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Course profile

Research Methods (ENGG7811)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Postgraduate Coursework
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Elec Engineering & Comp Science School

ENGG7811 Research Methods will be discontinued and offered as REIT6811 Research Methods from Semester 1, 2025’

The purpose of ENGG7811 is to introduce students to research methods and materials, to help them with their theses and individually supervised projects. The course presents theoretical and practical material for starting, supporting, and advancing research project work. The course also presents principles related to research management, integrity and ethics. Finally, the course introduces students to the processes by which research findings can go forward to have commercial and social impact.

Course requirements

Assumed background

The background assumed is the same as for Honours and Masters--namely that students have completed the first three years of their undergraduate program and have gained entry to the applicable Honours/Masters program. 

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Dr Monique Tourell

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

The purpose of ENGG7811 isᅠto introduce students to research methods and materials, to help them with their theses and individually supervised projects. The course presentsᅠtheoretical and practical material for starting, supporting and advancing research project work. The course also presents principles related to research management, integrity and ethics. Finally, the course introduces students to the processes by which research findings can go forward to have commercial and social impact.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Compare and contrast literature on a specific topic and critically analyse its merits;

LO2.

Synthesise an annotated bibliography and create a literature review;

LO3.

Explain your work and enhance your verbal and written presentation skills;

LO4.

Describe the application of research ethics and integrity in different situations;

LO5.

Appraise the process through which research findings can move towards commercialisation and social impact;

LO6.

Explain and communicate ideas in a classroom context.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Participation/ Student contribution Active participation in tutorial activities
  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
30%

29/07/2024 - 25/10/2024

Participation material is due at the end of your scheduled contact session. Assessment items for contact sessions received after the end of the contact session will receive a zero mark.

To accommodate unforeseen circumstances such as illness, the participation score will be based on the best 8 out of 10 submissions.

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique Assignment 1
  • Hurdle
20%

Week 7, Mon 4:00 pm

Presentation, Portfolio, Reflection Assignment 2
  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
20%

Assignment 2A. Slides are due on Monday of Week 12 (submission via Blackboard). 14/10/2024 4:00 pm

Students give their oral presentations in their regular tutorial time in weeks 12 or 13. 14/10/2024

Assignment 2B. The written report will be the journal notes from the lectures (journals are via Blackboard). 25/10/2024 4:00 pm

Students give their oral presentations in their regular tutorial time in weeks 12 or 13.

Examination End of Semester Exam
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
30%

End of Semester Exam Period

2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Active participation in tutorial activities

  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Activity/ Performance
Category
Participation/ Student contribution
Weight
30%
Due date

29/07/2024 - 25/10/2024

Participation material is due at the end of your scheduled contact session. Assessment items for contact sessions received after the end of the contact session will receive a zero mark.

To accommodate unforeseen circumstances such as illness, the participation score will be based on the best 8 out of 10 submissions.

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

For each of the 10 tutorials, a maximum of 10 marks can be earned through active class participation.

Tutorial activities can be in the form of discussions, presentations, surveys and other in-class activities. 

Written material will need to be submitted by the end of each tutorial.

This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of Generative AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

Students must receive 50% overall for the course to pass. In addition, there are two hurdles:ᅠ (a) students must achieve 50% or more in the tutorial participation (15/30=50%), and ᅠ(b) 50% or more across the 2 Assignments (20/40=50%) to pass the course as a whole.

Submission guidelines

See Blackboard for instructions on submissions.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

No extensions available for the weekly participation as results are based on in-class activities and feedback is released shortly after the due date.

To accommodate unforeseen circumstances such as illness, your mark will be based on the best 8 out of 10 tutorials.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

100% late penalty applied for the weekly participation as results are based on in-class activities and feedback is released shortly after the due date.

Assignment 1

  • Hurdle
Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique
Weight
20%
Due date

Week 7, Mon 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Assignments are research tasks based on the tutorial and lecture material. Assignment 1 focuses on research integrity, plagiarism in research and ethics.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

Students must receive 50% overall for the course to pass. In addition, there are two hurdles:ᅠ (a) students must achieve 50% or more in the tutorial participation (15/30=50%), andᅠ (b) 50% or more across the 2 Assignments (20/40=50%) to pass the course as a whole.

