Overview
Prepare for Confirmation has been designed specifically for students enrolled in a Research Higher Degree at either Masters or Doctoral level. This unit will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to clarify the research design of your proposed research project regardless of your discipline area. You will be guided through research terminology, writing at a thesis level and the steps required in the construction of a research project. The unit has four assessments that will scaffold you through the process of writing Section A of the Confirmation of Candidature submission.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.
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 evaluations.
Having lectures/tutorials or something similar.
Will implement Q&A session for assessments 2, 3 and 4 the week before they are due so that students may ask questions to clarify the assessment requirements.
Feedback from Unit evaluations.
Having more assessment exemplars available.
Will seek permission from past students to upload their assessments as exemplars and provide links to the CoC exemplars in Research Moodle.
Feedback from Unit evaluations.
Involving an expert in mathematical or engineering research.
Will explore creating video resources of experts talking about how to plan out research projects in mathematics and engineering.
Feedback from Unit evaluations.
The assessments in this unit helped to pull the supervisor's focus to the student project.
Continue to work closely with RHD supervisors to ensure consistent and constructive feedback is provided to each student.
Feedback from Unit evaluations.
The constructive feedback and support provided in this unit helped to frame the project plan and scaffold writing Section A of the CoC submission. The unit helped students to understand the language of research and make the CoC process less daunting.
Continue to provide clear, constructive feedback to improve the students' academic writing skills and build their confidence when writing. Ensure students understand the importance of their writing being able to be understood by a lay-person.
- Write using the language of research
- Construct a Literature Review by critically analysing and synthesising references that have been located manually and/or electronically from a variety of sources
- Critique a range of research approaches and paradigms that guide the systematic approach to conducting a research project
- Integrate theory into the design of a research project
- Apply critical and analytical skills and academic standards to research project design and thesis writing
- Evaluate data collection and analysis methods
- Create a research proposal.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 5% | |||||||
2 - Annotated bibliography - 10% | |||||||
3 - Report - 15% | |||||||
4 - Research Proposal - 70% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
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 - Written Assessment - 5% | ||||||||
2 - Annotated bibliography - 10% | ||||||||
3 - Report - 15% | ||||||||
4 - Research Proposal - 70% |
Textbooks
The essential guide to doing your research project
Edition: 3rd (2017)
Authors: Zina O'Leary
Sage Publications Ltd
London London , UK
ISBN: 978-1-4739-5208-9
Binding: Paperback
The Foundations of Research
Edition: 3rd (2019)
Authors: Jonathan Grix
Palgrave Macmillan (MacMillan Research Skills series)
London London , UK
ISBN: 9781352002003
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Note: It is imperative that you purchase the prescribed textbook. Paper copies can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
This textbook is a clear and practical guide to the research process. It is a well-written introduction to writing your research proposal. You will be able to use this book for the rest of your study.
The supplementary textbook provides an introduction to the tools, terminology and research perspectives that students need to understand the language of research and the role of theory in research.
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.
j.luck@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Research foundations:
Topic 1 - The language and process of research
Chapter
Chapters 1 & 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Research foundations:
Topic 2: Developing your research questions and/or hypotheses
Chapter
Chapter 3 plus Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Research foundations:
Topic 3: Reviewing the literature and Information literacy
Chapter
Chapter 6 plus Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Research processes:
Topic 4 - Crafting the research proposal
Topic 5 - Ethics and academic integrity
Chapter
Chapters 4 & 5 plus Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Research processes:
Topic 6 - Research design
Chapter
Chapter 7 plus Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Research processes:
Topic 7 - Research paradigms
Chapter
Chapters 8, 9 & 10 plus Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Research processes:
Topic 8 - Collection of data
Chapter
Chapters 11, 12 & 13 plus Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The research thesis:
Topic 9 - Analysis of data
Chapter
Chapters 14 & 15 plus unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The research thesis:
Topic 10 - Structure of a thesis
Chapter
Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The research thesis:
Topic 11 - Project planning and management
Topic 12 - The writing process and disseminating your work
Chapter
Chapter 16 plus Unit readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Work on Confirmation of Candidature (Section A)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Work on Confirmation of Candidature (Section A)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Complete unit feedback survey in Moodle - the red "Have your
say" button.
Confirmation of Candidature (Section A) Due: Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit Coordinator's contact details:
Dr Jo Luck
Email: j.luck@cqu.edu.au
Telephone: +61 7 4930 9550
Address: Building 32, Room 1.16, Rockhampton North.
