Students

FOAR8030 – Research Methods

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-intensive, North Ryde

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 Graduate Certificate of Research OR Graduate Diploma of Research OR Bachelor of Philosophy.
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to the key methods and methodological approaches that underpin and shape research in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Students will encounter and critically review a broad range of research methods related to research in their discipline and/or cognate disciplines, exploring the role, importance, and potential impacts and outcomes of various methods on research projects. In addition to understanding research methods, students will evaluate ethics and integrity frameworks relevant to these methods and their applications. This unit will equip students with a broad understanding of the place of methods in research, and how they might apply such methods in their own future research projects.

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 key methods and methodological approaches required to conduct research in your discipline and/or cognate disciplines.
  • ULO2: Critically review a specialised body of knowledge related to relevant research methods in your discipline, demonstrating knowledge of the role and impact of various methods upon research.
  • ULO3: Evaluate ethics and integrity frameworks relevant to research methods in your discipline and/or cognate disciplines.
  • ULO4: Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

General Assessment Information

Students will be assessed on their choice of TWO out of the THREE modules they have chosen to complete in this unit. Students will select one module for each assessment (there are no restrictions on which modules can or can not be selected for this assessment, with one exception: the 'Indigenous Theories and Methods' module is available within both FOAR8020: Research Theory and FOAR8030: Research Methods, but it can only be completed once towards unit requirements for both units (that is, it cannot be counted twice across both units).

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

University Assessment Policy is as follows:

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
Research Methods Analysis Task: Module Choice 1 45% No 11:55pm 08/06/2025
Research Methods Design Task: Module Choice 2 55% No 11:55pm 15/06/2025

Research Methods Analysis Task: Module Choice 1

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11:55pm 08/06/2025
Weighting: 45%

 

Students will write a brief analysis of an existing research article demonstrating their understanding and implementation of a research method/methods of their choice from the selection of available Research Methods Modules.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate key methods and methodological approaches required to conduct research in your discipline and/or cognate disciplines.
  • Critically review a specialised body of knowledge related to relevant research methods in your discipline, demonstrating knowledge of the role and impact of various methods upon research.
  • Evaluate ethics and integrity frameworks relevant to research methods in your discipline and/or cognate disciplines.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Research Methods Design Task: Module Choice 2

Assessment Type 1: Design Task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 11:55pm 15/06/2025
Weighting: 55%

 

Students will submit an outline of a hypothetical research project demonstrating their understanding and implementation of a research method/methods of their choice from the selection of available Research Methods Modules.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate key methods and methodological approaches required to conduct research in your discipline and/or cognate disciplines.
  • Critically review a specialised body of knowledge related to relevant research methods in your discipline, demonstrating knowledge of the role and impact of various methods upon research.
  • Evaluate ethics and integrity frameworks relevant to research methods in your discipline and/or cognate disciplines.
  • Communicate relevant research concepts and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

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

This unit consists of a selection of self-paced, online modules followed by a scheduled, intensive in-person/online discussion workshop.

Students must complete 3 of the available modules, which are hosted on the iLearn site. Students have access to all modules but are only required to complete 3 of them.

All workshop times, dates and class resources are available via the iLearn site.

The unit will open with a single Introductory Seminar, which will outline the place of theory and methods in research and how the unit and assessments work. This Introductory Seminar will be shared with FOAR8020: Research Theory and a recording available afterwards in both iLearn sites.

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 2025.01 of the Handbook