals
In Class
In Class
100%
Assessment Task 1: Active participation and feedback
Goal:
This assessment is designed to support and develop your research collaboration skills.
You will give and receive constructive feedback that will result in better research and
model the development of a community of researchers.
Product: Oral feedback, completion of tutorial worksheets, and completion of peer feedback
sheet
Format:
You will have the opportunity to discuss the material presented during the course and to
provide oral feedback to workshop presenters.
Criteria
The grade will be determined according to demonstrated active engagement in tutorial
and presentation discussions, completion of workshop activity sheets in Blackboard (eg
Offering ideas and opinions, asking questions, reflecting upon readings), and
participation in the formal peer feedback for presentations.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Collaboration
Developing
Communication
Developing
Assessment Task 2a and 2b: Workshop Presentation and Essay
Goal:
Product:
Format:
Criteria
The purpose of this assessment is for you to gain an in-depth understanding of one
particular research method and to present your findings to your peers.
Prepare an essay on one research method, that you use to conduct a presentation to
the class group
You will prepare a 15 minute workshop presentation which overviews one research
method appropriate to your disciplinary field. The presentation will provide details of
the method and its application, and discuss its relative advantages and disadvantages.
The workshops will give you the opportunity to encounter a broad range of research
methods and to present one approach in written and oral forms appropriate to scholarly
conventions. Presentations will include a peer question-and-answer section, and peer
feedback. The presentation is based on a written essay which is also assessed and
should include a minimum of 4 references.
Oral Presentation
Content: Knowledge of a method and its relevance to your disciplinary field. Capacity
to deliver and explain choices.
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Course Outline: ART411 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
Argument: Logically coherent, well sequenced and supported through discussion.
Structure: Clear introduction and conclusion outlining areas and issues to be covered.
Main ideas communicated with examples.
Clarity and Expression: Uses disciplinary appropriate language. Explains specialist
vocabulary.
Written essay
Content: Description of approach and explanation of choices.
Argument: Logically coherent and adequately supported through discussion and use of
references.
Structure: Effective introduction and conclusion. Well organised and logically ordered.
Clarity and Expression: Clear expression. Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Referencing: Evidence referenced and documented through correct use of citations,
quotations and bibliography.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Developing
Problem solving
Developing
Assessment Task 3: Research Proposal
Goal:
Product:
Format:
You will develop the critical skills of developing a research proposal relevant to your
proposed thesis research topic or a topic negotiated with the Course Coordinator. This
proposal provides the opportunity for you to focus on a research question, methodology
and undertake a preliminary literature review appropriate to your chosen topic. The
research proposal will be fully referenced and written in academic style.
Research proposal
The proposal will contain the following information:
1. Title: short and explanatory
2. Abstract: A brief summary or overview of the research proposal explains
precisely what the research is about. It must be clear, succinct and
understandable to experts and lay readers.
3. The research problem: discusses the problem or question the project seeks to
answer and how the research contributes to its clarification. It may also include
a set of central and /or subsidiary questions.
4. Background: This section clarifies the significance of the research and describes
the broader historical, theoretical, social and intellectual background and
context.
5. Aims and objectives: Outline the academic, social and political aims of the
project and its specific concrete and achievable outcomes.
6. Literature review: Presents the state of knowledge relevant to the topic and
discusses the contribution of previous research and theory its conceptualisation.
It shows how the project fills a gap in knowledge in the field and how it builds
on and adds to existing knowledge. It demonstrates knowledge of the topic and
relevance of study.
7. Research design (methodology/methods): describes research methodology and
methods and justifies their use. It will include details of sample size, data
collection and analysis and ethical considerations. This section may also describe
the theoretical or conceptual approach of the study.
8. Bibliography
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Course Outline: ART411 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
Criteria
Content
 Title accurately reflects the nature of the study: abstract is clear and succinct;
 Research problem clearly stated (identifies causes, extent and scope of the
problem, and contains relevant subsidiary questions);
 Background clarifies historical, theoretical, social and intellectual context and
significance;
 Aims and objectives fully explained;
 Detailed and critical evaluation of current literature relevant to topic and
recognition of conflicting theories and explanations;
 Appropriate choice and explanation of research design, including methodology
and method;
 Discussion of relevant ethical issues.
