The aim of this unit is to prepare Honours students in the Faculty of IT to conduct research across the range of IT disciplines, including computer science, software engineering, information systems and information management.
It introduces students to major research philosophies and paradigms, the principles of research design, research ethics, and research methods and techniques of data collection and analysis appropriate to IT research and their discipline.
Skills developed and knowledge acquired from this unit will prepare students to conduct and communicate their own research, as well as to be knowledgeable and critical interpreters of others' research.
Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
(b.) Additional requirements (all students):
ITW4001, IMS5036, IMS4036, BUS5000, CSE4910, GCO4010, CSE4650, FIT5125, FIT5143, FIT5185, FIT5190
Foundation knowledge in computer science or business information systems or information technology and systems fundamentals.
Professor Frada Burstein
Consultation hours: TBA
Dr Noriaki Sato
Consultation hours: TBA
Professor David Green
Consultation hours: By appointment
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. The University’s student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash’s educational strategy, see:
www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/ and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
Student feedback has highlighted the need for topics that are most appropriate to their area of study. To help achieve this, the unit has been restructured as a series of workshops. By offering elective modules, the schedule allows students to choose between alternatives and pick topics of greatest relevance.
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Workshop 1 - THE NATURE OF RESEARCH - Major research paradigms and philosophies; Introductory examples and exercises | Exercises in class, Portfolio of practical work (Assignment 2) due Weekly (each workshop) |
| 2 | Workshop 2 - RESEARCH PROJECT DESIGN - The context of research; Structure of a project; Formulating research questions; Applying paradigms; Planning a path from question to result; Issues in research (ethics, IP, copyright etc) | Exercises in class |
| 3 | Workshop 3 - RESEARCH LITERATURE - How to conduct a literature search; How to prepare a literature review | Exercises in class |
| 4 | Workshop 4 - RESEARCH PROPOSALS - Structure and content of a research proposal | Exercises in class |
| 5 | Workshop 5 - COMMUNICATION OF RESEARCH - Research publishing; Types of outputs; Academic writing (including literature reviews); Oral communication | Exercises in class |
| 6 | Workshop 6 - NATURE OF EVIDENCE - Introduction to data collection and analysis; Use of online resources as data | Exercises in class || Assignment 1 presentation |
| 7 | Workshop 7 - Quantitative data analysis 1 - Introduction to probability statistics | Exercises in class |
| 8 | Elective Workshops - OPTION (a) Evidence- experimental design II OPTION (b) Qualitative data collection and analysis | Exercises in class |
| 9 | Elective Workshops - OPTION (a) Quantitative data analysis 2 (Introduction to probability statistics 2) || OPTION (b) Design Science Research - in conjunction with FIT4007 | Exercises in class |
| 10 | Elective Workshops - OPTION (a) Quantitative data analysis 3 (Correlation and regression || OPTION (b) Design Science Research II - in conjunction with FIT4007 | Exercises in class |
| 11 | Elective Workshops - OPTION (a) Algorithms and evaluation || OPTION (b) Action Research I - in conjunction with FIT4007 | Exercises in class |
| 12 | Elective Workshops - OPTION (a) Simulation || OPTION (b) Action Research I - in conjunction with FIT4007 | Exercises in class || Assignment 2 finishes this week, Assignment 3 presentation |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC. Assignment 3 due week 14 | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.
In-semester assessment: 100%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1: Critical analysis of published material | 10% | Week 6, Friday, 5pm |
| Assignment 2: Portfolio of practical work | 60% | Weekly (each workshop). Completed by Week 12, Friday 5pm |
| Assignment 3: Mini-research project | 30%, including 10% presentation | Presentation in Week 12, Project due Week 14, Friday 5pm |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see resources and tutorials at http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/
Full participation in the tutorials and labs is expected and will be formally assessed via Assignment 2, in which students submit a portfolio of their practical work.
Working in groups is encouraged, both during practical classes, and in the project assignment. The aim is both to facilitate learning and to expose students to team research, which is a common feature of most modern research. When working in groups, each member is expected to participate fully and contribute to the work of the group. As part of the assessment, each student will be required to name and acknowledge their collaborators and submit a statement about group management and members' individual contribution.
The assignment will be assessed by:
In most workshops, the assessment will consist of lab exercises and other activities undertaken during class. Work will be assessed either during class or when written work is submitted at the end of the workshop. In workshops involving group exercises, each team member will submit their work individually.
Most of the tasks in this assignment will be assesse on the student's ability to correctly perform the tasks, and interpret the findings.
The assignment will be assessed by:
Leedy P.D. & Ormrod J.E. (2013) Practical Research: Planning and Design, Pearson.
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Neuman, W.L. (2005). Social research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Zikmund, W.G., Babin, B.J., Carr, J.C., & Griffin, M. (2010). Business Research Methods (8th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning.
Williamson, Kirsty & Johanson, Graeme (Eds) (2013) Research Methods Information, Systems and Contexts. Tilde UP.
Earlier editions of research methods texts are also useful. For example, references to Neuman in some of the weeks below refer to the 2000 4th edition. Later and earlier editions have similar material but it may be in different chapter numbers.
Lists of additional readings will be provided for each lecture. See Moodle for further details.
Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Faculty of Information Technology Style Guide
Examination/other end-of-semester assessment feedback may take the form of feedback classes, provision of sample answers or other group feedback after official results have been published. Please check with your lecturer on the feedback provided and take advantage of this prior to requesting individual consultations with staff. If your unit has an examination, you may request to view your examination script booklet, see http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/procedures/request-to-view-exam-scripts.html
Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html
All assignments should use APA style for referencing.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.
Electronic Submission is required for this unit. Please submit your work via the MOODLE site for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal. Standard assignment cover sheet has to be signed and submitted with each written assignment to confirm the proper acknowledgement of the resources used in the text.
Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.
Students may be required to use Web browsers, text processing, spread sheets and slide presentation packages to complete their assignments.
These are available in University computer labs.
Leedy, Paul D.and Ormond, Jeanne E.. (2013). Practical Research - Planning and Design.. () Pearson (ISBN: 13: 978-0-13-289950-5).
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash’s Education Policies at: www.policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at http://www.monash.edu.au/students. For Malaysia see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/.
The Monash University Library provides a range of services, resources and programs that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Malaysia, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.