FIT4005 IT Research Methods , Unit Information Guide (Semester 1, 2006)

FIT4005 is a compulsory unit for all honours students. It forms the basis for all research that students will conduct. FIT4005 introduces students to a variety of issues, concepts, methods and techniques associated with IT research. Skills developed and knowledge acquired from this unit will prepare students to conduct their own research, as well as to be knowledgeable consumers of others' research.

After completing this unit students will:

have knowledge and understanding of:

• Basic research concepts, major philosophical foundations (theory, framework, paradigm, scientific method and methodologies in general)
• Research methods and techniques relevant to IT research.
• Key issues in IT research.
• History of research
• The strengths and the limitations of a variety of research methods, and the choices and trade-offs that need to be made in designing a research project.
• The process of reviewing research literature on a specific topic.
• Ethical practice, social networks and the role of peer review related to conducting research.

• Confidence in themselves as informed consumers of published research, able to critically evaluate the relative quality and merits of reported research findings.
• Confidence in their ability to undertake independent research and to complete a thesis.
• Ethical awareness in relation to issues that arise in the conception, design and implementation of research.

have the skills to:

• Identify research opportunities and also the potential problems in undertaking research in a particular area, or in using a particular method or approach.
• Write an effective critical and evaluative (ie not simply a descriptive) review of the research literature on a particular topic.
• Evaluate a research topic and produce a sustainable research design, effective research proposal, research propositions and operationalise research propositions.
• Devise data collection instruments and procedures for analyzing data for a particular project.

• Communicate research ideas effectively in oral or written form.
• Perform peer review

Required text(s)

A J Veal (2005) Business Research Methods: A Managerial Approach, 2nd ed., Pearson Addison Wesley.

Text books are available from the Monash University Book Shops. Availability from other suppliers cannot be assured. The Bookshop orders texts in specifically for this unit. You are advised to purchase your text book early.

Software requirements:

Students will be required to use SPSS, Nvivo and word processing packages to complete their assignments.

Hardware requirements:

On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to n hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Additional reading:

W. Lawrence Neuman (2003) Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches, 5th edition, Allyn and Bacon

Williamson, K., et al. (2002). Research methods for students, academics and professionals: Information management and systems (2nd ed.). Wagga Wagga, NSW: Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University.

Study resources for FIT4005-CLAYTON are:

The FIT4005 web site on MUSO, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications and supplementary material will be posted.

Caulfield

Clayton

The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+

You will be to assess whether you have achieved the objectives of this subject through a number of assignments related to your Honours Thesis and assignments related to each of the Blocks. The intention is that the assignments related to the Honours Thesis will support you in conducting and concluding a high quality result.

To pass this unit you must:

receive an average mark of 50% or above. You are also require to attend 5 workshops and 5 seminars. The workshops and seminars are hurdle requirements and you will not receive your final marks until you have met this requirement.

Your score for the unit will be calculated by:

Assignments related to the Research Thesis (total assessment value 40%):

• Research proposal, Value 10%,
• Literature review, Value 20%,
• Presentation, Value 10%,

Assignments related to Blocks (total assessment value 60%):

• Block 1 Assignment, Value 15%, Literature review assignment
• Block 2 Assignment, Value 15%, Descriptive SPSS assignment
• Block 3 Assignment, Value 15%, Hypothesis testing SPSS assignment
• Block 4 Assignment, Value 15%, Nvivo exercise or a Reflection on Qualitative and Quantitative research methods

You are also require to attend 5 workshops and 5 seminars. These are hurdle requirements and you will not receive your final mark until you have met this requirement.

Assessment Requirements

Caulfield

Clayton

Assignment specifications will be made available FIT 4005 Unit website. Information about assignments will be published on the Unit's Notices Newsgroup.

Assignments will be submitted by paper submission to the lecturer by the due date.

Late submission of assignments

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 10% of the mark awarded.

This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment. 

Extensions

It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions. 

Requests for extensions must be made by email to the unit lecturer at least two days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.

Grading of assessment

Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:

We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.

You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.

You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.

Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating  has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.

In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work. 

When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer. 

Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.

Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.

Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.

Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the Notices Newsgroup in the Unit Website. Check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.

Consultation Times

By making an appointment.

If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:

Ms Helana Scheepers
Senior Lecturer
Phone +61 3 990 31066
Fax +61 3 990 44124

Dr David Albrecht
Senior Lecturer
Phone +61 3 990 55526
Fax +61 3 990 55157

All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.