Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Wendy Goldstein
Contact via wendy.goldstein@mq.edu.au
12 Wallys Walk (E7A) Fifth Floor Room 505
Open: By appointment
Lecturer
Richard Horsfield
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MEnvEd or MSc or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MSusDev or MEnvPlan or MEnv or MSocEntre or GradDipEnv or GradCertEnv or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or GradCertSIA or GradDipSIA or MPH
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides an overview of the role of research in sustainable development and in research paradigms and methods. Students will have practical experience of processing and communicating quantitative and qualitative data to guide action. The unit will emphasise action research providing students with an opportunity to explore, at a practical level, how action research can be used as a tool to achieve the goals of sustainable development. Students will develop skills in research planning, literature review and writing a research funding proposal. Students will be introduced to the ethical considerations and processes of undertaking research. The unit provides students with a broad understanding of the comparative usefulness of different research methods for sustainable development.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
The assessments in this unit are oriented to work practice.
The first assignment: is a practice at writing report a mini consultant report. The style of writing is appropriate to informing a client of the results of surveys undertaken in an organisation, and recommending next steps based on the research.
The final assessment is quite challenging as students are expected to respond to the donor's requirements for explanations about the project. This means the proposal has to be written in a concise and clear way that is a different skill to writing an essay. Preparing a good proposal takes time and many redrafts to be succinct (within a word limit) and communicate clearly the intent of the project. Students are advised to spend a week (20 hours minimum) on preparing this well.
The literature review provides the context for the project. It shows that the student is aware of the research that has gone before in this area, and in action research methods. It draws out lessons to be learned.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Assignment 1: analysis | 15% | No | September 3rd |
Assignment 2 Research Proposal | 25% | No | October 1st |
Assignment 3 Funding Proposal | 50% | No | 1st November |
Assignment 4 Data Analysis | 10% | No | 12th November |
Due: September 3rd
Weighting: 15%
Your task is to analyse the elements of two research papers (to be advised) to demonstrate an understanding of the purposes of research, the research philosophy, research design, ethical principles, analysis of data and conclusions in relation to sustainable development.
The paper will summarise two research papers and in each case you are asked to draw out evidence of the following aspects
1. Research question / hypothesis/ or objectives of the study
2. The context for this investigation – why and what is it important to find out. This will include the way the literature review is used to frame the research
3. Who is the researcher (position in the research) and what is their role
4. How was the research designed
5. What methods of data collection were used
6. What ethical issues were considered or arose in the research
7. How were the findings analysed
8. What conclusions emerged
9. What limitations occurred in the research or findings
Conclusions about the research philosophy or paradigm that underpinned each research paper
Due: October 1st
Weighting: 25%
This assignment requires students to prepare:
a) a poster and b) a research plan that summarises a proposal for a research project for sustainable development with a short literature review.
The emphasis of the project proposal is on an action research approach. The action research component can be complemented by other research approaches.
a) Research Poster
You need to design a poster which summarises the essence and key components of your research project.
The poster will need to be in colour. All lettering must be readable from 1-2 metres away. Minimum font size is 18 point but 24 is recommended. You do not need to go through the expense of printing a poster (size A0) as it can be projected and produced in powerpoint. You will be speaking to this poster at a later stage in the course
b) Research plan
This document will present a summary of the research proposal and can use diagrams and figures. The research plan should specify:
c. Presentation of research plan
Each student will present and defend their research proposal. You will have 15 minutes overall and your presentation will be assessed by your peers after the break:
Due: 1st November
Weighting: 50%
In this assignment you are expected to submit a completed funding proposal for an action research project for sustainable development. You are required to provide the proposal in the format of a grant organisation. The second component is to provide a separate literature review to back-up your research proposal topic and approach.
Part A - Literature review:
A research funding proposal usually has a literature review to show that the researcher is aware of what has been done before, and position the new research in the field to fill in a gap in what has been done before and justify the basis for the new research.
The literature review is also designed to prove that the researcher has considered the theory, methodology, and the methods of the research based on past practice.
The literature review focuses on the field of research chosen for the student's project (that is it is not a general review of action research literature).
Twenty percent (20%) of the total marks will be allocated to this literature review and it is about 2000 words. More details are provided through ilearn.
This is an extensive task and it is therefore important that you start reading and making notes in preparation for this Assignment, immediately after the first class.
Part B - Research Funding Proposal:
The proposal must present a complete and improved version of the summary submitted as part of assignment 1.
The proposal must address the funding agency's priorities and needs (as well as the unit requirements, which will be specified in ilearn). It is recommended that you study the assessment criteria before submitting this assignment.
There will be an opportunity in the first sessions to discuss the above further.
Due: 12th November
Weighting: 10%
This assignment provides practice in analysing data from a survey - both quantitative and qualitative. The other skills to be demonstrated are being able to present the results in a mini consultant report in a manner that is helpful to a client, and forming recommendations based on the findings. Details of the data will be provided on ilearn and explained in the class session.
The unit is taught by weekly evening sessions of three hours.
