Course coordinator
Professor Adrian Cherney
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
This course will develop research skills to support Honours and Postgraduate students in the social sciences to design and manage a research project. Topics will cover phases of the research process relating to: developing a research proposal; formulating research aims and questions; writing a literature review, methodological design; research ethics; research benefit and dissemination; fieldwork and data collection; and project management. On completion of this course students should have competencies in the development of research proposals, project management, and in constructing a research thesis at Honours level in their discipline or at the post-graduate level.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
HHSS6030, HHSS6040, HHSS6000
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
Professor Adrian Cherney
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course will support Honours and Postgraduate students in the social sciences to design and manage a research project.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate an understanding and application of research design principles in the social sciences.
LO2.
Demonstrate an understanding and application of methodological approaches to research in the social sciences.
LO3.
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of evidence in social science research and its application to your project.
LO4.
Demonstrate the capacity to plan and manage a complex project.
LO5.
Demonstrate the capacity to communicate your research design in written and oral form.
LO6.
Demonstrate a capacity to communicate research benefit to a range of audiences.
LO7.
Demonstrate the capacity to engage with evidence and literature relevant to your discipline.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Discipline specific research proposal
|
40% |
23/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Research module completion
|
20% |
3/03/2025 - 23/05/2025 |
| Presentation |
Presentation on research value/benefit of honours research
|
25% |
14/05/2025 - 28/05/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Research value benefit statement on honours project
|
15% |
This assessment is due one week following a student’s research benefit statement presentation. |
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
Discipline specific research proposal
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
23/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Students are required to write up a research proposal in response to a discipline specific research problem. Students must pick from the list of applicable topics relating to their discipline that are available on the course learning site. Students should format their proposal according to the proposal template as provided. Proposals should be no more than a maximum of 8 pages long, including references. Requirements for this piece of assessment will be outlined in week 1 and course content will cover different components of the research proposal.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in the course learning site.
Use of AI: Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance.
A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Students must submit the Research Proposal AI Usage Declaration form along with their written proposal. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for this assignment. The declaration form and instructions for submission are available in the HHSS6020 course learning site under the Assessment content area.
Hurdle requirements
Students must submit the Research Proposal AI Usage Declaration form along with their written proposal.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.
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.
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 experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Students must submit the Research Proposal AI Usage Declaration form along with their written proposal. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for this assignment. The declaration form and instructions for submission are available in the HHSS6020 course learning site under the Assessment content area.
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.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. 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.
In the School of Social Science, 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. 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).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
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. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
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.
Penalties for Late Submission https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184
(47) The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, when an extension has not been approved (see ‘Part D – Extensions to Assessment Due Date’ provisions) and that late submission does not impact course delivery (for example, it does not delay feedback to a cohort).
Late Period Recorded from Time Submission is Due: First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof)
Penalty: 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item, or one grade per 24 hours if graded on a scale of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks
If submission is late by more than 7 periods of 24 hours the penalty is 100%. Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Research module completion
- Online
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
3/03/2025 - 23/05/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
Students are required to complete 2 modules from the list of on-line modules available in the course learning site. Students can pick any from the list of modules that are avaliable, and these two modules can be completed at any time during the semester, but the two must be completed by week 12. It is suggested students should consult with their honours supervisor as to the most applicable and useful modules to undertake. The completion of the two research modules will be recorded in grade centre.
Use of AI: 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
Modules are to be completed online.
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.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. 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.
In the School of Social Science, 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. 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).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
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. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
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.
Penalties for Late Submission https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184
(47) The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, when an extension has not been approved (see ‘Part D – Extensions to Assessment Due Date’ provisions) and that late submission does not impact course delivery (for example, it does not delay feedback to a cohort).
Late Period Recorded from Time Submission is Due: First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof)
Penalty: 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item, or one grade per 24 hours if graded on a scale of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks
If submission is late by more than 7 periods of 24 hours the penalty is 100%. Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Presentation on research value/benefit of honours research
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
14/05/2025 - 28/05/2025
Task description
During weeks 11- 13 students are required to present a research benefit statement on their honours research. This statement should cover significance of the topic, and benefit from a theoretical and practical viewpoint. Requirements for this assessment item with be covered in class and what is meant by research benefit will be outlined in week 9.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in the course learning site.
