Overview
This unit is specifically designed so that students can apply the processes of research investigation through the analysis of, reflection on and critique of, an area of their professional practice. The unit uses a problem-based learning approach within an authentic workplace learning environment. This ensures students are undertaking an investigation that is relevant to the needs of industry. Students will apply an appropriate research methodology that suits their research problem. At the end of this unit, students will have developed a project plan that they will implement in the follow-on unit Engineering Research Project Implementation.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must have completed a minimum of 36 credit points and approval of head of course or delegate is required. Students must have a project topic and academic supervisor before they can be enrolled.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator
Due to significant increase in enrollments it was hard to find projects for all students.
Work with supervisors and Discipline Leaders to develop enough projects prior to start of term. Encourage students to develop their own project topics.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation: Students
Some students prefer to develop their own project topics.
Support students to develop suitable projects.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation: Students
Students did not receive the support expected from the supervisors.
Academic Supervisors and students will be encourage to have regular meetings.
- Identify a suitable problem related to the study discipline
- Develop a research question including identifying key words
- Conduct an indepth review of related literature
- Select an appropriate research methodology to investigate the problem
- Regularly communicate professionally with all stakeholders in formal and informal reports
- Professionally present the project plan in a seminar and defend the methodology adopted.
n/a
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Report - 10% | ||||||
| 2 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 20% | ||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||
| 4 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
| 4 - Research | ||||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Report - 10% | ||||||||
| 2 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 20% | ||||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||||
| 4 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
GUIDE to RESEARCH PROJECTS for ENGINEERING STUDENTS: Planning, Writing and Presenting
Edition: 2016 / any (2016)
Authors: Eng-Choon Leong, Carmel Lee-Hsia Heah, Kenneth Keng Wee Ong -
CRC Press
London London , Britain , UK
ISBN: 978-1-4822-3877-8
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Copies can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.mazid@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
- Introduction to the unit, on-going assessment items
- Enrolment requirement, choosing a project and supervisor
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete your enrolment
Module/Topic
- Finalise research topic selection.
- What is Research? Purpose of Research, Essential Aspects of Research, Scope of ENRP20001 and ENRP20003.
- Research Proposal
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Finalise enrolment by the end of
Week 2
Module/Topic
- Major Types of Research
- Introduction to Literature Review
- Research Proposal Content and Preparation, Examples
Chapter
Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Research Project Proposal Preparation and Examples
- Content of Research Proposal
- Literature Review, Referencing Style
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Review of Engineering Databases: types of documents, peer reviewed conferences, journals, books, standards.
- Quality Referencing
Chapter
Chapter 13
Chapter 18
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
-
Keep working on your project and prepare literature review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School for Distance Education students: Monday - Tuesday (15 - 16 April 2019)
Module/Topic
- Typical Content of Literature Review, Typical Content of a Thesis, Examples.
- Research Methodology
Chapter
Chapter 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Writing Draft Methodology, Content of it
- Effective Presentation Technique.
- Guest Lecture on Referencing Styles
Chapter
Chapters 7 and 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Invited Guest Lecture (Subjected to confirmation)
Literature Review - 20% Due: Week 7 Friday (3 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
- Content and Examples of Draft Methodology Presentation documents
- Presentation style and technique
Chapter
Chapters 22 and 23
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Writing Draft Methodology
- Research activities and planning Gantt Chart
Chapter
Chapter 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Draft Methodology Presentation Sessions for the whole day
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Draft Methodology Presentation Sessions: Mechanical, Civil and Electrical (To be announced)
Module/Topic
- Conclusion writing technique
- Project Planning Gantt Chart preparation
- Planning Thesis Content, Preparation and Examples
Chapter
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Review of Draft Portfolio, Review of Overall Progress
- Submit your Planning Portfolio (Planning Thesis and Methodology Presentation Document)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- No examination in ENRP20001
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Report
Write a Project Proposal clearly, study enough number of literature relevant to your project, provide introduction and literature findings, basic understanding of the research problem, rational, deliverable, stakeholder/s, list of references and other information required.
Lectures on Project Proposal and relevant topics will be given and it is crucial that you attend and attend all weekly meetings with supervisor.
Week 4 Friday (5 Apr 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 5 Friday (12 Apr 2019)
Appropriate title page, introduction and scope, aim and objectives, equipment and tools required and others are the major assessable portions of the Project Proposal document. Detailed Assessment Criteria will be available in Unit Moodle site in Week 3.
- Identify a suitable problem related to the study discipline
- Develop a research question including identifying key words
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
2 Literature Review or Systematic Review
Conduct an indepth review on topic related literature, produce literature review chapter, reference the used publications correctly, identify research gap, set an aim and objectives. Relevant lectures will be given and it is crucial that you attend all lecture classes and all weekly meetings with supervisor.
Week 7 Friday (3 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019)
The dissertation should be returned to students within two weeks, however the process of external review may delay the final result.
Appropriate title page, aim and objectives, review of enough number of relevant publications and critical analysis of findings, research problem identification and appropriate referencing. Acceptable English language skill is factor and poor English may cause reduced marks. Detailed Assessment Criteria will be available in Unit Moodle site in Week 5.
- Conduct an indepth review of related literature
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
3 Presentation
Students are required to do a 10-minute presentation focussing mainly on project methodology. Prepare PowerPoint presentation document, presentation time is 10 mins and 2 mins for questions and answers. Attend all lecture classes and weekly meetings with supervisor.
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019)
Aim and objective, depth of literature review, appropriateness of proposed methodology, presentation style and skills and answering questions are the major assessable items. Detailed Assessment Criteria will be available in Unit Moodle site in Week 7.
- Select an appropriate research methodology to investigate the problem
- Professionally present the project plan in a seminar and defend the methodology adopted.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
4 Portfolio
Follow content of a typical planning thesis provided in lecture classes, its is essential that you attend all lecture classes and weekly meetings with supervisor.
Essential parts of a Planning Thesis are title page, aim and objective, introduction and literature review chapter, proposed methodology, conclusion and list references.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Friday (14 June 2019)
Essential assessable parts of a Planning Thesis are appropriate title page, aim and objective, depth and clarity of introduction and literature review sections, suitability and fulfilment of proposed methodology and others relvant. Detailed Assessment Criteria will be available in Unit Moodle site in Week 8.
- Identify a suitable problem related to the study discipline
- Develop a research question including identifying key words
- Conduct an indepth review of related literature
- Select an appropriate research methodology to investigate the problem
- Regularly communicate professionally with all stakeholders in formal and informal reports
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
