Course coordinator
Dr Michael Gavin
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
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course introduces students to the process of designing a research project, focusing in particular on common approaches to data collection and analysis in social science research. Students will develop an understanding of the relative merits of contrasting methodologies, and skills in identifying methodological rigour and ethical design.
In this course, students will learn about developing research questions, locating them within a theoretical framework, identifying the most appropriate methodological designs and methods to answer them and consider the ethical implications of their research. At the end of the course, students should be able to develop a research project suitable for Masters level. Even if you are not planning to undertake a thesis, these exercises will enhance your critical skills as a consumer of social research, thus delivering benefits for your current studies and beyond.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
GO845
Course contact
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The course consists of 13 two-hour seminars.
Aims and outcomes
The main aim of this course is to introduce students to the research process in the social sciences, including how to choose research questions and undertake a literature review, as well as introduce students to a range of methods and methodologies commonly used. This course will assist students in designing a viable research proposal appropriate for a Masters level project. By the end of the course students should have developed a sophisticated understanding of the research process, the relative merits of contrasting methodological approaches to social inquiry and an appreciation of the issues that need to be considered in order to produce ethically sound social research.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a well-founded knowledge of the key ideas and issues in the field of research methods.
LO2.
Demonstrate acquired conceptual and analytical capacities, along with an ability to apply these skills as appropriate.
LO3.
Develop intellectual tools and skills that will make you more competitive in your future professional activities in a variety of fields and positions.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution | Course engagement | 30% |
23/07/2024 - 22/10/2024 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Mini dataset and analysis (3000 words) | 40% |
25/10/2024 5:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique, Practical/ Demonstration | Short methods essay (1000 words) OR Lead a seminar | 15% |
Short methods essay: 15/10/2024 4:00pm Lead a seminar: throughout the semester |
| Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation | Mini dataset poster session | 15% |
22/10/2024 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Course engagement
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
23/07/2024 - 22/10/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Active engagement with the teaching activities and course materials is an essential part of studying POLS7701. To encourage this engagement, 30% of your grade will be based on course engagement. This consists of two components:
1. Seminar participation (14%) - weeks 2-12
Seminar participation is worth 14 of the available 30 course engagement marks. Participation is not just about making smart comments or getting answers to questions right; it is also about airing ideas, asking questions, and contributing to a productive classroom discussion. Mike will keep a record of who participates in seminar discussions. Participation in each seminar is worth up to 2 marks in weeks 2-12. Your best seven seminars will be used towards your participation mark.
If you cannot attend the seminar due to a valid reason (i.e. exceptional circumstances / illness supported by relevant documentation), please contact me prior to the seminar by email and you may be allowed to complete substitute work in lieu of seminar participation. If your request is approved, you will submit an agreed-upon piece of assessment before the next seminar.
2. Reading responses (16%) - weeks 2-12
Reading responses are worth 16 of the available 30 course engagement marks. You must complete eight short reading responses (400-500 words). Each reading response is worth up to 2 marks. Your reading response should briefly summarize the key ideas in the week’s readings and some additional short thoughts on the topic (a critique/experience/pros/cons with a particular method/idea, etc.). You must submit each reading response via Blackboard and using Turnitin by Tuesday 2pm for the relevant week. Responses submitted after Tuesday 4pm will not be accepted. However, if you are unable to submit a reading response by the due date due to exceptional circumstances / illness (relevant supporting documentation is required), please contact me before 2pm on the day of the seminar.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
Reading responses submitted after Tuesday 4pm will not be accepted
Mini dataset and analysis (3000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
25/10/2024 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
This assessment requires students to construct an original dataset and conduct a brief analysis. Building a dataset may sound daunting, but I will be with you to guide you through the process from start to finish. For those having difficulty finding a topic, I have several possible datasets for you to work on. The main tasks of this assessment are to describe why collecting the data is valuable, how the primary/secondary sources were collected, how you coded your observations, and then to conduct a brief analysis. At various points in the semester class time will be reserved for students to give updates on their research and receive feedback from other students in the class. Further details will be provided in class.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
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.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Short methods essay (1000 words) OR Lead a seminar
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
Short methods essay: 15/10/2024 4:00pm
Lead a seminar: throughout the semester
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Option 1. If you choose to do a short essay, it should be on one of two topics. First, you can focus on research ethics. In this case, you should identify and critique a piece of research from the past that did not follow adequate ethical practices. Second, you can compare two studies that examine the same question but use different methodologies. What can we learn (and/or not learn) from each study?
Option 2. If you choose to lead a seminar, you are expected to lead the class that day. Up to 2 people can lead a seminar. You should be prepared to lead the discussion and be the “expert” for the day. In principle there are several ways in which you can lead a discussion. A simple format would be to set the stage for the seminar by speaking about the week’s topic and readings for a few minutes before turning to the class with some discussion questions. I also suggest having a list of questions on standby to get the conversation back on track if necessary.
