Overview
This unit is the first of two in the Safety Science Thesis suite of units. During this unit you will learn about the process of research by exploring a safety science problem in depth by developing and refining an extensive literature review, formulating a research proposal, research questions and hypothesis, and the preparation of an ethics approval application. The assignments in Thesis 1 form the basis of the research conducted in Thesis 2 which is conducted over the following term.
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 - 2021
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 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 Student Feedback
Students were confused about the requirement to lodge their Low Risk Ethics application early in the term when the final assessment task of having ethics approval obtained was their last assessment task.
It is recommended that the supervisors and unit coordinator try and emphasis the time line for the Low Risk Ethics approval process, from application submission to obtaining ethics approved, in order to help students understand the time required for this process and the need to start the process earlier rather than later.
- Design a research study in the area of safety science.
- Prepare and present a Research Proposal in the area of safety science.
- Prepare an Ethics Application to support the proposed Research Proposal.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 0% | |||
2 - Portfolio - 0% | |||
3 - Written Assessment - 0% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
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 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 0% | ||||||||
2 - Portfolio - 0% | ||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 0% |
Textbooks
A Playbook for Research Methods: Integrating Conceptual Frameworks and Project Management
Edition: First (2013)
Authors: Shields, P. & Rangarajan, N.
New Forms Press Inc
Stillwater Stillwater , OK , USA
ISBN: 10: 1-58107-247-3
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom account (Free)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.klockner@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Project Supervision and Unit Coordinator Expectations
Use of Notebooks and Conceptual Frameworks
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session
Supervisor approached with topic in mind
Use of notebook commenced
Module/Topic
Conceptual Frameworks - Thesis Planning
Project Management
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook Chapter 2 - Conceptual Frameworks; Chapter 7 Managing the Project
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session
Supervisor Contracted
Topic Agreed
Use of notebook
Module/Topic
Mastering the Literature - Annotated Bibliography to Full Literature Review
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook Chapter 7 - Reviewing the Literature
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session
Supervision / Research Proposal / Literature Review / Ethics
Module/Topic
Topic Selection - Putting it Together and Passing the 'So What' Test
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook Chapter 8 - Research Creativity
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Peer Review via Zoom - My Project Plan (Why)
Supervision / Research Proposal / Literature Review / Ethics
Module/Topic
Research Aims, Questions / Hypothesis
Thinking about Ethics
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook - Your Relevant Framework Chapter 3, 4, 5, or 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session - Peer Review Aims, Questions, Hypothesis
Module/Topic
Vacation Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cohort - Research Proposal Presentations
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Research Proposal Presentations to Cohort
Research Proposal and Presentation Due: Week 6 Monday (19 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Research Project Methodology Considerations
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook - Your Relevant Framework Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session
Supervision / Research Proposal / Literature Review
Ethics application prepared/lodged
Module/Topic
Methodology - Data Analysis - Skills Gap Analysis
Ethics Applications Lodged
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook as needed
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session
Supervision / Research Proposal / Literature Review / Ethics application lodgedModule/Topic
Academic Writing - Literature Review and Thesis Document
Chapter
Prescribed Textbook as needed
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session
Supervision / Research Proposal / Literature Review
Module/Topic
Thesis 2 Project Planning - Timing and Assessment Requirements and Deadlines
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Peer Review Session - My Project Plan (How)
Supervision / Research Proposal / Literature Review/ Data Collection
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session - Research Plan Presentation Preparation
Supervision / Research Proposal / Literature Review/ Data Collection
Ethics Approval Obtained
Ethics Approval Due: Week 11 Friday (28 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Final Cohort Presentation of Full Research Plan
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cohort Zoom Session - Research Plan Presentations
Research Plan and Presentation Due: Week 12 Monday (31 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
There will be a Zoom Cohort Catchup Every Tuesday Night at 7.00pm (Qld time) which students are expected to attend. The Zoom details will be made available via the Moodle site.
1 Presentation and Written Assessment
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 your written proposal as well as present your research proposal to the other students in this unit as a short overview presentation.
As a guide, proposal documents of approximately 2000 words are more likely to be successful.
Week 6 Monday (19 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Monday (26 Apr 2021)
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
- Appropriate use of supporting sources that are consistent with the current version of Harvard referencing style.
- Prepare and present a Research Proposal in the area of safety science.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
2 Written Assessment
In this simple (but integral) task, you will complete an appropriate Low Risk Ethics approval documents and submit it 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 7 of term and aim to have their Low Risk Ethics Approval obtained by the end of Week 11. 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.
Where students do not need to apply for formal ethics approval i.e. those not completing an applied research project, an alternative task will be set by the unit coordinator in relation to considering ethical issues for research projects.
Week 11 Friday (28 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Friday (11 June 2021)
Satisfactory completion of the CQUniversity Human Research Ethics Committee Low Risk Ethics Application documents and lodgement to the Ethics Committee Secretary for consideration. Students should also aim to have ethics applications fully approved by the due date, however given the nature of ethics application approval this requirement will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Note that successful completion of this assessment item does not necessarily imply that Ethical Approval will be granted by the Committee.
- Prepare an Ethics Application to support the proposed Research Proposal.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Portfolio
Incorporating any 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.
As a guide, project plans of approximately 2000-3000 words are more likely to be successful.
You will present your work via a PowerPoint presentation to your peers in the final week of term.
Week 12 Monday (31 May 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Monday (7 June 2021)
Research Plans and Presentations 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.
- Design a research study in the area of safety science.
- 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.