Availabilities:

2021 unit offering information will be available in September 2020

Unit description

Introduces students to the principles, objectives and methods of social research. Develops practical skills in reviewing literature, constructing research questions and writing up research for publication. Students practice reading published research and analysing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data. They will conduct a small piece of research of their own design.

Unit content

Topic 1. Developing knowledge/working in a group
Topic 2. Research design: Principles and stages of research
Topic 3. Developing research questions/objectives
Topic 4. Reading and understanding research reports and journal articles
Topic 5. Variables and their measurement: qualitative data
Topic 6. Data collection and recording; Ethics
Topic 7. Managing and coding qualitative data
Topic 8. Variables and their measurement: quantitative data
Topic 9. Summarising and presenting data
Topic 10. Disseminating research findings

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1identify an author's research question, primary methods and key findings in published research articlesIntellectual rigour
2compose a research questionCommunication and social skills
3construct a well-integrated literature reviewCommunication and social skills
4construct valid interview questionsCommunication and social skills
5code data thematically and categoricallyEthical practice
6explain the use of tables and graphsEthical practice
7write a research article.Ethical practice

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. identify an author's research question, primary methods and key findings in published research articles
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
  2. compose a research question
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  3. construct a well-integrated literature review
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  4. construct valid interview questions
    • GA6: Communication and social skills
  5. code data thematically and categorically
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  6. explain the use of tables and graphs
    • GA3: Ethical practice
  7. write a research article.
    • GA3: Ethical practice

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2021 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 1

Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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