Students

POIR8040 – Research Methods in International Relations

2021 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online 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

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Govand Azeez
Karim Pourhamzavi
Arts Precinct
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPPP or MIntRel or MPICTMIntSecSt or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MPICT or MCPICT or MIntSecStud or GradDipIntSecStud or MIntPubDip or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntRel or MTransInterMIntRel or MPPPMIntRel
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines general aspects of academic research including purpose/aims, questions and 'problems', organisation and design, the philosophy of science and associated debates, as well as specific methods and materials applied to pursue a research project including archives, interviews, surveys, quantitative, and discourse analysis.

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: understand aims and philosophical considerations underpinning academic research
  • ULO2: process knowledge of some different methods/methodologies in Politics and International Relations and related assumptions
  • ULO3: benefit from practical experience in designing a research proposal
  • ULO4: apply knowledge of concepts and terminologies applied in politics and International Relations research

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (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. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Note also that the convenor does not grant extension to any assessment based on special considerations (for example, illness). All requests for extension need to go through the Special Consideration procedure (see Special Consideration Policy under Policies and Procedures).

More information about each assessment task is available on the iLearn. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
weekly participation 10% No Each week
Mid-semester Test 25% No 21/04/2021
End of semester test 25% No 04/06/2021
Research project proposal 40% No 04/06/2021

weekly participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Each week
Weighting: 10%

 

participation in weekly discussion/activities (for on campus or online offerings)

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • understand aims and philosophical considerations underpinning academic research
  • process knowledge of some different methods/methodologies in Politics and International Relations and related assumptions
  • benefit from practical experience in designing a research proposal
  • apply knowledge of concepts and terminologies applied in politics and International Relations research

Mid-semester Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: 21/04/2021
Weighting: 25%

 

Test on unit content to that point

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • understand aims and philosophical considerations underpinning academic research
  • process knowledge of some different methods/methodologies in Politics and International Relations and related assumptions

End of semester test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: 04/06/2021
Weighting: 25%

 

End of semester test.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • understand aims and philosophical considerations underpinning academic research
  • process knowledge of some different methods/methodologies in Politics and International Relations and related assumptions
  • benefit from practical experience in designing a research proposal

Research project proposal

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 04/06/2021
Weighting: 40%

 

Write a detailed research proposal

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • understand aims and philosophical considerations underpinning academic research
  • process knowledge of some different methods/methodologies in Politics and International Relations and related assumptions
  • benefit from practical experience in designing a research proposal

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

Teaching Methods/Mode of Delivery

There will be two hour lecture and one hour tutorial every week. 

For access to materials and resources, please refer to ilearn.

Unit Schedule

POIR8040/S1/Day/Lecture_1/01

Wednesday

1:00pm

3:00pm

2:00

9‑14,17‑23

Classes are online - consult iLearn for further detail

Research Methods in International Relations - Lecture

 

POIR8040/S1/Day/Tutorial_1/02

Wednesday

4:00pm

5:00pm

1:00

9‑14,17‑23

Classes are online - consult iLearn for further detail

Research Methods in International Relations - Tutorial

The Topics will be available on the ilearn page. 

Special Circumstances students: Students will have to attend the online class on zoom (4.00 to 5.00 pm)

External students: The lecture is digitally recorded and can be downloaded from the iLearn website shortly after it is delivered. 

External students are required to participate actively in discussion on the iLearn website (further details are given in the section on Assessment).

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:

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 2021.03 of the Handbook