Students

MHHS8007 – Advanced Research Practice

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor
Mark Butlin
Contact via Contact via iLearn private message system (link at top of MHHS8007 iLearn page)
Level 1, 75 Talavera Road, Macquarie University
By appointment.
Course Director
Jennifer Rowland
Contact via Contact via iLearn private message system (link at top of MHHS8007 iLearn page)
Level 1, 75 Talavera Road, Macquarie University
By appointment.
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit focuses on the development of a comprehensive research proposal using advanced knowledge, theories and methods required to conduct research in your discipline. Learning activities will include an opportunity to participate in research activities such as assisting in the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data, participation in research group meetings and journal clubs, and practical experience in research communication. The immersive learning environment of the research activities will provide you with access to discipline-specific expertise, and you will be able to demonstrate the application of the theoretical knowledge obtained in your other learning activities. Through this unit you will further develop skills as a researcher and research communicator.

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: Critically evaluate an advanced body of knowledge in your discipline.
  • ULO2: Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • ULO3: Apply ethics and integrity frameworks required to conduct responsible, ethical and reflective research in your discipline.
  • ULO4: Develop a research proposal using advanced knowledge, theories and methods required to conduct research in your discipline.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate well-developed judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practice as a researcher.

General Assessment Information

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark, which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

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 to the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ 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 concern. 

 For example:

Number of days (hours) late

Total Possible Marks

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

1 day (1-24 hours)

100

5

75

70

2 days (24-48 hours)

100

10

75

65

3 days (48-72 hours)

100

15

75

60

7 days (144-168 hours)

100

35

75

40

>7 days (>168 hours)

100

—

75

0

Late submission of time sensitive tasks, such as timetabled tests/exams, scheduled performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs, will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Special Consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due to circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the Special Consideration Policy. Applications for special consideration must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via ask.mq.edu.au.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research pitch 35% No Weeks 6 to 8, in the timetabled workshops.
Research skills reflection 30% No 26/10/2025
Research proposal 35% No 09/11/2025

Research pitch

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weeks 6 to 8, in the timetabled workshops.
Weighting: 35%

 

A presentation of the aims of the research you are participating in. This should include the wider context of the research, and a critical appraisal of the methods being used to achieve the aims. The presentation should convince a general scientific audience of the utility of the research, and the validity of the approach.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate an advanced body of knowledge in your discipline.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Develop a research proposal using advanced knowledge, theories and methods required to conduct research in your discipline.

Research skills reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: 26/10/2025
Weighting: 30%

 

Reflect on a research skill area encountered in the learning modules of this unit in the context of your experience of participation in research over the session.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Apply ethics and integrity frameworks required to conduct responsible, ethical and reflective research in your discipline.
  • Demonstrate well-developed judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practice as a researcher.

Research proposal

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 09/11/2025
Weighting: 35%

 

A written project proposal relating to the research you participate in during the semester.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically evaluate an advanced body of knowledge in your discipline.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Apply ethics and integrity frameworks required to conduct responsible, ethical and reflective research in your discipline.
  • Develop a research proposal using advanced knowledge, theories and methods required to conduct research in your discipline.
  • Demonstrate well-developed judgement, adaptability and accountability in your professional practice as a researcher.

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

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including practical research placement, workshops, and online modules. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Recommended Readings

There is no textbook for this unit. Some recommended reading is provided in the weekly material on the iLearn site for this unit.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

Unit Schedule

You will be working with a research group each week from week 2 through to week 13 for approximately 1 day each week. In addition, the following topics are covered in this unit in self-paced online modules:

  • Week 1: Unit introduction.
  • Week 2: The scientific method
  • Week 3: Critical thinking
  • Week 4: Communicating to the public
  • Week 5: Presentation preparation
  • Week 6: Commencement of scientific presentation sessions
  • Week 7: Research group culture
  • Week 8: Statistics, part 1
  • Week 9: Statistics, part 2
  • Week 10: Data presentation
  • Week 11: Communicating, scientific audience
  • Week 12: Preparing a research proposal
  • Week 13: Finalising the reserch proposal

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 2025.02 of the Handbook