Students

FOAR7000 – Research Paradigms

2024 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Kirstin Mills
kirstin.mills@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Room 752, Level 7, 25B Wally's Walk (Arts Precinct)
By appointment (please email to set up a time to meet on campus or online)
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.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Textual analysis essay 40% No 28/04/2024
Research design paper 60% No 02/06/2024

Textual analysis essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 28/04/2024
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.

Research design paper

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 02/06/2024
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.

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

Weekly lectures feature guest speakers from across the Faculty. Details on iLearn.

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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 2024.03 of the Handbook