Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Wendy Goldstein
Contact via wendy.goldstein@mq.edu.au
12 Wallys Walk (E7A) Fifth Floor Room 505
Open: By appointment
Lecturer
Richard Horsfield
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MEnvEd or MSc or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MSusDev or MEnvPlan or MEnv or MSocEntre or GradDipEnv or GradCertEnv or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or GradCertSIA or GradDipSIA or MPH or MScInnovation
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides an overview of the role of research in sustainable development and in research paradigms and methods. Students will have practical experience of processing and communicating quantitative and qualitative data to guide action. The unit will emphasise action research providing students with an opportunity to explore, at a practical level, how action research can be used as a tool to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Students will develop skills in research planning, literature review and writing a research funding proposal. Students will be introduced to the ethical considerations and processes of undertaking research. The unit provides students with a broad understanding of the comparative usefulness of different research methods for sustainable development.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
The assessments in this unit are oriented to work practice.
1. Writing and presenting a mini consultant report. The style of writing is appropriate to informing a client of the results of surveys undertaken in an organisation, and recommending the next steps based on the research.
2. Preparing a survey: You might use a survey in an organisation you are working in to guide strategy planning, or sustainability actions
3. Applying for a grant: Many organisations apply for grants to assist them in their work. Grants are available from both government and philanthropic organisations.
4. A literature review which provides the context for the project, develops skills of making a case for a project supported with your ideas supported by academic literature (evidence based reporting).
5. Presenting and defending a proposal
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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1. Research methodology | 15% | No | August 26 |
2. Research Proposal | 25% | No | September 20 |
3. Funding Proposal | 50% | No | 31 October |
4. Data Analysis & Report | 10% | No | 13th November |
Due: August 26
Weighting: 15%
Your task is to analyse the elements of two research papers (to be advised) to demonstrate an understanding of the purposes of research, the research philosophy, research design, ethical principles, analysis of data and conclusions in relation to sustainable development.
Due: September 20
Weighting: 25%
This assignment requires students to prepare a research project proposal (draft) for a sustainable development issue with an action research method. This task includes: a) a summary of a research project for sustainable development; b.) a poster; c.) a short literature review; d.) presentation of the research plan.
Due: 31 October
Weighting: 50%
In this assignment you are expected to submit a completed funding proposal for an action research project for sustainable development. You are required to provide the proposal in the format of a grant organisation. The second component is to provide a separate literature review to justify your research proposal topic and approach.
Due: 13th November
Weighting: 10%
This assignment provides practice in analysing data from a survey - both quantitative and qualitative. The other skills to be demonstrated are being able to present the results in a mini consultant report in a manner that is helpful to a client, and forming recommendations based on the findings. Details of the data will be provided on ilearn and explained in the class session.
The unit is taught by weekly evening sessions of three hours.
The three hour sessions will consist of short presentations to introduce a theme or idea; discussion groups on short class assignments based on readings, or activities to develop skills, or understanding of the research design process. The unit is being taught in an active learning space encouraging participation through out.
The last 2 sessions require you to bring your computer to work on excel to process data.
The main emphasis of the unit is oriented to assisting you to prepare and submit a research funding proposal, providing practice in designing research and in applying for funds. Students practice the following skills through the assignments, in class discussions and delivery:
The unit requires the student to read widely to understand the research process, the role of research for sustainable development, the role of the researcher in the research process, the ethics of research, the ways research is designed, and how it will be evaluated.
Further instructions on assignments and reading are provided through ilearn.
Some key resources include:
Action Research Journal (Sage)
ALAR: Action Learning and Action Research Journal
Educational Action Research (Journal)
Bryman A. 2012 Social research methods Oxford University Press - provides a good overview of social research, methodology and good details on methods.
Ferrance, A 2000 Action Research Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory At Brown University (this is a brief introduction to Action Research in Education) https://www.brown.edu/academics/education-alliance/sites/brown.edu.academics.education-alliance/files/publications/act_research.pdf
Greenwood D. & Levin M 1998 Introduction to action research: Social research for social change Sage - These authors take a pragmatic view of action research oriented to organisational change and consultancy in management
Kemmis S. McTaggart R Nixon R. 2014 The Action Research Planner Doing Critical Participatory Action Research Springer - This reference by Australian and Canadian researchers is oriented to action research in education with a particular focus on critical participatory action research. Practical structures are provided and questions to guide the researcher are included. There are several case studies from the education sector.
Stringer E.T 1996 Action research: A handbook for practitioners Thousand Oaks Sage - This Australian author draws on experience in community action research and education
Wadsworth Y 2011 Do it yourself social research (3rd ed) Allen and Unwin - This reference provides a practical guide to planning and managing a community based action research project, written in an accessible form.
Wadsworth Y. 2010 Building in Research and Evaluation Human Inquiry for living systems Allen and Unwin - This reference builds on the above and provides a deeper theory of how we can inquire. A valuable series of research questions and case studies from the human health services field are included
Zuber-Skerritt, O (ed) 1990 . Action research for change and development Nathan, Qld. : Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching, Griffith University
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
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Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
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Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
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Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
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