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 the Head Cf 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 - 2024
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 evaluation
It would be good to allow for more discussion with the supervisor.
A weekly 30-minute meeting with the supervisor is the usual practice but students can request a bit longer time with the supervisor if needed depending on the project's complexity.
Feedback from Unit evaluation
The requirements for the assessments sometimes were unclear in the particular structure of the reports.
A clear assessment criterion has been provided on Moodle under the Assessment blog. It was also discussed clearly in class. Students will be advised to access the recordings and unit resources on weekly basis.
Feedback from Unit evaluation
The students with experimental activity in the project would have a weekly meeting with lab staff.
It would be challenging for lab staff to schedule a weekly meeting with every student. However, students and supervisors will be advised to organise a special arrangement with relevant lab staff to discuss the laboratory activities pertinent to the project.
- 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.
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
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.bui@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Unit introduction and teaching and learning arrangement
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Set up a regular weekly meeting with your project advisor (minimum 30-minute meeting duration)
- Agree on a communication strategy with the project advisor to maintain regular and efficient communication.
Module/Topic
How to define a project problem
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Define and articulate the project problem.
- Identify the rationales for solving the project problem.
- Describe the project problem in the context of the big picture.
Module/Topic
How to do a scientific literature review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Conduct a literature review to find problems and solutions similar to those of the project.
- Place your project problem in the context of existing problems and solutions.
- Define a single project aim and several accompanying project objectives (around 3 objectives).
- Conceive about 3 research questions from the project objectives (each question for each objective).
Module/Topic
How to do academic writing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Write up the literature review for your project by putting the literature findings together in a structuring manner to support defining the best approach to solve your project problem.
Problem Definition and Project Introduction Due: Week 4 Monday (25 Mar 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
How to do academic referencing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Complete the writing of the literature review and provide a proper reference of literature.
Module/Topic
None teaching week.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
How to develop the project methodology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- From the literature review, identify the best approach to solve the project problem.
- From the best approach, articulate and develop detailed step-by-step methods to solve the project problem.
- Write up the project's detailed methodology and support it with relevant literature.
Module/Topic
How to plan a project
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Break the project into several logical steps.
- Identify key milestones that must be met during the project implementation.
- Schedule the project steps to create a logical and efficient flow of activities.
- Present the project schedule using the work breakdown structure and/or Gantt chart.
Literature Review Due: Week 7 Monday (22 Apr 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
How to do a project budget
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Determine the resources required to do the project.
- Work out how to obtain the required resources and the costs involved.
- From the resources, create the project budget and write a short justification for each resource.
- Follow the budget approval process to seek budget approval for your project. Note that the budget must be approved within the project planning phase to be valid.
Module/Topic
How to identify and assess the project risks
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Identify risks associated with the project.
- Assess the severity of each risk.
- Devise the mitigation method for each risk.
- Complete the risk assessment form and seek approval.
Module/Topic
How to do a project presentation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Prepare your project presentation.
- Focus on the presentation of the literature review and project methodology.
- Aim for a maximum of 15 slides total for your presentation.
- Contact your project advisor and reviewers to arrange a presentation time.
- Rehearsal your presentation with the project advisor and obtain feedback before the actual presentation.
Module/Topic
How to put together a project proposal/thesis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Present your project to a panel consisting of the project advisor and reviewers for assessment.
- Obtain feedback on your project.
- Put together your planning thesis and incorporate the feedback from the project presentation.
Module/Topic
No new materials. Students are working on completing the project thesis before the submission deadline.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Finalise and complete your planning thesis.
- Submit your thesis before its submission deadline on Monday of Week 13 (Review/Exam Week).
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
As the preliminary to the enrolment into this unit, prospective students MUST secure a project's adviser and topic. Students must view the advisor list sent to them by the Unit Coordinator a few weeks before the start of the term to identify and contact potential project advisors. Immediately, after securing a project advisor, students MUST inform the unit coordinator of the project advisor's name and topic before they proceed to contact the course advisor to enrol in the unit.
Furthermore, on-campus students must maintain a record of attendance for face-to-face classes and meetings with the project advisor. Some marks will be awarded for attendance records of over 80%. Students with less than 80% attendance record will receive no attendance mark and be classified as at risk. These students may not be favourably considered in the case of special circumstances. Please ensure you attempt all face-to-face classes and advisor meetings to achieve the best possible performance and mark for the unit.