If you are unable to attend your chosen seminar due to exceptional circumstances / illness (relevant supporting documentation is required), please contact me before 2pm on the day of the seminar and we will work something out. For example, I may allow you to complete a research proposal instead.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
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.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Mini dataset poster session
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Presentation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
22/10/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
In the final class of the year, students will participate in a poster session presenting their mini dataset. In addition to being stationed at your poster discussing your research and answering questions, students will have the opportunity to mingle and learn about other students’ research.
If you are unable to attend the poster session due to exceptional circumstances / illness (relevant supporting documentation is required), please contact me before 2pm on the day of the poster session. Instead, you will complete a review/critique of another student’s project.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student does not address the question, shows no evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student addresses the question poorly and shows very little evidence of reading. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay and employs some research which is correlated with the argument. Makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flow appears throughout the assignment. The student addresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However, falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student makes a reasonable effort to provide evidence to support a visible argument and employs an adequate research base to support the argument. Achieves a reasonable, if not completely coherent standard of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A recognisable narrative flow is sustained throughout the essay. The student answers the question and shows evidence of adequate research and a degree of understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student provides suitable evidence to support an argument and employs a comprehensive research base that directly relates to the topic, though it may not completely support the argument. Achieves decent levels of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers the question in a direct, well supported fashion and shows evidence of some wide reading and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic and provides a considerable amount of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs a reasonably extensive and well-organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves a high level of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers the question in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employs wide research and shows a sound understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic and succeeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs an extensive and well organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers the question in a direct and elegant fashion, employs significant research and shows a deep understanding of the issues at hand. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be awarded on the following basis:
1.ﾠFailﾠ 1 - 19%
2. Failﾠ 20 - 44%
3. Failﾠ 45 - 49%
4. Passﾠ 50 - 64 %
5. Creditﾠ 65 - 74 %
6. Distinctionﾠ 75 - 84 %
7. High Distinctionﾠ 85 - 100 %
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Word Count and Word Limit Penalty
Unless otherwise indicated, in the case of written submissions with a specified word count, you are given a +10% leeway on the upper word limit. If your written submission is over this leeway limit, it will attract a 10 percentage point penalty. For example, if your essay is 1,500 words, you may write up to 1,650 before attracting a word count penalty. If your essay exceeds the upper word limit, it will attract a 10% word count penalty. Therefore, if your essay is worth 40 marks, you will lose 4 marks from your allotted grade. Unless specified, penalties only apply to exceeding the word length, not for failure to write a sufficient amount.
Students should note:
• The Author-date in-text referencing system will count toward the word length;
• References in the Footnote referencing system will not count toward the word length. If you are using footnotes, any content included in footnotes beyond the specific text reference will count towards the word length.
Marking Criteria/Rubric
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
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
Essay Guide
The School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide can be downloaded from the School’s Student Support webpage.
The Guide sets out guidelines you should follow in preparing written assignments.
Essay Writing Assistance
The School of Political Science and International Studies schedules regular “drop-in” sessions designed to provide one-on-one advice and assistance in essay planning and writing.
There is no need to make an appointment and you are encouraged to bring your essay with you.
The day and time of these sessions will be finalized at the beginning of each semester and published on the Student Support webpage.
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills and thus your academic performance in this course.
Library Resources
UQ Library offers training in software, assignment writing, research skills, and publishing and research management.
The University’s library holdings for Political Science and International Studies are primarily located in the Central Library.
There is a help desk in the Library. Students are also welcome to contact the BEL/HASS Librarians for assistance.
Email: librarians@library.uq.edu.au
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 |
|---|---|---|
Seminar |
Week 1: Introduction In this seminar we will go over course expectations and how research methods can help us think more clearly about the social world. |
|
Seminar |
Week 2: Politics as science? In this seminar we will examine to what extent political science can be understood as a science. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 3: Questions, theories, literature reviews This week we will discuss the most basic building blocks of a research project. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 4: Measurement Measurement in the social sciences is surprisingly difficult. We will talk about it. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 5: Causality Establishing causality is also difficult in the social sciences. We will talk about it. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 6: Selection bias Case selection and selection bias are important obstacles to causal inference. In this seminar we will examine why and see what can be done about it. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 7: Ethics Adhering to ethical principles is crucial to safeguard the dignity, rights, and welfare of research participants. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 8: Experiments The next four seminars will focus on specific research methodologies. We begin with experiments, the purported gold standard of research design. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 9: Process tracing and path dependency This seminar will examine these influential methods in qualitative research. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break - No Class |
|
Seminar |
Week 10: Small-n Comparison is at the heart of small-n research. In this seminar we will examine why this is and how comparative case studies can be done effectively. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 11: Large-n Large-n observational studies that use statistical techniques have grown in popularity in recent decades. In this seminar we examine the pros and cons of this method. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 12: AI tools and data visualization Using AI will only become more important over time. In this seminar we will talk about it. I am also interested in hearing your experiences with AI. We will also examine some interesting examples of data visualization. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Seminar |
Week 13: Poster session Students will participate in a poster session for their mini dataset projects. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
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.