Skype: jo.luck
1 Written Assessment
In this assessment item, you need to complete the proforma provided in the assessment details on the Moodle unit website. It is designed to provide an overview of your proposed research topic and describe your motivation for undertaking the research. The full description of the assessment requirements and assessment criteria is available on the Moodle unit website.
Please note: you need to ask your research supervisor(s) which referencing style you should be using when writing your thesis. Use that referencing style for all your written submissions in this unit. Two common referencing styles are Harvard (author-date) and American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style but some research discipline areas will require a different referencing style. For more information about common referencing styles used at Central Queensland University see the CQUniversity referencing guides.
Week 2 Friday (22 Mar 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 4 Friday (5 Apr 2019)
Assessments are usually marked and returned in the order they were submitted for marking.
This first assessment item is a one to two pages proforma designed to collect information about your proposed research topic.
- Write using the language of research
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Annotated bibliography
You have two options for this assessment.
Option A: Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography is a list of reference materials that includes a summary of the main ideas presented in each reference and evaluates how useful the reference is for your purposes. Each entry is comprised of basic bibliographical information presented in a standard referencing style (e.g. Harvard, APA) followed by a brief note or annotation. The annotation usually provides a summary of key points and evaluation or critique of the ideas discussed in the reference. In addition, you should state how it relates to your proposed research topic. The Annotated Bibliography needs to demonstrate your ability to critically evaluate and analyse the literature and relate its relevance to your proposed research project.
Annotated bibliographies can vary in style depending on the purpose and the referencing style used. They are usually arranged in alphabetical order by author. You are required to prepare an annotated bibliography of 10-15 high-quality journal articles, refereed conference papers and/or books closely related to your proposed research topic. Use the standard referencing style for your research discipline area as advised by your research supervisor(s).
Option B: Initial Literature Review
A Literature Review is a written report of previous research, theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches related to your proposed study. It should document the connections you have made between the source texts that you draw upon and where you position your research among the existent literature. It should demonstrate to the reader that you have engaged with, understood and responded to the relevant body of knowledge underpinning your proposed research project. The Literature Review should summarise, critically evaluate, synthesise, and clearly link the literature to your proposed project.
For this assessment it is suggested that you focus upon one aspect of the Literature Review e.g. (a) highlight the gap in the existing research that needs to be filled; (b) contextualise your study in the theoretical literature; or (c) support the choice of methodology and methods you propose to use in your study.
The full description of the assessment requirements and assessment criteria is available on the Moodle unit website.
Remember to submit a draft of your assessment to your supervisors and allow enough time for them to provide feedback before you submit this assessment for marking.
Week 5 Friday (12 Apr 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (3 May 2019)
Assessments are usually marked and returned in the order they were submitted for marking.
If you chose to complete a Literature Review it should go beyond being a descriptive annotated bibliography. It should synthesise the literature into themes.
Overview of the assessment criteria
- introduction provided the context for selecting the references and linked the annotated bibliography/literature review to the proposed research project;
- a clear, concise summary of each reference (annotated bibliography);
- clear, concise academic writing (literature review);
- synthesised the literature into themes (literature review);
- evaluation of the author(s) credentials;
- linkage of each annotation to your proposed research topic;
- critical analysis of the references;
- correct layout for an annotated bibliography/literature review;
- used an appropriate referencing style;
- correct spelling and grammar.
It will be assessed as Commendable (Pass), Satisfactory (Pass) or Unsatisfactory (Fail).
- Construct a Literature Review by critically analysing and synthesising references that have been located manually and/or electronically from a variety of sources
- Critique a range of research approaches and paradigms that guide the systematic approach to conducting a research project
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Report
This assessment item requires you to build on the research foundations, research processes, research methods and practices that you have explored in this unit. It is expected that by this time you will have a clearly defined research project in consultation with your research supervisor(s). Guided by theory and your examination of the research methodologies used by authors in the references you have analysed, you should be able to formulate a research design for your proposed research project.
You need to describe the overall research strategy that you will employ to integrate the various components of your proposed research project in a logical and coherent manner. The research design must ensure that you will effectively address the research problem you have identified. It must include the research aims and objectives, the research questions and/or hypotheses you propose to answer, and the research methodology, research methods and techniques you intend to use to collect and analyse data for your proposed research project.
Note that hypotheses are not always required. If they are it is usually for Quantitative research.
