Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
Training for students in all facets of Social Impact Assessment including project establishment and management, social mapping, survey options and tools, legal frameworks, cultural heritage and report production.
Social Impact Assessment (SIA) isﾠboth a field of study and an integral part of the planning process in the design of interventions which impact human populations.ﾠSIA is relevant toﾠvarious types of urban planning, development and humanitarian aid, health policy, mining, resource management, and other similar initiatives. Its contributions to policy and decision-making haveﾠbeen firmly established. Powerful international organisations such as the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation now require the completion of SIA studies before major projects are funded. Through SIA, social scientists,ﾠpredominantly anthropologists andﾠsociologists,ﾠcan make a substantial difference to the quality and condition of human communities.ﾠ
The course is broadly divided into three identifiable blocks of four weeks, with the first block addressing qualitative SIA research and key concepts, the second addressing senses of place, including practitioner perspectives and application in urban settings, and the third aimed at the completion of the main student research project for the course, including fieldwork data analysis, writing and report production.
ANTH3019 introduces the theoretical and methodological frameworks involved in social impact assessment.ﾠStudents will become familiar with the theories, ethical and legal contexts that underpin this field, several types of impact assessments, and will engage with case studies. Particular attention in the course is paid to impacts on Indigenous people, senses of place, notions of community, and the ways in which projects can impact social and cultural practices. Cross-cultural comparisons are made by drawing on examples from around the world.
Throughout the course you will work in a groupﾠon an actual SIA study in Brisbane. You will learn how to develop a research plan, undertake literature research, community profiling and conduct actual qualitative field research in an ethically sound and collaborative manner. You will be guided in this process, leading to a small writtenﾠimpact study to be completed at the end of the course.
In summary, the course aims to assist student employment opportunties by combiningﾠboth practical learning (fieldwork) about major contemporary concerns and intellectual engagement withﾠkey social science concepts. For students who perform well in this course, there may be opportunities for an internship at an SIA consulting firm in Brisbane.
As students in an undergraduate course you will be assessed at that level.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
AS310 or SO325 or SOCY3070 or SO397 or 310 or ANTH7019 or SOCY7130
Course contact
School enquiries
Student Enquiries School of Social Science
Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland.
Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
Social Impact Assessment (SIA) isﾠboth a field of study and an integral part of the planning process in the design of interventions on populations.ﾠSIA is an importantﾠaspect of many of the changes that take place in various types of urban planning, development and humanitarian aid, health policy, mining, resource managementﾠ, and other similar initiatives.ﾠ ﾠ This course introduces the basic theoretical and methodological frameworks involved in assessing social impacts. Students will be expected to familiarise themselves with the most common techniques and tools utilised in impact assessment by undertaking a group research project designed to simulate a professional experience. This includes fieldwork skills, observational skills and reporting. ﾠ SIA entails the practical application of a body of theory. Students are expected to engage with the theoretical aspects of this course to gain an appropriate grasp of SIA and to enable them to work confidently in the public and private sectors.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Gain a basic understanding of the theoretical and methodological foundations of SIA;
LO2.
Knowledge of the process and data collection techniques involved in an SIA
LO3.
Experience in completing a SIA report of a high quality standard
LO4.
Project management skills and the ability to work professionally in a team environment
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project | Group Project Research Plan | 30% |
16/08/2024 2:00 pm |
| Reflection | Reflection | 20% |
13/09/2024 2:00 pm |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Group peer assessment of individual contributions
|
10% |
18/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Project | Research Report | 40% |
28/10/2024 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Group Project Research Plan
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
16/08/2024 2:00 pm
Task description
Each group prepares a research plan which should contain the following:
1. Project Title
2. Brief description of the development to be assessed
3. Description of the 'area of influence' / 'community' predicted to be impacted.
4. Detailed research plan, including a task timeline and the people responsible for the various tasks. Research may include archival research, academic literature review, review of ABS census data, interviews, and observations. Give details about the kinds of people you wish to conduct fieldwork with, and why. Describe what kinds of questions you plan to address during the research, and why that might be useful for the SIA.
