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Year:

GEPL338 Understanding Research

Updated: 21 October 2011
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites 12cp at 100 level
Co-requisites None
Restrictions GEAR330 or GEAR430 or GEPL330
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Frances Rolley (frolley@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

Research is integral to the development and maintenance of society. The purpose of this unit is to provide a practical background to the research process from problem formulation and research design, data collection and analysis, to the interpretation, organisation and presentation of results. The unit focuses on developing an understanding of the principles underpinning sound research, introducing students to a range of research methods and descriptive data analysis techniques. In addition, the unit teaches practical skills in organising, interpreting and presenting research results into coherent reports.

Prescribed Material
Mandatory
Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Understanding Research
ISBN: 9780205471539
Neuman, W.L., Allyn & Bacon 1st ed. 2009
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Recommended Material
Optional
Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Understanding Research: A Consumer's Guide
ISBN: 9780136101369
Plano Clark, V.L. and Creswell, J.W., Pearson Education 2010
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Online Test 10% On/Off Campus
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1 and 2 GA: 1, 2 and 4-6
Research Excercise 30% On Campus
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2 and 5 GA: 1, 2 and 4-7
Research Exercise 40% Off Campus 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1, 2 and 5 GA: 1, 2 and 4-7
Research Report 50% On/Off Campus 2500
Assessment Notes
Students must pass this assessment task in order to pass the unit.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 3 and 4 GA: 1, 2 and 4-7
Tutorial 10% On Campus
Assessment Notes
Tutorial excercises and participation
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1and 2 GA: 1, 2 and 4- 7

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate an understanding of the principles underpinning sound research;
  2. show an understanding of a wide range of research methods;
  3. apply appropriate data analysis techniques;
  4. interpret, organise and present results in a research report;
  5. demonstrate an awareness of the potential problems pertaining to the planning and conduct of research.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students learn of the significant body of knowledge relating to the process of undertaking reliable and valid research. This is assessed in the assessment tasks. Students will employ this understanding in completing the research exercise
True True True
2 Communication Skills
Assessment is by a research exercise and research report concerning practical and theoretical aspects of the unit - all requiring effective written communication skills.
True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students are introduced to a wide range of textual and statistical sources of information and scholarship and need to develop skills in the manipulation and analysis of these sources. This is assessed in the assessment tasks.
True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The unit teaches students a range of conceptual and practical skills that can be applied to their professional and personal situations. This is assessed in the assessment tasks.
True True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will learn to synthesise ideas from a wide range of sources and apply these to 'real world' research problems which are the focus of the assessment tasks. This is assessed in the assessment tasks.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students are required to consider the protocols and ethics required in the conduct of appropriate and responsible research. This is assessed in the assessment tasks.
True True True
8 Team Work
Internal students are often required to work together in workshops. The unit also encourages all students to work collaboratively on unit content in the online environment.
True True
   

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