1 Report
You will define the project's problem clearly and precisely and place it in the big-picture context so that a layperson can understand it. You must provide the rationales for solving the problem to highlight the need and the benefits to find the solution for the problem. You should support your arguments with literature facts and therefore, some preliminary literature review on the topic of the project is required to adequately define your project problem. From the problem's definition, you must concisely conceive the project aims and then derive several project objectives which evidently must align with the project aim. In addition, you also need to specify the project's deliverables, scope and stakeholders. Submission of the attendance record up to the date of submission is also required as some marks will be rewarded for attendance records of over 80%.
Week 4 Monday (25 Mar 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Submission of a single PDF file using a link in the unit Moodle website
Week 6 Monday (15 Apr 2024)
It is expected that the assessment item will be returned to students with mark and feedback within two weeks after the submission due date.
This assessment will be marked based on the following criteria:
- Include an assessment submission cover sheet that contains all relevant information
- Include appropriate front matters.
- Follow good practices for academic report writing and formatting.
- Include appropriate and proper citations and references of literature.
- Define the project problem clearly and concisely.
- Describe clearly the placement of the project problem within the context of existing literature.
- Provide the rationales for solving the project problem.
- Articulate how the project fits within a general context so that a layperson can understand.
- Define a single project aim.
- Articulate several project objectives.
- Conceive the research questions.
- Define the project scope and stakeholders.
- State the project outcomes, deliverables and timelines.
- Provide your attendance record for assessment.
The detailed assessment criteria will be available on the Unit Moodle site.
Important Information:
The students MUST submit all required assessments by their due dates, as no late submission will be accepted (this is professional practice). If an extension is required, please ensure the extension request reaches the Unit Coordinator AT LEAST 72 hours before the deadline unless specified otherwise in the assessment tasks. Application for an extension after the due date may not be acceptable.
According to the Assessment Policy, Section 5.16, the acceptable reasons for extension are disability, medical or health-related condition, hardship (serious accident), compassionate circumstances (death of a family member) etc., with providing evidence.
Late Submission Penalty: A late submission penalty of 5% per day of the total available marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the task is overdue will be applied in this unit, according to the University Assessment Policy (Section 5.42). The penalty must be a NEGATIVE score deducted from the overall mark and calculated based on late submission status.
- 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
This assessment consists of two parts. The first part is the revision of assessment 1 - problem definition and project introduction from the advisor's feedback and the second part is a detailed literature review of the project's problem. In the first part, students must amend Assessment 1 - the problem definition and the project introduction to address all and every feedback received from the project advisor and produce a document that outlines how the students address each of the advisor's feedback. Students then attach this document as an appendix to assessment two's submission. In the second part, students must provide a focused literature review that is relevant to the project's problem by describing the existing problems similar to the project problem and their solutions and conducting a critical analysis of these solutions to identify the best possible approach to solve the project problem. In the literature review, students should not simply restate the literature information, but explain the literature from their own understanding and critically analyse the information to argue the best possible approach to solve the project problem. It is anticipated that the major part of the literature review is the critical analysis and discussion in the context of the project problem.
Students must provide appropriate and proper citations in text and references at the end of the report following CQU referencing guidelines. Submission of the attendance record up to the date of submission is also required as some marks will be rewarded for attendance records of over 80%.
Week 7 Monday (22 Apr 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Submission of a single PDF file using a link in the unit Moodle website
Week 9 Monday (6 May 2024)
It is expected that the assessment item will be returned to students with mark and feedback within two weeks after the submission due date.
This assessment will be marked based on the following criteria:
- Include an assessment submission cover sheet that contains all relevant information.
- Include appropriate front matters
- Follow good practices for academic report writing and formatting.
- Include appropriate and proper citations and references of literature.
- Adhere to CQU referencing guidelines properly.
- Provide your attendance record for assessment.
- Include a focused literature review on the project problem
- Include quality and relevant literature
- Explain literature from the student's own understanding rather than restating facts
- Analyse the literature critically to define the best possible approach to solving the project problem
- Include some discussions of the literature findings that are relevant to the project problem
- Address the advisor's feedback for Assessment 1 adequately
- Include a document that outlines how each advisor's feedback for Assessment 1 was addressed.
The detailed assessment criteria will be available on the Unit Moodle site.