5. Reference list (APA 7)
The plan, excluding the title page and reference list, is to be no more than 1500 words. It can contain images and tables. We will workshop the draft research plans during class.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
AI Use: Also note that this assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
To be submitted via Turnitin (one plan per group). One member of each research group must submit the group's assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
Turnitin links will be configured to permit early submission of assessment items. Students will have the opportunity to submit draft assignments to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment in order to review similarity index content and to improve academic writing practice in accordance with UQ Academic Integrity policies.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. Please note that on the preview page, your assignment will be shown without formatting. Your assignment will retain formatting and your course coordinator/tutor will be able to see formatted assignments. Once you have submitted your assignment you are able to go back and view your submission with the correct formatting.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again. If you are unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension through your student portal on my.UQ.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS team via AskUs.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Group issues, individual performance issues, or member illness are generally not considered sufficient grounds for an extension of a group assessment item. These issues should be actively managed by the group and the Course Coordinator, as appropriate (Applying for an assessment extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland).
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Reflection
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
13/09/2024 2:00 pm
Task description
Each student submits a reflection. The reflection is to be 500 words (Times New Roman 12, line spacing 1.5), with a reference list on a separate page. The reflection should address what you have found the most interesting and challenging parts of the group project fieldwork so far in light of the class readings from week 5 to 8 (e.g. themes of belonging, urban place and politics, data collection, and mega-events).
Further details and instructions available on Blackboard.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
AI Use: This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
To be submitted via Turnitin. You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
Turnitin links will be configured to permit early submission of assessment items. Students will have the opportunity to submit draft assignments to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment in order to review similarity index content and to improve academic writing practice in accordance with UQ Academic Integrity policies.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. Please note that on the preview page, your assignment will be shown without formatting. Your assignment will retain formatting and your course coordinator/tutor will be able to see formatted assignments. Once you have submitted your assignment you are able to go back and view your submission with the correct formatting.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again. If you are unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension through your student portal on my.UQ.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS team via AskUs.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
An extension request without penalty will only be considered under exceptional circumstances as outlined on my.UQ. You must submit the extension request as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission due date.
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
Extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Extensions exceeding this duration or subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ) and Course Coordinator approval.
When you submit an extension request in the student portal, it is received, read, and actioned by the Social Science Student Administration Team. It does not go to the course coordinator.
Late applications (requests received after the assessment item submission due date) must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date.
In considering applications for extensions, students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible.
Late submissions of extension requests in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Group peer assessment of individual contributions
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
18/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
Task description
This course involves a high degree of professional research collaboration among group members. This is important training for your professional career after graduation. You will be able to assess and score the contributions of your other group members at the end of the course. The score will focus on each member's contributions in terms of quality and timeliness. This includes communication and participation in group meetings. The individual scores you give remain confidential, but all group members will be scored out of a maximum of 10 points.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Submission guidelines
Submit your peer assessment via the assessment tab on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Research Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
28/10/2024 2:00 pm
Task description
Students enrolled in this subject are required to take part in a supervised group project selected on consensus by the group. Students' performance will be assessed on the quality of their individually written reports but attendance, personal performance, initiative, contribution, professionalism and commitment to the project are important aspects of learning and development.
The completion of the SIA project for this course will require a high degree of professionalism among the members in this course. They are expected to develop the ability to apply critical reasoning from the onset whereby they select a proposed project, identify the problems and issues in the project, select appropriate and effective methods to collect, analyse and organise information, and to communicate the findings effectively and clearly in both written and verbal forms. Some limited fieldwork is envisaged for this research project.
Importantly, students are expected to perform strongly in teamwork, interacting and supporting one another in completing the necessary duties and tasks. Should there be complaints and conflicts among team members during the course of the project, the problems should be brought to the attention of the course coordinator for early intervention and resolution.