Submission guidelines

See Blackboard for instructions on submissions.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This course uses assessment where the future assessment is developed and iterated on with regular formative feedback over the semester. Feedback and/or solutions will be provided within approximately 14 days of submission.

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.

10 % of maximum mark per calendar day.

Assignment 2

  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Oral, Written
Category
Presentation, Portfolio, Reflection
Weight
20%
Due date

Assignment 2A. Slides are due on Monday of Week 12 (submission via Blackboard). 14/10/2024 4:00 pm

Students give their oral presentations in their regular tutorial time in weeks 12 or 13. 14/10/2024

Assignment 2B. The written report will be the journal notes from the lectures (journals are via Blackboard). 25/10/2024 4:00 pm

Students give their oral presentations in their regular tutorial time in weeks 12 or 13.

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Assignment 2A will be conducted in the form of an oral presentation to be held in Weeks 12 and 13 however, presentations will be due to upload on Monday of Week 11.

Assignment 2B will be the journal notes from the lectures.

This assessment task 2A is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of Generative AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

Students must receive 50% overall for the course to pass. In addition, there are two hurdles:ᅠ (a) students must achieve 50% or more in the tutorial participation (15/30=50%), and ᅠ(b) 50% or more across the 2 Assignments (20/40=50%) to pass the course as a whole.

Submission guidelines

See Blackboard for submission instructions.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

This course uses assessment where the future assessment is developed and iterated on with regular formative feedback over the semester. Feedback and/or solutions will be provided within approximately 14 days of submission.

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.

The presentation for assignment 2 is due in person during the tutorial in weeks 12 or 13 and no extension beyond these dates is possible.

End of Semester Exam

  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Written
Category
Examination
Weight
30%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This will be the end-of-semester exam covering all the components taught in Weeks 1 - 13.

Exam details

Planning time 10 minutes
Duration 120 minutes
Calculator options

No calculators permitted

Open/closed book Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted
Exam platform Paper based
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 19

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 20 - 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

Students must receive 50% overall for the course to pass. In addition, there are two hurdles:ᅠ

(a) students must achieve 50% or more in the tutorial participation (15/30=50%), andᅠ

(b) 50% or more across the 2 Assignments (20/40=50%) to pass the course as a whole.

Students who do not meet the 50% hurdle requirement on either the tutorial participation or the assignments will have their overall mark capped at 49% and their final grade capped at 3. Students who do not meet the 50% hurdle requirement on both the tutorial participation and the assignments will have their overall mark capped at 44% and their final grade capped at 2.

The course coordinator reserves the right to moderate marks.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.

No supplementary assessment is available for failing the tutorial participation component. To accommodate unforeseen circumstances such as illness, the participation score will be based on the best 8 out of 10 submissions.

Additional assessment information

Having Troubles?

If you are having difficulties with any aspect of the course material you should seek help. Speak to the course teaching staff.

If external circumstances are affecting your ability to work on the course, you should seek help as soon as possible. The University and UQ Union have organisations and staff who are able to help, for example, UQ Student Services are able to help with study and exam skills, tertiary learning skills, writing skills, financial assistance, personal issues, and disability services (among other things).

Complaints and criticisms should be directed in the first instance to the course coordinator. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may bring the matter to the attention of the School of EECS Director of Teaching and Learning.

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

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Distribution of Notices

Announcements are put up on the blackboard site. The discussion will be using the Ed Discussion Board.

Web

The blackboard site is available viaᅠlearn.uq.edu.au. The blackboard site contains information about all assessment components and assignments.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Practical

Written and oral research exercises

There will be assignments associated with the lecture and tutorials. These will each require several research components.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Lecture

Lectures

There is one 2-hour lecture each week: Lectures begin in Week 1 and are also placed online in Blackboard.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05, L06

Tutorial

Participation in tutorial activities

There is one 2-hour tutorial most weeks. Students need to engage in in-class activities based on the learning materials for the week. Activities will support students in preparing for the submission of their assignments and the exam. In-class activities can consist of questions and answers with responses to other students' ideas, discussions, surveys, and other relevant materials.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

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:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: