Students

STAT8990 – Master of Research - Statistics

2020 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Catherine Penington
catherine.penington@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
12WW 718
Please refer to iLearn
Co-convenor
Richard Garner
richard.garner@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
12WW 717
Please refer to iLearn
Credit points Credit points
80
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The 8000-level components of the Master of Research (Year 2) are not designed around units. The thesis together with four core research activities form a single coherent research program based on individual research plans and will consist of the following: (1) Research Frontiers 2: You will attend a number of department or faculty-run sessions and engage in a program of activities developing your knowledge of the sub-disciplinary field in which you want to situate your own research; (2) Literature Review: You will attend sessions explaining how researchers in your field engage with previous research literature, and produce a draft of your own literature review for your thesis; (3) Research Methods: With other students and led by academic staff, you will develop the research methods you will use in your research project; (4) Research Planning: Through a combination of group sessions and individual work with your supervision team, you will develop a plan for a large scale research project, part of which will be completed in the MRes; and (5) Thesis: You will complete a small research project, and write it up in a short thesis of about 20,000 words.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: develop their individual research projects in the context of the latest research developments in their field.
  • ULO2: situate their individual research project within its broader research context, reviewing associated issues, debates and methodologies.
  • ULO3: make strategic decisions about how to approach their individual research problem.
  • ULO4: develop a major research plan, of up to 4 years scope, and with a pilot project that can be completed during the MRes year
  • ULO5: complete a research project in order to demonstrate individual research capability and the potential to conduct a major (PhD-scale) research project.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research Planning 0% Yes 18th September
Literature Review 0% No 13th November
Poster Presentation 10% No Second week of December (TBC)
Participating in weekly departmental colloquium 0% Yes 18th December
Research Methods 0% Yes 28th February
MRes Thesis 90% No Individual EWS date

Research Planning

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 18th September
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Candidates will receive training in project management and plan a major research project.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • develop a major research plan, of up to 4 years scope, and with a pilot project that can be completed during the MRes year

Literature Review

Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 13th November
Weighting: 0%

Candidates will survey the current literature relating to their individual research project.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • make strategic decisions about how to approach their individual research problem.

Poster Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Second week of December (TBC)
Weighting: 10%

Student will prepare a poster presentation explaining their current research.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • develop their individual research projects in the context of the latest research developments in their field.

Participating in weekly departmental colloquium

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: 18th December
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Participation in colloquium will be assessed by departmental staff. Students must actively participate in at least 80% of the colloquium.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • develop their individual research projects in the context of the latest research developments in their field.
  • situate their individual research project within its broader research context, reviewing associated issues, debates and methodologies.

Research Methods

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 28th February
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Departments will confirm candidates have adequately demonstrated their understanding and skills in appropriate research methodologies, and are able to critically analyse their use in comparison with alternative methods. Departments will report a satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade, as confirmation of your completion of this Activity.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • make strategic decisions about how to approach their individual research problem.

MRes Thesis

Assessment Type 1: Thesis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 140 hours
Due: Individual EWS date
Weighting: 90%

Candidates will complete an individual research project, incorporating all listed activities and culminating in a single coherent thesis. The thesis will be examined externally by two examiners.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • develop their individual research projects in the context of the latest research developments in their field.
  • situate their individual research project within its broader research context, reviewing associated issues, debates and methodologies.
  • make strategic decisions about how to approach their individual research problem.
  • develop a major research plan, of up to 4 years scope, and with a pilot project that can be completed during the MRes year
  • complete a research project in order to demonstrate individual research capability and the potential to conduct a major (PhD-scale) research project.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

There are no lectures or tutorials for this unit. All work is under the direction of the MRes advisor and thesis supervisor.

Policies and Procedures

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:

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).

Student Code of Conduct

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

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

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.