Argument:
 Clear and readable;
 Logically coherent and adequately supported through discussion and use of
references;
 Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling;
Referencing:
 Evidence referenced and documented through correct use of citations,
quotations and bibliography
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Communication
Developing
Information literacy
Developing
Organisation
Developing
5.3
Additional assessment requirements
SafeAssign
In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its
assessment tasks are submitted electronically via SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to
be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. If
required, details of how to submit via SafeAssign will be provided on the Blackboard site of the course.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
5.4
Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate:
 5% (of the assessment task’s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified
as the due date for the assessment task.
 10% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the third day
 20% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and
including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task.
 A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date
identified as the due date for the assessment task.
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must
contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
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Course Outline: ART411 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
6.
How is the course offered?
6.1
Directed study hours
On campus workshop: 3 hours per week
6.2
Teaching semester/session(s) offered
Semester 1 and Semester 2
6.3
Course activities
The course comprises a series of lectures and in-class workshops. Each session is three hours in length
covering key aspects of research methods and their application.
Teaching
What key concepts/
What activities will I engage in to learn the
Week /
content will I learn?
concepts/content?
Module
Directed Study
Independent Study
Activities
Activities
1
2
What is research?
What are methods
methodologies and theoretical
frameworks?
Definitional activities
Mapping exercise and
discussion of readings
3
Qualitative methods
Advantages and
disadvantages of
qualitative methods;
justifying methods
4
Good Friday
Public Holiday
25th March
5
6
7
8
Anzac Day
Public Holiday
25th April
9
Quantitative methods
Advantages and
disadvantages of
quantitative methods;
justifying methods
Mid Semester Break
The practitioner-researcher
Locating practice-led
model
and practice-based
research
Introducing your project (1)
5 minute project
introductions on 2-3
powerpoint slides
Special Topics 1 (Disciplinary
To be advised
Stream)
Special Topics 2 (Disciplinary
To be advised
Stream)
Special Topics 3 (Disciplinary
Stream)
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
Morgan and Smircich
(1980) ‘The case for
qualitative research’;
Mills. CW (1959) On
Intellectual
Craftmanship, Appendix
to, The Sociological
Imagination, OUP
Silverman, D. (2004)
Qualitative Research:
Theory, method and
practice. London,
Thousand Oaks, Calif.,
Sage Publications.
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
Workshopping
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
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Course Outline: ART411 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
Labour Day
Public Holiday
Mon 2nd May
10
11
Special Topics 4 (Disciplinary
Stream)
Ethics (PI)
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
Understanding research
ethics; using NEAF
Details to be advised on
Blackboard
www.NEAF.gov.au
Israel, M. and Hay, I.
(2006) Research Ethics
for Social Scientists.
London: Sage.
12
Workshops: Proposals
13
Workshops: Proposals
Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation.
7.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
7.1
Prescribed text(s)
There is no prescribed text.
7.2
Required and recommended readings
Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These
materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further
information regarding particular aspects of your course.
7.3
Specific requirements
N/A
7.4
Risk management
There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the
Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.
8.
How can I obtain help with my studies?
In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Student Life and Learning
provides additional assistance to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can
drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 1226 or Email:
StudentLifeandLearning@usc.edu.au
9.
Links to relevant University policies and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
 Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
 Review of Assessment and Final Grades
 Supplementary Assessment
 Administration of Central Examinations
 Deferred Examinations
 Student Academic Misconduct
 Students with a Disability
http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching
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Course Outline: ART411 Research Design: Methodology and Literature Review
10.
Faculty specific information
LOCATING JOURNAL ARTICLES
If you have been notified that the journal articles in this course are available on e-reserve, use the on-line
library catalogue to find them. For journal articles not on e-reserve, click on the "Journals and Newspapers"
link on the Library Homepage. Enter the journal title e.g. History Australia, then search for the volume and
issue or keyword as needed.
ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEETS
The Faculty of Arts and Business assignment cover sheet can be found on Blackboard or on the USC Portal
at: Faculty of Arts and Business (Students) > Forms. It must be completed in full identifying student name,
assignment topic, tutor and tutorial time. This must be attached securely to the front of each assessment
item prior to submission. Claims of loss of assignments will not be considered unless supported by a
receipt.
HELP: If you are experiencing problems with your studies or academic work, consult your tutor in the first
instance or the Course Coordinator as quickly as possible.
DIFFICULTIES: If you are experiencing difficulties relating to teaching and assessment you should approach
your tutor in the first instance. If not satisfied after that you should approach in order your Course
Coordinator, Program Coordinator then Head of School.
General enquiries
Student Central - Building C
Tel: +61 7 5430 2890
Fax: +61 7 5430 2882
Email: Studentcentral@usc.edu.au