GEOP8000 is an individualised unit of study. To successfully complete the unit, you must complete the learning contract negotiated with your supervisor at a standard of performance that is appropriate to postgraduate study. 

To develop your learning contract please contact Dr Greg Walkerden, the unit convenor, prior to or as soon as you enrol in this unit (greg.walkerden@mq.edu.au).

Assessment and individual task assessment dates will be determined in the learning contract.  As a postgraduate unit it is suggested that the word length of the combined assessment tasks comes to approximately 5,000 words - however this may be adjusted according to the project and activity. Suggested configurations include study options A, B, C or D, as detailed above. Students need to select one of these four study options in discussion with their supervisor. 

Assessment of your performance in GEOP8000 will be agreed in your learning contract and marking criteria will be available through iLearn. You should keep a copy of your learning contract and ensure that your supervisor has a signed copy of the contract. 

All assignments must be submitted directly to your university supervisor via email as a word document and submitted via the relevant Turnitin link in the GEOP8000 iLearn site. The submission dates for the assessment tasks will be negotiated with your supervisor, but all tasks must be completed by the end of week 13 in the semester of offer. You must keep a clean electronic copy of your assignments.

In the event that you are unlikely to meet one of the assessment deadlines negotiated with your supervisor, you should discuss this with your supervisor or via email and request, with appropriate documentation and explanation, an extension before the deadline falls. If an extension is not requested or granted prior to the assessment deadline you must submit a Special Consideration request otherwise (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. 

Learning and teaching processes

The overall aim of the unit is to support students in developing and demonstrating the skills and understanding necessary to undertake research in the disciplines of geography and planning.  In this unit students will be introduced to the task of developing research aims and questions, identifying and building upon relevant literature, and addressing questions of research methods, research ethics and research practice.  GEOP8000 provides a useful introduction to research practice and for students who may be interested in a Master of Research.

GEOP8000 is a supervised research unit (or work practice unit) in which you will be allocated to an individual supervisor who you will meet on a regular basis throughout semester. It is a requirement of the unit that the details of your project, assessment and supervision procedure are negotiated as a formal learning contract, signed by yourself and your supervisor and a signed copy provided to the unit convenor. Your supervisor will also be selected on the basis of your research topic and supervisor availability.  The unit provides a flexible framework for supporting research training, research development and small-scale research projects by students in a variety of postgraduate programs.

There is no set reading for GEOP810. Supervisors may provide a specific topic-based reading list, but as a research unit, it is anticipated that part of the task is to demonstrate your skills in searching and documenting literature relevant to your topic.

Using the iLearn site

The Unit's iLearn site is fundamental to delivery of the Unit.  Read it carefully to prepare for this unit. Any adaptations to Unit delivery that arise from Covid-19 will be documented there.

Using the research literature

Citing peer reviewed research is essential for all assignments. Access peer reviewed journal articles through the University Library’s website; use MultiSearch. Google Scholar is an excellent starting point. If you are off-campus, accessing Google Scholar from the university library's home page (see link below the Search box) will make it easier to get to journal articles. 

The following databases of journal articles accessible through the University Library are also particularly recommended:

• Academic Search Premier
• JSTOR
• Scopus
• Web of Knowledge
• Web of Science.

The library has also put together helpful research guides for many disciplines relevant to this unit. See the Unit’s iLearn pages for further information.

The unit schedule is flexible depending on the Study Option and the contract negotiated between student and supervisor.  In most cases the unit schedule will involve regular meetings (online, or face to face) with your supervisor.  It is important you come to these meetings having completed assigned tasks and ready to discuss progress and any issues arising. See the unit's iLearn site (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au) for further information.