85810 Design Research
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject supports students to learn, apply and document design research methodologies to build a strong theoretical approach to their major project. Students are introduced to foundational research skills and to research methods most relevant to their field of practice. Students apply this knowledge to establish a thorough and critical research foundation for their project and document their findings in a research paper.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Articulate the significance of your research idea to society. |
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| 2. | Deploy the genre of academic writing to express your ideas. |
| 3. | Apply academic conventions to a research project. |
| 4. | Develop an ethical approach to research that can be applied to you research project. |
| 5. | Conduct a literature review. |
| 6. | Understand the role of research methods in design research. |
| 7. | Develop appropriate level of self-direction, self-reflection, and time management skills. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Communicate ideas clearly and confidently across various tasks in professional, creative and research contexts. (C.2)
- Ability to self-manage, including task initiation, allocation of time and realisation of outcomes. (P.2)
- Demonstrate awareness of design history and theory and critically reflect on existing design paradigms for problem setting and solving. (R.2)
- Develop, analyse and synthesise complex ideas that are academically informed and well-reasoned. (R.4)
- Evaluate, develop and apply research methods appropriate to the project. (R.5)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:
C = communication and groupwork
A = attitudes and values
P = practical and professional
R = research and critique
I = innovation and creativity.
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).
Teaching and learning strategies
Classes involve a combination of lectures, tutorials and mentoring.
Content (topics)
Students are introduced to techniques to search and analyse relevant literature, analyse design precedents, develop clear research questions, identify the significance of their project, develop an ethical approach to research and apply academic conventions in the documentation of findings.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Stage 1 Research Document
| Intent: | Articulate and document the first stage of your research which will develop the theoretical grounding for your project. This assessment will demonstrate your skill development and the steps you are taking towards completing a draft research document. You will receive more instruction from your tutor on the required form of this assessment and the due date may also be varied, recognising different research approaches in the design disciplines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 3, 5 and 6 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.2, R.4 and R.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Thesis | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 40% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Stage 2 Research Document
| Intent: | Develop a refined written and visual document that demonstrates the progress you have made to establish a theoretical grounding for your project. The document will need to include a critical analysis of key themes and issues in your topic area, articulate your research position and highlight key findings and insights. You will receive more instruction from your tutor on the required form of this assessment and the due date may also be varied, recognising different research approaches in the design disciplines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 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.2, P.2, R.4 and R.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Thesis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 60% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.