Develop a research proposal to introduce your project idea, its theoretical and conceptual background, and its potential to fill an identified gap in the literature. It is important to emphasis the 'why' this research is important notion.

In week 6 you will submit a written proposal and share your research topic and proposal via Zoom to an audience of peers, supervisors and other academic staff.

As a guide, proposal documents of approximately 2000-3000 words are more likely to be successful.

Presentations should be aided by a visual component (typically PowerPoint slides) and should be approximately 20 minutes in length. Upload your slides to Moodle when you have completed your presentation.

Please note, as part of the assessment process, CQU may record your presentation. 

Proposals will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Clear statement of the overarching research aims and objectives
• Well-defined research questions flow logically from the aims and objectives
• Proposed project is contextualised within relevant contemporary knowledge/practices
• The need for the proposed project is established by the identification of a gap in the extant literature i.e. why this research is of importance
• An explanation, with appropriate justification, is provided for how the proposed project will address a gap or further advance theory in the Safety Sciences
• Presentation is well-structured and uses appropriate visual aids that are formatted professionally
  
• Appropriate use of supporting sources that are consistent with the current version of Harvard referencing style.

Incorporating the feedback provided from your Assessment 1 Research Proposal you will now develop a full Research Plan for your project that you will execute in SAFE20023 Safety Science Thesis 2. Where the Assessment 1 proposal was focused on 'Why' your proposed project should be undertaken, the research plan should explain 'How' it will be carried out. This should include consideration of how your proposed methodology will achieve your research aims and objectives by providing justification from the literature, research theory and conceptual framework. You should also include a project management time-line i.e. Gant Chart, of how you will conduct your research and meet the expected Thesis 2 assessment deadlines which will be shared with you during this unit. You will present your research proposal to your peers in Week 12.
As a guide, project plans of approximately 2000-3000 words are more likely to be successful.Presentations should be aided by a visual component (typically PowerPoint slides) and should be approximately 20 minutes in length. Upload your slides to Moodle when you have completed your presentation.

Research Plans will be assessed on the following criteria:

• Evidence of further development of research aims, objectives and questions following the proposal presentation
• Each step of the research method is clearly outlined, including participant recruitment (where relevant), data collection and analysis
• Proposed method is suitably justified with reference to existing studies in the relevant discipline and/or research methodology frameworks/philosophies
• Potential limitations for the proposed project are identified and mitigation strategies discussed
• Any relevant survey measures, data collection tools or questionnaires are included as an appendix
• Submission is formatted appropriately for a research plan
• Submission demonstrates Masters-level academic writing skills
• All sources are referenced properly in line with the current version of Harvard Referencing Style.

In this simple (but integral) task, you will complete the appropriate Low Risk Ethics approval documents and submit them to the CQUniversity Human Research Ethics Committee Secretary. Your project must meet the university's requirements as a Low Risk project. Students are expected to submit their documents around week 6 of term and aim to have their Low Risk Ethics Approval obtained by the end of Week 10 at the latest. Low Risk Ethics applications are generally reviewed within 14 days of lodgement to the Ethics Committee and a determination on approval made. Please note however that where applications return for further information or clarification, approval may take much longer so lodgement as early as possible in the term is highly recommended.

Satisfactory completion of the CQUniversity Human Research Ethics Committee Low Risk Ethics Application documents and lodgement to the Ethics Committee Secretary for consideration. Note that successful completion of this assessment item does not necessarily imply that Ethical Approval will be granted by the Committee.