42069 Research Methods
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Pass fail, no marks
Requisite(s): 42670 Research Foundations
Description
This subject provides research students with an understanding of what it means to be a wholistic researcher. To be a proficient researcher, skills must include knowledge of varying ontologies, epistemologies, paradigms and methodologies. Knowing tools and techniques that are available for use outside one's immediate discipline only enhances a researcher.
The subject uses students’ understanding of the purpose of research and helps them justify the importance of their research and how using a specific methodology to conduct the research supports their argument. The subject aims to place student work in the wider context of the research ecosystem by introducing different methods of research to support the discipline-based research questions. The subject also helps to build an understanding of how research is conducted differently beyond the academy and introduces students to the writing and presentation expectations of HDR processes at UTS.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Present a rationale (Impact/significance) for the research study based on context, discipline, topic, and population. (B.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Customise research methods based on research objectives stated in research projects. (C.1) |
| 3. | Justify disciplinary research methods to assure reliability and validity of research study. (D.1) |
| 4. | Draw on the community of researchers to aid in the enhancement of one's own research abilities (E.1) |
| 5. | Reflect on implications of research knowledge, design and impacts on research to wider disciplinary community. (F.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
- Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their own and others' performance with a high level of responsibility to improve and practice competently for the benefit of professional practice and society. (F.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
There will be an introductory session which will include information on developing a learning plan for research students. The session will also include an exploration of learning opportunities and how they are suited to particular types of research aims.
The remainder of the subject is an independent learning journey conducted in conjunction with a student supervisor. This journey will include students attending 60 hours of workshops to increase their own research abilities – 10 of the hours are guided in a compulsory module. Students will define their own goals, needs and strategies for meeting their pre-determined research abilities and will use workshops which offer a variety of topics that use multiple modalities - face to face, online, hybrid, self-paced, MOOC, etc. Supervisors will encourage students by collaborative and reflective practices to identify any researcher knowledge, skills and abilities, that are needed based on their discipline, noting that students are not to be constrained by their discipline as the purpose is to gain a wholistic view of research expertise.
The result is a collaborative plan and a draft introduction and research methods which allows students to reflect on the methodological approach they will pursue now having more knowledge about research from an interdisciplinary, cross disciplinary, transdisciplinary and/or multi-disciplinary view.
Content (topics)
This subject includes a number of modules delivered by different experts. Each module focusses on a specific topic, for example: machine learning, action learning, design-based research, usability testing, simultaneous localization and mapping, statics, python, R, Matlab, data visualisation, lasers, focus groups and interviewing skills. Modules differ each semester and each module has its own facilitator and own style/mode of delivery.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Individual Research Skills Plan
| Intent: | This assessment allows for a student supported by their supervisor to create a learning plan to improve your skills, with the aim of becoming a more proficient researcher. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, E.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Length: | ~ 1500 words Maximum |
Assessment task 2: Research Skills Reflection
| Intent: | This assessment gives students an opportunity to reflect on your experience of pursuing skills to increase your research expertise. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, E.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | ~3000 words. other modes of presentation may be acceptable, such as video reflection. |
Assessment task 3: Draft Introduction and Methodology Chapter [Thesis]
| Intent: | To demonstrate how your chosen research methodology aligns with the aims of your research topic. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1, E.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | Each discipline and by association supervisor will have their expectations. Please liaise with your supervisor to ensure that you are adhering to these expectations |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must submit all of the assessments and achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.