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  2. Research Preparation: Principles and Approaches [RES5115]

School: Science

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

    Research Preparation: Principles and Approaches

  • Unit Code

    RES5115

  • Unit Type

    Learning Unit

  • Year

    2027

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    7

  • Credit Points

    20

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Eben AFRIFA-YAMOAH

Description

The unit introduces the principles underlying the theory of knowledge and how this affects the approaches taken in research, before addressing the principles of research design. Students are exposed to a range of specific research methods covering quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and practice-led research. The unit considers issues and methods relevant to various forms of research, as well as the gathering, analysis and presentation of findings. The unit provides students with a foundation on which they will be expected to build for their research study. Please note that the practice-led research stream is only available in Semester 1.

Capabilities

In this unit, students will be developing the following capabilities:

  1. Critical Thinking
  2. Creative Thinking
  3. Information Literacy
  4. Cultural Respect
  5. Communication
  6. AI Literacy

Unit Content

  1. Communicating research.
  2. Construction and framing of research questions, aims, hypotheses.
  3. Criteria for evaluating a research study.
  4. Critical thinking and the construction of arguments.
  5. Ontology, Epistemology and theoretical frameworks.
  6. Research Design.
  7. Research Process and the use and citing of literature.
  8. Research methods: qualitative, quantitative and other approaches; principles, terminology and analysis of different types of research data; strengths and limitations of different methodologies.

Learning Experience

MIXED MODE

On-campus attendance at scheduled classes in designated weeks is expected, intermitted with periods of online learning.

This is a Learning Unit. Learning Units engage students in regular learning activities to develop their knowledge, skills, and capabilities. The learning activities provide each student with feedback to support their development, and create evidence for each student’s progress towards achieving the learning outcomes of the course.

Additional Learning Experience Information

lectures, workshops, discussion groups

Unit Completion Requirements

GS2 GRADING SCHEMA 2 Used for Undifferentiated Pass/Fail units inc. practical units or work-integrated learning

Mandatory Learning Activities

Type Title
2. SUBMISSIONContribute to discussion of mini-study design using 1) quantitative, 2) qualitative, 3) mixed-methods and 4) practice-led research approaches. Each student is required to contribute 2 discussion board posts.
2. SUBMISSIONCritical engagement with core module concepts to support research conceptualisation, evidence synthesis, and literature critique.
2. SUBMISSIONCompletion of a stream-specific research task that demonstrates competence in the application of quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, or practice-led research approaches.

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.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

  • Plagiarism: Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).
  • Unauthorised collaboration (collusion): Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).
  • Contract cheating: Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.
  • Cheating in an exam: Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Academic Integrity in Learning Units

The University is committed to creating an academic environment in which learning with integrity means engaging honestly, responsibly and ethically with the curriculum. Engaging in academic misconduct undermines this commitment, impedes the development of authentic knowledge and skills, and prevents meaningful learning. Academic integrity is therefore essential to the learning process and to the value of the qualifications awarded by the University.

Academic Integrity in a Learning Unit includes:

  • Following the guidance for Artificial Intelligence in your unit, taking responsibility for the validity of any information you get from AI tools, and always acknowledging your use fully and accurately;
  • Completing your own work, without copying from others or asking other people to do your work for you;
  • Referencing your sources of information accurately;
  • Attending classes and engaging with the learning materials and feedback.

Your teaching staff will provide feedback if they have concerns that you are not acting with integrity in your learning. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are completing your work ethically.

Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply for an extension in accordance with ECU policy and procedure - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in ECU policy and procedure - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

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