GSE864 Research Project (full time)
Students in this unit should read this unit outline carefully at the start of semester. It contains important information about the unit. If anything in it is unclear, please consult one of the teaching staff in the unit.
About this Unit
Semester 1 and 2 of each year
Convenor: Head of Department, Graduate School of the Environment
Prerequisites/corequisites: Permission of Head of Department and completion of 8 units of program with a GPA of 3.6
Credit Points: 16
This is a research project on any topic that can be supervised (not necessarily entirely within the GSE). Students produce papers to be assessed by referees and published in academic or professional journals. Alternatively a student may elect to submit a research report or dissertation for external examination.
Rationale
This unit is suitable for students wishing to gain training and experience in the conduct of scientific research. It comprises one third of the total number of credit points required for the award of Master, and successful students are then eligible to apply for candidature for PhD.
Teaching Staff
Convenor: Head of Department, Graduate School of the Environment
Other Staff: Students must discuss their proposed research project with a member of the academic staff of the GSE, and a contract between the supervisor and the student must be signed prior to enrolment in this/these unit(s). A list of staff and descriptions of their research interests can be found on the GSE web site.
Classes
There are no formal classes for this unit. However, students must meet regularly with their supervisors to discuss progress on their research projects. A minimum of one x 1 hour meeting per fortnight for full-time students and one x 1 hour per month for part-time students is required. A timetable for meetings must be part of the Project Outline agreed to at the commencement of the project.
Unit web page
There is no web page for this unit.
Learning Outcomes
Specialist Capabilities
Upon completion of the research project, students are expected to have gained skills and experience in the planning and timely conduct of scientific research in their particular area of interest. Students will be able to:
- Undertake reviews of relevant literature, identifying and articulating the context of their own research
- Apply quantitative and/or qualitative research methods to the collection and analysis of empirical data/information relevant to the project aims and expected outcomes
- Write up the research and its outcomes in a manner suitable for publication in peer reviewed journals, or for examination as a dissertation.
Generic Capabilities
In addition to the discipline-based learning objectives, all academic programs at Macquarie seek to develop students' generic skills in a range of areas. One of the aims of this unit is that students develop their skills in the following:
- Communication skills
- Critical analysis skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Creative thinking skills
Teaching and Learning Strategy
There are no formal classes for this unit. Students conduct self-guided research, with supervision and feedback from experienced academic researchers in their chosen field of interest.
Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes
A. Research Project by Papers
For candidates following the publication route, submission must be in the form of:
- 1 or more publishable papers totalling 6,000 – 10,000 words.
- At least one paper to be based on empirical research.
- Papers are to be prepared to a standard suitable for publication in an internationally recognised refereed journal.
- The contribution of the student must be sufficient to justify the student as the principal author of each paper. The supervisor, however, should be the co-author of at least one paper.
B. Research Project by Dissertation/Report
For candidates following the dissertation/report route, submission must be in the form of a dissertation, i.e. a coherent account of the research and its findings, including an abstract or summary, a Table of Contents, and multiple chapters setting out the aims and significance, background, methods, results, analyses, conclusions and references. The dissertation/report must not exceed 20,000 words. Prescribed length includes text, references, tables and figures but not appendices. The length of the research work is strictly controlled: overlength works will not be accepted.
Due Dates
The paper(s) or dissertation/report is due on the last day of classes of the relevant semester. This date will be written in to the Commencement of Research Work Contract signed by the student and the supervisor at the start of the project. Failure to submit by the due date, without being formally granted an extension of time, will result in a grade of Fail being registered for the unit. Requests for extensions must be made in writing to the Unit Convenor (i.e. the Head of Department, GSE) in advance of the due date, setting out the exceptional circumstances leading to the request and providing appropriate evidence. The outcome of such a request will be made to the student in writing.
Three (3) copies of each paper or of the dissertation, loosely bound (ring or comb binding), must be submitted to the Executive Officer of the GSE by 5 p.m. on the due date. Students must retain a copy of their submitted work, for reference purposes.
Recommended Texts/Materials
There are no prescribed texts and/or materials.
Plagiarism
The University defines plagiarism in its rules: "Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own." Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's practices and procedures on plagiarism. These can be found in the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies or on the web at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/plagiarism/
The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty. Penalties may include a deduction of marks, failure in the unit, and/or referral to the University Discipline Committee.
The GSE recommends that students familiarise themselves with the information contained on the Georgetown University Honor Council website which discusses plagiarism in an easy to understand and comprehensive manner.
University Policy on Grading
Academic Senate has a set of guidelines on the distribution of grades across the range from fail to high distinction. Your final result will include one of these grades plus a standardised numerical grade (SNG).
On occasion your raw mark for a unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item) may not be the same as the SNG which you receive. Under the Senate guidelines, results may be scaled to ensure that there is a degree of comparability across the university, so that units with the same past performances of their students should achieve similar results.
It is important that you realise that the policy does not require that a minimum number of students are to be failed in any unit. In fact it does something like the opposite, in requiring examiners to explain their actions if more than 20% of students fail in a unit.
The process of scaling does not change the order of marks among students. A student who receives a higher raw mark than another will also receive a higher final scaled mark.
For an explanation of the policy see:
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/Guidelines2003.doc or
http://senate.mq.edu.au/rules/detailedguidelines.doc
Student Support Services
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au.
Advice for Students with Disabilities/Health Conditions
The Equity Support Unit (ESU) provides support and assistance to students with a disability/health condition in aiming to ensure that they do not experience disadvantage in reaching their academic potential. Service provision is determined on a case-by-case basis following an assessment of a student's needs and the provision of supporting documentation. Service provision is also dependent on the availability of resources.
To register with ESU, download an Advice of Disability/Health Condition form from http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/academic-index.html. This form must be completed annually, irrespective of whether a disability/health condition is temporary, long-term or permanent. Students wishing to request support services from the ESU should make an appointment to see a Disability Advisor immediately after enrolling at Macquarie University.
Phone: (02) 9850 6494/7497
Fax: (02) 9850 6063
TTY: (02) 9850 6493
Email: equity@mq.edu.au
In person: Level 2, Lincoln Building (C8A), Macquarie University
Website: http://www.sss.mq.edu.au/equity