School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Methods of Inquiry
  • Unit Code

    CMM6116
  • Year

    2016
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit introduces a suite of research methodologies which will equip communications, media and design students to research at postgraduate level. Rather than offering recipes for methods, it will provide a challenging environment to explore the epistemological origins of methodology. Students will investigate the possibilities offered by emerging, as well as traditional, methodologies and develop reflexive practices. This unit will uncover the dynamic relationships between analysis, interpretation and effective research writing.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded CMM5114, CMM5116

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain discourses surrounding academic research.
  2. Demonstrate specific knowledge about methodologies by appropriate choices for projects.
  3. Devise data collection strategies or design practical investigations appropriate to a program of communication, media or design research.
  4. Analyse and interpret information gathered using different methodological approaches.
  5. Evaluate and write about research methodology to academic publication standard.

Unit Content

  1. Discourses of inquiry and epistemological perspectives.
  2. Research questions, methods choices and research program plans.
  3. Methodologies applied to research in communication, media and design contexts:
    - Interpretive/qualitative methods
    - Evaluation and testing methods
    - Action/participatory methods
    - Arts-based/practice-led methods
    - Reflexivity across methods
  4. Analytical and interpretive techniques.
  5. Research writing for academic publication.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, Seminars and Workshops.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Research Paper ^Methodology Research Assignment40%
Journal ^Tutorial Journal60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Research Paper ^Methodology Research Assignment40%
Journal ^Tutorial Journal60%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References


  • Alvesson, M., & Skoldberg, K. (2014). Reflexive methodology: New vistas for qualitative research. (2nd ed.). London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
  • Babbie, E. (2010). The practice of social research. (12th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth.
  • Creswell, J.W. (2012). Qualitative inquiry & research design : Choosing among five approaches. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Crouch, C. & Pearce, J. (2012). Doing research in design. London, United Kingdom: Berg.
  • de Vaus, D.A. (2014). Surverys in social research. (6th ed.) Crows Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
  • Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.). (2011). The Sage handbook of qualitative research. (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2004). Visualizing research: A guide to the research process in art and design. Farnham, United Kingdom: Ashgate.
  • Sullivan, G. (2010). Art practice as research: Inquiry in visual arts. (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Wimmer, R.D., & Dominick, J.R. (2013). Mass media research: An introduction. (10th ed.). Belmont: Cengage Learning.
  • ^
    Edith Cowan University. (2010). CMM5116 Methods of inquiry: Book of Readings. Perth, Australia: Edith Cowan University.

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM6116|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Methods of Inquiry
  • Unit Code

    CMM6116
  • Year

    2016
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit introduces a suite of research methodologies which will equip communications, media and design students to research at postgraduate level. Rather than offering recipes for methods, it will provide a challenging environment to explore the epistemological origins of methodology. Students will investigate the possibilities offered by emerging, as well as traditional, methodologies and develop reflexive practices. This unit will uncover the dynamic relationships between analysis, interpretation and effective research writing.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded CMM5114, CMM5116

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain discourses surrounding academic research.
  2. Demonstrate specific knowledge about methodologies by appropriate choices for projects.
  3. Devise data collection strategies or design practical investigations appropriate to a program of communication, media or design research.
  4. Analyse and interpret information gathered using different methodological approaches.
  5. Evaluate and write about research methodology to academic publication standard.

Unit Content

  1. Discourses of inquiry and epistemological perspectives.
  2. Research questions, methods choices and research program plans.
  3. Methodologies applied to research in communication, media and design contexts:
    - Interpretive/qualitative methods
    - Evaluation and testing methods
    - Action/participatory methods
    - Arts-based/practice-led methods
    - Reflexivity across methods
  4. Analytical and interpretive techniques.
  5. Research writing for academic publication.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, Seminars and Workshops.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Research Paper ^Methodology Research Assignment40%
Journal ^Tutorial Journal60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Research Paper ^Methodology Research Assignment40%
Journal ^Tutorial Journal60%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References


  • Alvesson, M., & Skoldberg, K. (2014). Reflexive methodology: New vistas for qualitative research. (2nd ed.). London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.
  • Babbie, E. (2010). The practice of social research. (12th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth.
  • Creswell, J.W. (2012). Qualitative inquiry & research design : Choosing among five approaches. (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Crouch, C. & Pearce, J. (2012). Doing research in design. London, United Kingdom: Berg.
  • de Vaus, D.A. (2014). Surverys in social research. (6th ed.) Crows Nest, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
  • Denzin, N.K., & Lincoln, Y.S. (Eds.). (2011). The Sage handbook of qualitative research. (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Gray, C., & Malins, J. (2004). Visualizing research: A guide to the research process in art and design. Farnham, United Kingdom: Ashgate.
  • Sullivan, G. (2010). Art practice as research: Inquiry in visual arts. (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Wimmer, R.D., & Dominick, J.R. (2013). Mass media research: An introduction. (10th ed.). Belmont: Cengage Learning.
  • ^
    Edith Cowan University. (2010). CMM5116 Methods of inquiry: Book of Readings. Perth, Australia: Edith Cowan University.

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM6116|1|2