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Unit of Study SCIN4003 - Scientific Research Context, Perspective and Methods 2 (2024)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    N/A

Unit description

Introduces science Honours students to the range of theoretical frameworks which may inform different types of scientific research and to the methods and methodologies which may be employed in the scientific research process. Encourages students to acquire the skills necessary to carry out, produce and report well designed and articulated research proposals and projects.

Unit content

  1. Orientation: the nature of research; types of research.

  2. The processes of developing a research project: planning and design; identifying the scope and range of a research project; the research design; research methods; formulating research questions; articulating research aims; the ethics of research.

  3. Writing a research proposal: identification and articulation of theoretical frameworks and knowledge gaps relevant to your topic; literature reviews, identification and articulation of methodology; writing the text; citation and referencing; articulating expected outcomes; budget justification.

  4. Introduction to research dissemination skills (scientific writing).

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term1,2,3,4,5
Term1,2,3,4,5
Lismore
Term1,2,3,4,5
Term1,2,3,4,5
National Marine Science Centre Coffs Harbour
Term1,2,3,4,5
Term1,2,3,4,5
Online
Term1,2,3,4,5
N/A

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.

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

critically evaluate techniques and methods used in scientific research

demonstrate awareness of current scientific issues and methods

integrate scientific and management concepts and theories

develop a well designed and articulated research proposal including project summary, project description and budget.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Individual students will be guided towards prescribed texts by their project supervisor since each project is individually supervised and each topic will require specific texts: Similarly, students will be guided towards readings by their project supervisor., All students should, however, read widely in their discipline regarding both substantive content and methodological approaches.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Each project will have its own specialist requirements regarding required equipment, protective clothing and tools. Students will be guided by their project supervisors regarding such requirements. In some cases, students will be provided equipment, protective clothing and tools as required, whereas in other cases, students may need to provide their own equipment, protective clothing and tools. This will be discussed between individual students and their project supervisor. In all cases, students must adhere to any rules and regulations regarding compulsory protective clothing and other workplace health and safety requirements. Students ignoring workplace health and safety clothing and equipment requirements in laboratories, the field and other prescribed places will face disciplinary proceedings. All students working in laboratories or in the field will be required to complete the relevant induction, risk assessment and other obligatory processes. These will prescribe obligatory equipment, protective clothing and tools.

  • There are no prescribed online resources for this unit, since each project is individually supervised and will have different online requirements. Students will be guided towards appropriate online resources by their project supervisor. All students should, however, explore the relevant range of online resources, especially from the perspective of their discipline regarding both substantive content and methodological approaches. 

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Each project will have its own specialist requirements regarding required equipment, protective clothing and tools. Students will be guided by their project supervisors regarding such requirements. In some cases, students will be provided equipment, protective clothing and tools as required, whereas in other cases, students may need to provide their own equipment, protective clothing and tools. This will be discussed between individual students and their project supervisor. In all cases, students must adhere to any rules and regulations regarding compulsory protective clothing and other workplace health and safety requirements. Students ignoring workplace health and safety clothing and equipment requirements in laboratories, the field and other prescribed places will face disciplinary proceedings. All students working in laboratories or in the field will be required to complete the relevant induction, risk assessment and other obligatory processes. These will prescribe obligatory equipment, protective clothing and tools.

  • There are no prescribed online resources for this unit, since each project is individually supervised and will have different online requirements. Students will be guided towards appropriate online resources by their project supervisor. All students should, however, explore the relevant range of online resources, especially from the perspective of their discipline regarding both substantive content and methodological approaches. 

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Each project will have its own specialist requirements regarding required equipment, protective clothing and tools. Students will be guided by their project supervisors regarding such requirements. In some cases, students will be provided equipment, protective clothing and tools as required, whereas in other cases, students may need to provide their own equipment, protective clothing and tools. This will be discussed between individual students and their project supervisor. In all cases, students must adhere to any rules and regulations regarding compulsory protective clothing and other workplace health and safety requirements. Students ignoring workplace health and safety clothing and equipment requirements in laboratories, the field and other prescribed places will face disciplinary proceedings. All students working in laboratories or in the field will be required to complete the relevant induction, risk assessment and other obligatory processes. These will prescribe obligatory equipment, protective clothing and tools.

  • There are no prescribed online resources for this unit, since each project is individually supervised and will have different online requirements. Students will be guided towards appropriate online resources by their project supervisor. All students should, however, explore the relevant range of online resources, especially from the perspective of their discipline regarding both substantive content and methodological approaches. 

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Each project will have its own specialist requirements regarding required equipment, protective clothing and tools. Students will be guided by their project supervisors regarding such requirements. In some cases, students will be provided equipment, protective clothing and tools as required, whereas in other cases, students may need to provide their own equipment, protective clothing and tools. This will be discussed between individual students and their project supervisor. In all cases, students must adhere to any rules and regulations regarding compulsory protective clothing and other workplace health and safety requirements. Students ignoring workplace health and safety clothing and equipment requirements in laboratories, the field and other prescribed places will face disciplinary proceedings. All students working in laboratories or in the field will be required to complete the relevant induction, risk assessment and other obligatory processes. These will prescribe obligatory equipment, protective clothing and tools.

  • There are no prescribed online resources for this unit, since each project is individually supervised and will have different online requirements. Students will be guided towards appropriate online resources by their project supervisor. All students should, however, explore the relevant range of online resources, especially from the perspective of their discipline regarding both substantive content and methodological approaches. 

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment

  • Each project will have its own specialist requirements regarding required equipment, protective clothing and tools. Students will be guided by their project supervisors regarding such requirements. In some cases, students will be provided equipment, protective clothing and tools as required, whereas in other cases, students may need to provide their own equipment, protective clothing and tools. This will be discussed between individual students and their project supervisor. In all cases, students must adhere to any rules and regulations regarding compulsory protective clothing and other workplace health and safety requirements. Students ignoring workplace health and safety clothing and equipment requirements in laboratories, the field and other prescribed places will face disciplinary proceedings. All students working in laboratories or in the field will be required to complete the relevant induction, risk assessment and other obligatory processes. These will prescribe obligatory equipment, protective clothing and tools.

  • There are no prescribed online resources for this unit, since each project is individually supervised and will have different online requirements. Students will be guided towards appropriate online resources by their project supervisor. All students should, however, explore the relevant range of online resources, especially from the perspective of their discipline regarding both substantive content and methodological approaches. 

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.