Some references used in Assessment items 1 and 2 may be further analysed in terms of the research design, methodology and methods/techniques that were utilised to collect and analyse data. This may help you to select the most appropriate research design for your proposed research project, it also allows you to track the research frontier in a specific area of research.
The full assessment specification (requirements and assessment criteria) is available on the Moodle unit website.
You should work closely with your supervisory team to construct this assessment. Remember to allow time to submit a draft of your assessment to your supervisors to allow them to provide feedback before you submit this assessment for marking.
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019)
Assessments are usually marked and returned in the order they were submitted for marking.
Overview of the assessment criteria:
- a clear description of your proposed research project, aims and objectives;
- appropriateness of your research questions and/or hypotheses;
- the linkage between the proposed research topic and the research design, methodology and methods/techniques;
- analysis and justification of research methods/techniques;
- justification of the suitability of the methods/techniques to the proposed research project;
- conclusion accurately sums up your research design;
- used an appropriate referencing style;
- academic writing style suitable to an RHD thesis;
- correct spelling and grammar.
It will be assessed as Commendable (Pass), Satisfactory (Pass) or Unsatisfactory (Fail).
- Integrate theory into the design of a research project
- Apply critical and analytical skills and academic standards to research project design and thesis writing
- Evaluate data collection and analysis methods
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
4 Research Proposal
This assessment item requires you to complete the equivalent of Confirmation of Candidature (Section A) for your proposed research project. You should draw upon work undertaken in Assessment items 1, 2 and 3 to assist in writing this assessment item. The Confirmation of Candidature (Section A) assessment aligns with the requirements for the Confirmation of Candidature submission as per Central Queensland University's Confirmation of Candidature Procedure. The level of detail required in the Confirmation of Candidature (Section A) assessment will depend on both the nature and level of the research project you are undertaking (i.e. Masters by Research, Doctor Professional Studies, Doctor of Education or Doctor of Philosophy) and other specific requirements required by your research supervisor(s) and the University's policies.
The Confirmation of Candidature (Section A) assessment should be approximately 5,000-10,000 words and contain:
- A Thesis Title, of no more than 25 words, which should be descriptive and unambiguous;
- A Thesis Abstract of no more than 250 words;
- A Table of Contents;
- An Introduction;
- A statement describing the Aims, Objectives, and Research Questions and/or Hypotheses;
- A Review of Literature, which should be conducted within an appropriate analytical framework to provide new knowledge (for example, a systematic, integrative or meta-analysis review), rather than a descriptive summary;
- A statement of the candidate’s proposed contribution to the field of research (appropriate to the degree being sought);
- A description of the project methodology, methods and/or research design;
- A thesis plan (chapter outline and identification of prospective publications arising);
- Conclusion; and
- References.
You are encouraged to frequently discuss the development of your Confirmation of Candidature (Section A) with your research supervisor(s). You should also consult University policies and procedures regarding the requirements for the degree in which you are enrolled. Remember to allow time to submit a draft of your assessment to your supervisors to allow them to provide feedback before you submit this assessment for marking.
The full assessment specification (requirements and assessment criteria) is available on the Moodle unit website.
Please note that for this final assessment extensions will be approved in extenuating circumstances only and must be supported by evidence, for example, a Doctor's certificate.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 4:00 pm AEST
Certification Day: Friday July 12, 2019
Overview of assessment criteria:
- the abstract accurately summarises the proposed research project;
- the table of contents contains the main headings and sub-headings;
- the introduction clearly introduces the proposed research project;
- realistic aims and objectives that link to your anticipated outcomes;
- research questions and/or hypotheses that address the research problem;
- critical analysis of the literature;
- an accurate statement of the proposed contribution to the field of research;
- the research design is clearly articulated and justified;
- the appropriateness of the research design/methodology, methods;
- realistic thesis plan;
- the conclusion summarises the main points of the research design;
- use of an appropriate referencing style;
- correct formatting and layout (including the Title Page and electronically generated Table of Contents);
- written in an academic style, correct spelling and grammar.
It will be assessed as Commendable (Pass), Satisfactory (Pass) or Unsatisfactory (Fail).
- Write using the language of research
- Construct a Literature Review by critically analysing and synthesising references that have been located manually and/or electronically from a variety of sources
- Critique a range of research approaches and paradigms that guide the systematic approach to conducting a research project
- Integrate theory into the design of a research project
- Apply critical and analytical skills and academic standards to research project design and thesis writing
- Evaluate data collection and analysis methods
- Create a research proposal.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
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.