The three hour sessions will consist of short presentations to introduce a theme or idea; discussion groups on short class assignments based on readings, or activities to develop skills, or understanding of the research design process. The unit is being taught in an active learning space encouraging participation through out.
There are 2 sessions that require you to bring your computer to work on excel to process data.
The main emphasis of the unit is oriented to assisting you to prepare and submit a research funding proposal, providing practice in designing research and in applying for funds. Students practice the following skills through the assignments, in class discussions and delivery:
The unit requires the student to read widely to understand the research process, the role of research for sustainable development, the role of the researcher in the research process, the ethics of research, the ways research is designed, and how it will be evaluated.
Further instructions on assignments and reading are provided through ilearn.
Some key resources include:
Action Research Journal (Sage)
ALAR: Action Learning and Action Research Journal
Educational Action Research (Journal)
Bryman A. 2012 Social research methods Oxford University Press - provides a good overview of social research, methodology and good details on methods.
Ferrance, A 2000 Action Research Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory At Brown University (this is a brief introduction to Action Research in Education) https://www.brown.edu/academics/education-alliance/sites/brown.edu.academics.education-alliance/files/publications/act_research.pdf
Greenwood D. & Levin M 1998 Introduction to action research: Social research for social change Sage - These authors take a pragmatic view of action research oriented to organisational change and consultancy in management
Kemmis S. McTaggart R Nixon R. 2014 The Action Research Planner Doing Critical Participatory Action Research Springer - This reference by Australian and Canadian researchers is oriented to action research in education with a particular focus on critical participatory action research. Practical structures are provided and questions to guide the researcher are included. There are several case studies from the education sector.
Stringer E.T 1996 Action research: A handbook for practitioners Thousand Oaks Sage - This Australian author draws on experience in community action research and education
Wadsworth Y 2011 Do it yourself social research (3rd ed) Allen and Unwin - This reference provides a practical guide to planning and managing a community based action research project, written in an accessible form.
Wadsworth Y. 2010 Building in Research and Evaluation Human Inquiry for living systems Allen and Unwin - This reference builds on the above and provides a deeper theory of how we can inquire. A valuable series of research questions and case studies from the human health services field are included
Zuber-Skerritt, O (ed) 1990 . Action research for change and development Nathan, Qld. : Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching, Griffith University
Date |
Topic |
Background Reading – see refs on ilearn |
Session 1 July 31st |
Introduction to the course themes What is research? Role of research in sustainable development Social research compared to environmental science research Overview of social research methods Brief on Assessment tasks |
DECC Guide to using research in sustainability programs _ Reading case studies for group discussion
Additional reading McLoughlin & Young (paper) The Role of Social Research in Effective Social Change Programs Bryman, A. Ch 1 and 2 |
Session 2 August 6th |
What is action research Practice in a research method - constant comparison Social research case study |
Reason and Bradbury Ch 1 Kemmis McTaggart Nixon 2014 The Action Research Planner Doing Critical Participatory Action Research Ch. 1 |
Session 3 August 13th |
Why action research for sustainable development? What is and what is not action research? Introduction to Research paradigms |
Case studies to be advised Will Allen - role of action research in environmental management http://learningforsustainability.net/research/thesis/thesis_ch3.html |
Session 4 August 20th |
Examples of Action Research for sustainable development Case studies of AR Models of action research |
Case studies to be advised |
Session 5 August 27th |
Defining the elements of an action research project Role of literature review Ethics and Issues management Discussion of project concepts |
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Session 6 September 3rd |
Designing action research Facilitating processes / role of researcher
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September 3rd |
Submit assignment 1 |
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Session 7 September 10th |
Research Design and Strategy Data collection and analysis |
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BREAK FROM CLASSES September 17th - October 2nd |
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October 1st |
NO Session – public Holiday |
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October 1st |
Submit assignment 2 Research project plan and poster |
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Session 8 October 8th
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Presentations of posters and defence of research proposals – peer feedback – in groups Responding to Funding requirements |
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Session 9 October 15th
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Designing measures for AR project outcomes Evaluating action research Limitations of AR
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Session 10 October 22nd |
Other social research methods |
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October 29th |
Social research methods and skills Writing Survey Questionnaires Analysis of a survey questionnaire Managing data and reporting data from a case study Presenting and communicating findings |
Richard Horsfield will lead this session Bring your lap top |
November 1st |
Assessment task: Project Proposal and Literature Review Assessment uploaded |
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November 6th |
Review of action research Responding to funding proposal requirements
Social research skills and reporting Managing data and reporting Working with quantitative and qualitative data sets Interpreting data Communicating findings |
Richard Horsfield will lead this session Bring your lap top |
12th November |
Assessment Task: short consultant report uploaded |
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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A new assignment 1 has been added to the assessments. This is designed to develop more understanding of research approaches.
An assessment has been taken out, that is the class presentation of the project proposals (assignment 2). It has been changed to be a presentation to small groups of peers and is unmarked. This is because previously students have not engaged with all of the class members making presentations. The Project Funding proposal assignment remains and the consultancy report remains, though this year it has been moved to be the last assignment.