Important Information:
The students MUST submit all required assessments by their due dates, as no late submission will be accepted (this is professional practice). If an extension is required, please ensure the extension request reaches the Unit Coordinator AT LEAST 72 hours before the deadline unless specified otherwise in the assessment tasks. Application for an extension after the due date may not be acceptable.
According to the Assessment Policy, Section 5.16, the acceptable reasons for extension are disability, medical or health-related condition, hardship (serious accident), compassionate circumstances (death of a family member) etc., with providing evidence.
Late Submission Penalty: A late submission penalty of 5% per day of the total available marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the task is overdue will be applied in this unit, according to the University Assessment Policy (Section 5.42). The penalty must be a NEGATIVE score deducted from the overall mark and calculated based on late submission status.
- Conduct an indepth review of related literature
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
3 Presentation
Students are required to do a 12-minute oral presentation on their project plan during Week 11. The presentation must focus on the literature review and the proposed project methodology. The presentation session with a specific schedule will be organised face-to-face or online. The video of the presenter must be turned on during the presentation session.
To be eligible to present, students must submit the presentation slides via the unit Moodle website at least 24 hours before the presentation session. During the presentation, every student will be given an equal opportunity to present for 10 to 12 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.
Please note that the presentation will not be rescheduled. Therefore, an extension request is unacceptable for this assessment item.
During Week 9, students must organize with their project advisor and reviewers to find a suitable time during Week 11 to conduct the presentation assessment and inform the Unit Coordinator (UC) the presentation time and date in Week 11, so that the presentation schedule can be arranged by the UC.
Some verbal feedback will be given students during the presentation session. Written feedback may be given within two weeks after the presentation date.
The presentation will be marked based on the following criteria:
- Articulate the problem clearly and concisely.
- Place the project problem within the general context so that a layperson can understand it.
- Provide the rationales for solving the project problem.
- Explain existing problems similar to the project problem.
- Analyse the solutions to existing problems critically to identify the best possible approach to solve the problem.
- Explain how the project methodology can be developed from the best approach.
- Present the detailed project methodology.
- Present the project plan.
- Present the risk analysis.
- Present the project budget.
- Present the student up to date progress.
- Discussion and conclusions.
- Quality of presentation slides.
- Delivery of presentation (style and skills).
- Keep presentation within the allocated time.
- Handle of Q&A.
Detailed Assessment Criteria and presentation schedule will be available on the course website.
- 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
This is the final assessment task for the unit. It requires students to collate the information in the previous three assessments and compile them in a coherent thesis document. Students must address all feedback received from the project advisor and reviewers in this thesis and prepare a document that outlines how each feedback is addressed in the thesis. This document must be attached as one of the thesis appendices. The thesis will be marked by assessing the following parts:
- Thesis Title Cover Page
- Executive Summary (Abstract)
- Acknowledgements
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Terms (Acronyms)
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Methodology
- Project Plan (scheduling and budgeting)
- Risk Assessment
- Progress to date
- Discussion and Conclusions
- References
- Appendices (addressing of advisor and reviewers' feedback, attendance record for the whole term, and other supporting information as appropriate)
- Include a document that outlines how each received feedback was addressed in the thesis
- Include the complete attendance record for the entire term.
Important Information:
The students MUST submit all required assessments by their due dates, as no late submission will be accepted (this is professional practice). If an extension is required, please ensure the extension request reaches the Unit Coordinator AT LEAST 72 hours before the deadline unless specified otherwise in the assessment tasks. Application for an extension after the due date may not be acceptable.
According to the Assessment Policy, Section 5.16, the acceptable reasons for extension are disability, medical or health-related condition, hardship (serious accident), compassionate circumstances (death of a family member) etc., with providing evidence for no more than seven days.
Late Submission Penalty: A late submission penalty of 5% per day of the total available marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the task is overdue will be applied in this unit, according to the University Assessment Policy (Section 5.42). The penalty must be a NEGATIVE score deducted from the overall mark and calculated based on late submission status.
Review/Exam Week Monday (3 June 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Submission of a single PDF file using a link in the unit Moodle website
The marked thesis with feedback will be returned to students after the certification of grades.
The project thesis will be assessed based on the quality of its chapter contents and the comprehensiveness and rigorousness of information, results, and discussions.
Detailed Assessment Criteria will be available on the unit website.
- 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?
