16262 Honours Research 1
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Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This is the first of six subjects in the Bachelor of Property Economics (Honours). Over these six subjects, students work with a research supervisor to design, carry out, and report on a research project. Students have an opportunity to learn literature review and research methodology systematically through online and face to face learning experiences. There is significant variation possible in how the research can be designed, carried out, and reported on, ranging from qualitative analysis, written up in a conventional thesis, highly quantitative analysis of secondary data, to spatial analysis, with a primarily online reporting method. Task structure varies from project to project and is determined between the supervisor and student, based on the research aims.
This subject is delivered through individual meetings between student and supervisor. As the first of a six-subject honours sequence, this subject focuses on taking students through the process of choosing a topic area, developing a specific set of research questions, and completing a literature review to set the groundwork for investigating the research questions. Student work establishes a rationale for research and develops aims and objectives based on research questions. Student work also demonstrates library search skills, an understanding of how to structure a literature review, and how to develop an endnote library of sources. The subject thus develops key academic research skills; these skills (defining research questions, and reviewing and critically engaging with previous research on a topic) are also valuable in research activities undertaken by private firms and government agencies.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Select an appropriate research topic for specific and emerging problems in the built environment |
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| 2. | Understand how to pose and frame research questions, aims and objectives |
| 3. | Search for relevant literature and sources of information |
| 4. | Write a critical review of the selected literature |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Effectively apply a variety of communication skills and technologies at an advanced level in professional contexts (C.1)
- Engage in an advanced level of critical and reflective thinking in built environment contexts (R.1)
- Analyse, structure and report the results of research (Research Skills) (R.3)
- Demonstrate judgement in critical analysis of research (R.4)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
As an individually supervised research training subject, this subject contributes primarily to Graduate Attributes related to Research and Communication skills. Depending on the topic selected, the subject may contribute to developing specific Graduate Attributes related to Attitudes and Values, Innovation and Creativity, and / or Professional skills.
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject is delivered through meetings between individual student and supervisor. Pre-reading will be required, to ensure students have a clear understanding of the goals of a literature review. Pre-reading materials will be posted on Canvas. Most other reading (the literature students will review) will be identified through library and database searches. The subject is structured around a flipped model of learning. Students will typically prepare work (as agreed with the supervisor) in advance of each meeting, and the supervisor will offer in-depth feedback on the work at the subsequent meeting. The student has substantial responsibility for the pace at which the work proceeds; responding to verbal and written feedback from the supervisor is an important part of the student-centred learning process. The subject involves significant self-directed learning, as the student is responsible for identifying relevant literature, and mastering it. Formative feedback will be provided by the supervisor at each meeting (it is the student's responsibility to record this feedback), with the aim of developing an iterative process, improving the scope and quality of the student's work. Feedback on assignments will be provided either in Review, or in Turnitin.
Content (topics)
- choosing a topic area
- establishing a rationale for research
- developing a specific set of research questions,
- structuring a literature review
- completing a literature review
- library search skills,
- how to develop an endnote library of sources.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Research topic, aims, and questions
| Intent: | This assignment asks you to clearly structure a research problem, an important skill for any researcher. This is the first step in writing your thesis; this assignment develops the problem statement that you will address in your subject Honours subjects.
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1 and 2 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): R.1 and R.3 | ||||||||||||
| Type: | Report | ||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||
| Length: | 1000 words (unless agreed otherwise with your supervisor) | ||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Literature Review
| Intent: | In this assignment you will identify the key literature relevant to your research problem, and discuss it critically based on your close reading. The literature review helps you ensure that the research you are proposing to do does not repeat or duplicate someone else's research, and it also helps you identify the gaps in what we know, so that you can ensure your research tells us something new. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.1, R.1, R.3 and R.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Literature review | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 5000 words (excluding references), unless agreed otherwise with your supervisor | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Required texts
Farrell, P (2011) Writing a Built Environment Dissertation. Practical guidance and examples. Wiley-Blackwell, West Sussex UK. ISBN 978-1-4051-9851-6.
Recommended texts
I recommend any edition of Linda Flower's Problem solving Strategies for writing, Harcourt, NY
References
Referencing: In the Faculty of DAB, referencing is done using the APA 7th edition referencing style.
Referencing is a standardised method of acknowledging sources of information and ideas that you have used in your assignments or research, in a way that uniquely identifies the source. It is not only necessary for avoiding plagiarism, but also for supporting your ideas and arguments.
The UTS Library has developed additional support materials to guide students in the use of the APA referencing style.
Further support may be accessed via visiting the following link: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/help/referencing/apa-referencing-guide