More details about the research report will be made available on Blackboard during the semester, but note the word limit is 3000 words. This excludes the
bibliography and any appendices, but includes tables used in the body of the report.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
AI Use: Also note that this assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
Turnitin links will be configured to permit early submission of assessment items. Students will have the opportunity to submit draft assignments to Turnitin prior to submission of the final assignment in order to review similarity index content and to improve academic writing practice in accordance with UQ Academic Integrity policies.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own. Please note that on the preview page, your assignment will be shown without formatting. Your assignment will retain formatting and your course coordinator/tutor will be able to see formatted assignments. Once you have submitted your assignment you are able to go back and view your submission with the correct formatting.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again. If you are unable to submit your assignment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension through your student portal on my.UQ.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS team via AskUs.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
An extension request without penalty will only be considered under exceptional circumstances as outlined on my.UQ. You must submit the extension request as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission due date.
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
Extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Extensions exceeding this duration or subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ) and Course Coordinator approval.
When you submit an extension request in the student portal, it is received, read, and actioned by the Social Science Student Administration Team. It does not go to the course coordinator.
Late applications (requests received after the assessment item submission due date) must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date.
In considering applications for extensions, students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible.
Late submissions of extension requests in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Work can NOT be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary Assessment: Supplementary assessment is an additional opportunity to demonstrate that the learning requirements for an eligible course have been satisfied and that the graduate attributes for the course have been attained. Supplementary assessment may only be granted where Supplementary Assessment – procedures allow. A passing grade of 4 (or P) is the highest grade that can be awarded in a course where supplementary assessment has been granted. For further information on supplementary assessment please see my.UQ.
Additional assessment information
Academic Integrity: All students must complete the Academic Integrity Tutorial:https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
UQ Assignment Writing Guide: Steps for writing assignments - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The Marks and feedback for the final assessment item are to only be made available to the student on Grade Release Day at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/academic-progress-and-final-results/querying-result.ﾠ
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Other learning resources will be posted on Blackboard throughout the semester.
It is expected that students will seek resources independently and read widely in relation to the assessments.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Lecture |
Introduction Introduction to Social Impact Assessment: Course outline, key concepts, principles and SIA contexts. Information will also be provided about the research projects and the composition of student research groups. |
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Lecture |
SIA Principles and Practice I The importance of qualitative research and the concept 'sense of place'. As case examples, two Canadian First Nations Social Impact Assessments will be discussed in class. These examples will be available on Blackboard. |
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Lecture |
SIA Principles and Practice II Urban and rural senses of place. Further exploration of the key concepts and in-class discussion of the Warkworth coal mine expansion court case in New South Wales. Documents related to this case study will be available on Blackboard. |
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Workshop |
Fieldwork and Research Plan Preparation In-class workshop on designing and conducting qualitative fieldwork for the group research projects. Preparation for the first assessment: the group research plan. |
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Lecture |
Urban Anthropology and Social Impact Assessment I Place-Making, Data and Social Life. What counts as data? |
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Workshop |
Urban anthropology and Social Impact Assessment II Urban mega-events, social impacts, and the politics of belonging. |
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Lecture |
Urban Anthropology and Social Impact Assessment III Housing and the social effects of urban planning. |
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Lecture |
Impact Assessment: Diverse Perspectives Human rights impact assessment and gender impact assessment. In-class panel discussion with practitioners. Students prepare questions and take them to class. |
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Fieldwork |
Theory and Fieldwork: A Reflection This week we reflect on fieldwork so far, and make reference to the readings from weeks 5 to 8. Each student submits a one-page personal reflection (Times New Roman 12, 1.5 line spacing, with references on page 2) on the most interesting and challenging parts of the fieldwork in light of the class readings (e.g. themes of belonging, urban senses of place, politics, data collection, and mega-events). These reflections will form the basis for in-class discussion about qualitative field research and SIA. |
Mid Sem break (23 Sep - 29 Sep) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break No class |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Lecture |
Practical Aspects I: Writing, Styles and Genres Writing, styles and genres: why are they important? We will focus on writing SIA reports as well as social science more broadly. |
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Public Holiday |
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Workshop |
Practical Aspects II: Data Analysis and the Report Facilitation of data analysis and the production of the research report. |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Workshop |
Careers Discussion What can a career in social impact assessment look like? In-class discussion with practitioner(s). |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.