Students
PICX8012 – Critical Thought and Research Design
2021 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual
Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Jennifer Hunt
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MSecStragegicStud or MCrim or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MCyberSec or GradDipSecStudCr or GradCertSecStudCr or MIntPubDip or MPICT or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICT or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or Master of Cyber Security Analysis or 10cps at 6000 level or 10cps 8000 level
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is a graduate seminar that provides training for student proficiency in critical thinking and research design. The course content utilises inter-disciplinary approaches and methods for the social sciences. Students will practice advanced reading and writing skills, examine the logic of inquiry, investigate methodologies and theoretical approaches, and evaluate diverse sources. Students will apply their advanced research skills through critical thinking and problem-solving. Students will be assessed based on their application of skills to practice, both in formulating research design and presenting their research for broader consumption. |
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: Evaluate the theoretical approaches that frame the field of Security Studies and Criminology, including the relationship to their historical context.
- ULO2: Demonstrate critical thinking skills through the understanding and questioning of key concepts, issues and debates.
- ULO3: Demonstrate understanding of both the assumptions that underpin key theories, and the methods used for research and investigation.
- ULO4: Demonstrate critical communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion.
- ULO5: Engage consistently with the unit through proactive communication with peers and the convener, and demonstrate professional conduct in all class activities and in the submission of assessments.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Design | 30% | No | Week 12 |
| Portfolio task | 40% | No | Week 4 and Week 9 |
| 3-minute challenge | 20% | No | Week 7 |
| Engagement | 10% | No | Ongoing |
Research Design
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 30%
Students will be expected to work with convenors to produce a coherent and logical research design. Students will be expected to demonstrate and articulate: 1. A research question (what is the focus of their study); 2. Research significant and objectives (why their project is of critical importance); 3. Research methods (how they propose to conduct their study); and 4. Preliminary literature review (what relevant literature that currently exists will inform the project).
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Evaluate the theoretical approaches that frame the field of Security Studies and Criminology, including the relationship to their historical context.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills through the understanding and questioning of key concepts, issues and debates.
- Demonstrate understanding of both the assumptions that underpin key theories, and the methods used for research and investigation.
- Demonstrate critical communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion.
Portfolio task
Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Week 4 and Week 9
Weighting: 40%
The portfolio tasks must be completed regularly at a set period throughout the semester. Students will be asked to respond to key questions in a short and succinct manner during the seminar to scaffold knowledge. The aims are twofold: demonstrating skill, as well as enabling students to do research on their projects. Each portfolio task will relate to their developing research questions and will help with the final research design assessment.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Evaluate the theoretical approaches that frame the field of Security Studies and Criminology, including the relationship to their historical context.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills through the understanding and questioning of key concepts, issues and debates.
- Demonstrate understanding of both the assumptions that underpin key theories, and the methods used for research and investigation.
- Demonstrate critical communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion.
3-minute challenge
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%
A critical skill required of all graduates is the demonstrated ability to present one’s own research. Students are therefore required to present their research design in 3 minutes in a manner that conveys their argument and significance of their research to a nonspecialist audience. Students should consider the presentation as a type of "pitch" for their research.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills through the understanding and questioning of key concepts, issues and debates.
- Demonstrate critical communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion.
Engagement
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
Students will be required to demonstrate in class an active and critical engagement with course materials. This includes showing a detailed knowledge and understanding of weekly readings and a critical awareness of, and response to, issues raised in the weekly lecture. This will be demonstrated by responding to the weekly questions posted on the forum as well as engage in forum discussion.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Evaluate the theoretical approaches that frame the field of Security Studies and Criminology, including the relationship to their historical context.
- Engage consistently with the unit through proactive communication with peers and the convener, and demonstrate professional conduct in all class activities and in the submission of assessments.
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
UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
- You should expect to spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.
- Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.
- In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.
REQUIRED READINGS
- The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site. Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.
TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED
- Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
- This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
- Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.
- Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/
SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS
- All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically. This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.
- Assessment tasks may be adjusted to aid student learning. These tasks must be submitted as an MS word document by the due date.
- Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
- The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration
LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS
Unless a Disruption to Studies request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply - 10 marks of credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS
- Stated word limits include in-text citations, footnotes and footnoted references, but not reference list, or title page.
- Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure. If the number of words falls outside these limits, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words. If a paper is 300 words over or under, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).
- The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.
REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER
- Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
- In accordance with the Grade Appeal Policy, individual works are not subject to regrading.
STAFF AVAILABILITY
- Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner, usually two business days. Emails or iLearn messages are not answered or monitored over the weekend, teaching break, or public holiday period.
- Students should wait 24 hours after receiving feedback before corresponding with teaching staff.
- Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook