This unit introduces students to the issues, concepts, methods and techniques associated with IT research in general and those most commonly used for research in computer science. It covers research methodologies, data collection and analysis, ethical and professional issues and oral and written communication skills.
Skills developed and knowledge acquired from this unit will prepare students to conduct and to communicate their own research, as well as to be knowledgeable consumers 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):
See also Unit timetable information
The two hours of lectures and two hours of tutorial will be delivered as two 2-hour workshops per week.
Enrolment in course 4310
David Green
Consultation hours: By appointment
Dr Noriaki Sato
Consultation hours: TBA
Associate Professor Graeme Johanson
Consultation hours: TBA
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
Feedback from past students reveal that the most rewarding aspects of the unit are learning about critical thinking and creative thinking, and gaining practical eperience on real research projects.
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 | Module1 - THE NATURE OF RESEARCH - Major research paradigms and philosophies; Introductory examples and exercises | Exercises in class, Portfolio of practical work due Weekly (each workshop) |
| 2 | Module 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 | Module 3 - RESEARCH LITERATURE - How to conduct a literature search; How to prepare a literature review | Exercises in class |
| 4 | Module 4 - RESEARCH PROPOSALS - Structure and content of a research proposal | Exercises in class |
| 5 | Module 5 - COMMUNICATION OF RESEARCH - Research publishing; Types of outputs; Academic writing (including literature reviews); Oral communication | Exercises in class |
| 6 | Module 6 - NATURE OF EVIDENCE - Introduction to data collection and analysis; Use of online resources as data | Exercises in class |
| 7 | Module 7 - QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS 1 - Introduction to probability statistics | Exercises in class; Assignment on critical analysis of published material due Friday, 5pm |
| 8 | Module 8 - NATURE OF EVIDENCE - experimental design | Exercises in class |
| 9 | Module 9 - QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS 2 (Introduction to probability statistics 2) | Exercises in class |
| 10 | Module 10 QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS 3 (Correlation and regression) | Exercises in class |
| 11 | Module 11 - ALGORITHMS AND EVALUATION | Exercises in class |
| 12 | Module 12 - SIMULATION | Exercises in class, Portfolio of practical work completed by Friday 5pm, Mini-research project presentation in Week 12 |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC. Mini-research project due Week 14, Friday 5pm | |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio of practical work | 40% | Weekly until week 12. Work from each module to be submitted by 5pm Friday of the week in which the module runs. |
| Critical analysis of published material | 20% | Week 7, Friday 5pm |
| Mini-research project | 40% | Presentation in Week 12, written report 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 Assessment task 1 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, to submit a statement about group management and contribution.
In most workshops, the assessment will consist of lab exercises and other activities undertaken during class. Some workshops will be individual exercies; others will involve group exercises, with a single submission for the team.Work will be assessed either during class or when written work is submitted at the end of the workshop. Most of the tasks in this assignment will be assessed on the student's ability to correctly perform the tasks, and interpret the findings.
The assignment will be assessed by:
The assignment will be assessed by:
Zikmund, WG, Babin BJ, Carr JC, Griffin M. (2010). Business Research Methods (8th Edition) South-Western (Cengage Learning). ISBN-13: 978-0-324-32062-6
Creswell, John W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd Edition). ISBN: 9781412965576
Neuman, W. Lawrence Neuman (2006). Social Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, Pearson.
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
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 electronic submission). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.
Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library.
Paul D.and Ormond, Jeanne E. (2013). Practical Research - Planning and Design. () Pearson (ISBN: 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
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/.