Students

FOAR7000 – Research Paradigms

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

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Greg Downey
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides a broad overview of the research paradigms that characterize the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Through this unit, the Faculty of Arts seeks to provide students with a constructive framework to recognise the possible contribution of diverse theoretical and disciplinary approaches. By concentrating on a core problem that crosses disciplinary boundaries in their final assessment task, demonstrating how that problem might be confronted under different paradigms, students will become conversant in a range of analytical techniques and theoretical perspectives. Students will learn to better recognise the assumptions that underwrite diverse approaches, their strengths, and their relations to each other, especially to facilitate collaboration and the exchange of ideas. Although much of scholarship today requires focused specialisation, being able to communicate our ideas, recognising the significance of new research, and building meaningful collaborations all require an understanding of the diversity of approaches available in the Arts.

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: refer to and use key texts and intellectual paradigms in the context of a range of Arts disciplines.
  • ULO3: communicate a clear and coherent explanation of ideas to different audiences, including within their own discipline and across cognate disciplines.
  • ULO4: analyse a model text and identify broad paradigms being deployed by another theorist.
  • ULO5: devise model research projects, on a single topic, demonstrating command of multiple theoretical paradigms.
  • ULO6: describe and evaluate diverse theoretical paradigms in general and in relation to a particular research topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research design paper 60% No 8/6/2021
Textual analysis essay 40% No 19/4/2021

Research design paper

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 8/6/2021
Weighting: 60%

 

The research design paper is an essay in which the student will lay out the initial proposal for three different project designs, all on a single topic, demonstrating how the project would be articulated under three different research paradigms.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • refer to and use key texts and intellectual paradigms in the context of a range of Arts disciplines.
  • communicate a clear and coherent explanation of ideas to different audiences, including within their own discipline and across cognate disciplines.
  • devise model research projects, on a single topic, demonstrating command of multiple theoretical paradigms.
  • describe and evaluate diverse theoretical paradigms in general and in relation to a particular research topic.

Textual analysis essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 19/4/2021
Weighting: 40%

 

Based on target texts selected by the unit convenors, students are responsible for an analytical essay detailing where at least two (preferably three or more) of the research paradigms discussed in the unit have been employed. Students should be able to cite specific passages, concepts and terminology from the target text to demonstrate where and how a paradigm is being used, and relate them to readings, lectures, and key concepts from the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • refer to and use key texts and intellectual paradigms in the context of a range of Arts disciplines.
  • communicate a clear and coherent explanation of ideas to different audiences, including within their own discipline and across cognate disciplines.
  • analyse a model text and identify broad paradigms being deployed by another theorist.

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

All unit readings will be made available through Leganto, online at the Library homepage. All lectures will be either prerecorded or done live so that you can watch them on the Thursday of each week, from 1 to 3 pm. If they are prerecorded, you will have access earlier if you choose to watch them in advance. In our experience, if they are available earlier, many students benefit from watching them early so as not to have so much material in a single block at one time.

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

The unit guest lecturers have been changed from previous years in some cases, and new weekly paradigm focuses have been added on Historical Narrative and Decolonisation & Indigenous Studies. 


Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook