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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

8

Level of learning

Advanced

Former School/College

Former School of Law and Justice

Pre-requisites

LAW00520 - The Philosophy of Law AND LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing

Unit aim

Introduces researchers studying or working in the field of law to the range of theoretical and epistemological frameworks which may inform different types of legal research and to the methods and methodologies which may be employed in the legal research process. Provides students with the practical skills necessary to enable them to carry out and produce well designed and articulated research projects.

Unit content

1. Orientation: The nature of research; Types of research; Theoretical paradigms and frameworks.
2. The processes of research: Planning and design Identifying the scope and range of a research project; The research design; Research methods and methodologies; Formulating research questions; Articulating research aims; The ethics of research.
3. The processes of research: Working with data; Data collection methods; Interpreting and analysing data; Literature reviews.
4. Reflection and writing: Writing a synopsis; Identification and articulation of theoretical frameworks; Identification and articulation of methodology; Writing the text; Citation and referencing; Articulating outcomes and conclusions; Research dissemination.

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: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 be able to justify and interpret theoretical propositions and conduct scholarly legal research.
2 demonstrate an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making and an ability to recognise, reflect upon, and respond to ethical issues in a research context.
3 communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for scholarly audiences.
4 capacity to apply an understanding of Australian Indigenous, cultural, social, political, environmental and gender issues to all aspects of legal scholarship.
5 plan, develop and deliver an effective project presentation.
6 develop a comprehensive research proposal.

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

  1. be able to justify and interpret theoretical propositions and conduct scholarly legal research.
    • GA1:
  2. demonstrate an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making and an ability to recognise, reflect upon, and respond to ethical issues in a research context.
    • GA3:
  3. communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for scholarly audiences.
    • GA6:
  4. capacity to apply an understanding of Australian Indigenous, cultural, social, political, environmental and gender issues to all aspects of legal scholarship.
    • GA7:
  5. plan, develop and deliver an effective project presentation.
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:
  6. develop a comprehensive research proposal.
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:

Prescribed texts

  • Jonathan Grix, 2010, The Foundations of Research, 2nd edn, Palgrave MacMillan.
  • Reza Banakar and Max Travers (eds), 2005, Theory and Method in Socio-Legal Research, Hart Publishing.
  • Terry Hutchinson, 2010, Research and writing in law, 3rd edn, Thomson Reuters.
  • W Lawrence Neuman, 2013, Social Research Methods, 7th edn, Pearson.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.