University of Technology Sydney

81541 Research Proposal

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Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Transdisciplinary Innovation
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 81528 New Knowledge-making Lab OR 81521 Envisioning Futures

Description

In this subject, students immerse themselves in a shared research challenge to examine the value of methods from a range of disciplines for investigating, experimenting and generating new knowledge. By doing this they build connections between various approaches and begin to construct a creative transdisciplinary research architecture for their individual projects. As part of the process students identify an audience for their research, consider ethical implications and develop an argument for the proposal, articulating the 'so what', 'why now?', 'why here?', and 'why me?' aspects of their chosen topics. At the conclusion of the subject students present their individual research plan, identifying stakeholders, outlining the milestones as well as a creative rationale for their process of investigation and themselves as transdisciplinary researchers.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Identify and test methods from a range of disciplines to evaluate their potential to stimulate creative discovery
2. Build connections between various research approaches and develop a strategy for a transdisciplinary inquiry
3. Identify stakeholders and position the proposed research in relation to fields of expertise or practice
4. Articulate a rationale for a proposed creative transdisciplinary research architecture
5. Present a compelling case for research articulating an audience, ethical implications of research and anticipated contribution to knowledge

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject contributes specifically to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes:

  • Curate and connect advanced ideas, principles and practices from a range of disciplines and ways of knowing to enable the emergence of new knowledge (1.5)
  • Independently identify and engage with novel discovery practices and ways of knowing, including Indigenous knowledge, to inspire insights (2.7)
  • Articulate and justify the research design to demonstrate rigour, creative and critical thinking (2.8)
  • Self-initiate relationships with identified stakeholders as required to inform and sustain the research (3.7)
  • Apply an advanced understanding of professional, cultural and scholarly ethics to awaken diverse perceptiveness and collective agency (4.5)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The subject provides opportunities for you as a student to curate and experiment with research methods from a range of disciplines to create a distinct transdisciplinary research approach for your individual project. You consider the relevance of your research to a range of audiences, examine ethical implications of your research and develop a persuasive justification for a research proposal.

So your experiences as a student in this subject support you to develop the following graduate attributes (GA):

  • GA 1 Complex systems thinking
  • GA 2 Creating value in problem solving and inquiry
  • GA 3 Inter- and trans-disciplinary practices
  • GA 4 Imaginative and ethical citizenship

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject begins with a shared research challenge, in which student teams experiment with possible research approaches and examine the implications of research choices. Building on this collective experience students move on to develop a research architecture for a self-initiated research project. They devise their own learning strategies and approaches guided by academic mentors and supported by peers. Learning takes place in an immersive, experiential, studio-based environment. Feedback is given regularly at designated checkpoints throughout the subject by staff, peers and research stakeholders.

Content (topics)

  • Modes of reasoning
  • Nature and types of knowledge
  • Research process and methods
  • Transdisciplinary research
  • Grounded Theory
  • Research through design

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Transdisciplinary research challenge

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 4

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

1.5, 2.7 and 2.8

Type: Project
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 50%

Assessment task 2: More research is needed… Creating a research challenge and response

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

2, 3, 4 and 5

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

1.5, 2.8, 3.7 and 4.5

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 50%