Use of AI: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
To be complete in class on a set week as allocated by the course cooridinator
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Student will be allocated to present on a specific day and presentations times and dates will as far as possible be determined by research discipline. Supervisors can attend the presentations relating to their specific student and discipline. To ensure students are presenting in their allocated disciplines and thus have the opportunity to receive and provide relevant input, these presentations will be on a set time and day during class time between weeks 11-13. This is to maximise learning outcomes and build on the formulation of a student's thesis topic. This means there is no extension available for this assessment item. However, if a student misses their allocated presentation time slot due to extenuating circumstances, they will be provided the option of an alternative / video submission. This will only be granted with the submission of relevant evidence documenting those extenuating circumstances.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Research value benefit statement on honours project
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
This assessment is due one week following a student’s research benefit statement presentation.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
One week following a student’s research benefit statement presentation, students are required to provide a maximum two-page statement, including references based on their presentation.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in the course learning site.
Use of AI: Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance.
A failure to reference AI use 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.
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.
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 experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
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.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. 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.
In the School of Social Science, 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. 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).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
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. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
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.
Penalties for Late Submission https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184
(47) The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, when an extension has not been approved (see ‘Part D – Extensions to Assessment Due Date’ provisions) and that late submission does not impact course delivery (for example, it does not delay feedback to a cohort).
Late Period Recorded from Time Submission is Due: First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof)
Penalty: 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item, or one grade per 24 hours if graded on a scale of 1-7, or equivalent penalty if an alternative grading approach is used.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks
If submission is late by more than 7 periods of 24 hours the penalty is 100%.
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
See course blackboard site for the marking rubrics.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
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 Modules https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
School Guide for Written Assessments: School of Social Science Guide for Written Assessments
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 will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date 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/querying-result
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
For all course materials and readings see the HHSS6020 learning site.
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 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 1: Course introduction and aims. · What is research design? · Aims of socials science research – the role of comparison and control. · Research problem discussion. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 2: Formulating research aims and questions. · What are research aims? · What are research questions? · What are hypothesises? · The structure of a research proposal. |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 3: Contextualising a research problem and proposal. · Theoretical VS applied research (what’s the difference?). · The aims of a literature review (framing your proposal/project). · Pitfalls and mistakes to avoid in framing a research problem. |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 4: Research methodology (part 1) · Choosing the correct methodology. · The paradigm/epistemological divide. · Representativeness. · The role of triangulation. Week 4: Archaeology students – discipline specific class. Early stage research methods: grant writing. |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Week 5: Research methodology (part 2) · Quantitative methods. · What are variables. · Quantitative design. Week 5: Archaeology students – discipline specific class. Archaeological professional practice |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 6: Research methodology (part 3) · Qualitative methods part 1. · What are you trying to measure/understand with qualitative methods. · Ethnographic workshop – Dr Sally Babidge. Week 6: Archaeology students – discipline specific class. Preparing and presenting archaeological data. |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 7: Research methodology (part 4) · Qualitative methods part 2. · Coding process and thematic analysis. · Qualitative design and writing up methods, results and discussion. · The role of AI in social science research |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Week 8 : Research ethics. · What is low risk research. · What is high risk research. · Informed consent. · Documentation and data security. · The ethics of using AI in social science research |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
Week 9: Fieldwork and identifying research benefit · Planning your fieldwork and data collection. · Challenges of being in the field. · What is research benefit? |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Week 10: Writing up research and dissemination · Writing up reports and thesis. · Writing style and common mistakes · The use of AI in the writing up process. · Developing dissemination strategies for different stakeholders and end-users. |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Week 11: Class presentations 1 Organised class presentations - 15-minute presentation on research value/benefit of honours research. |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Week 12: Class presentations 2 Organised class presentations - 15-minute presentation on research value/benefit of honours research. |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Seminar |
Week 13: Class presentations 3 Organised class presentations - 15-minute presentation on research value/benefit of honours research. |
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.