21908 Research Design and Organisation
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
The subject provides advanced knowledge and advice in the design, execution and writing up of research. The aim is to develop high quality, critical thinking, creative and productive academics and researchers of the future. The core assessment tasks are all directly relevant to student's research projects.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | Apply advanced skills in research design, analysis and writing |
|---|---|
| 2. | Demonstrate the awareness of the moral and ethical obligations and implications of their own social science research |
| 3. | Apply the knowledge and learning gained in this subject to the design of their own research project |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The subject provides a more tailored and specialised grounding in the research topic. The subject aims to develop research students of quality, equipped with the knowledge and skills to enjoy a productive career in relevant academic and research fields. A concrete output for students will be the improvement of their research proposal.
Teaching and learning strategies
The subject is delivered through a series of workshops in which the various research skills are taught and their application demonstrated and practised through experiential class activities and set assignments related to current research of students.
Content (topics)
- Framing your research
- The literature review
- Your research design
- Your epistemological stance
- Writing up your research
- The revision process
- Your research ethics
- Your research process
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Initial Research Proposal and Presentation (Individual)*
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 1500 words + bibliography |
| Criteria: | *Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero. |
Assessment task 2: Research Proposal Peer Review (Group)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 1000 words (maximum) + bibliography |
Assessment task 3: Research Proposal (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 3 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 3300 words (maximum) proposal + 1500 words (maximum) response letter |
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.
Recommended texts
Selected chapters in the following textbooks will be consulted throughout the term.
Cassell, C., Cunliffe, A. L., & Grandy, G. (2018). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Business and Management Research Methods: History and Traditions. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Creswell, J. W. & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Fifth edition.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
De Vaus, D. A. (2001). Research design in social research. London: SAGE.
Gorard, S. (2013). Research design : creating robust approaches for the social sciences. London ;: SAGE. (available online via UTS library)
Leavy, P. (2017). Research design : quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and community-based participatory research approaches. New York, New York ;: The Guilford Press. (available online via UTS library)
Strang, K. D. (2015). The Palgrave handbook of research design in business and management. New York City, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
References
A detailed reading list will be shared in Canvas. The reading list is a recommendation--students are expected to select readings that will be useful for their own research.