Research Project (RBUS7984)

This research presentation allows you to present your research question, literature review, and proposed methodology within a small supportive forum comprising academic members of staff and your fellow students. You will be given 15 minutes to present your progress to date followed by Q&A from the assessors and your peers. The presentations will take place at a small in-house event at the end of semester one.

The emphasis of the presentation is on ensuring you have identified a feasible and interesting research question as the basis of your research project. Ensure you motivate your research question, present the relevant literature and your intended research methodology.

The research project normally follows this format:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology of data collection
• Analysis, results and discussion
• Conclusion.

The above format is an example for a research project. In cases where the research project is theoretical, an alternate format may be used. You are advised to seek direction of your supervisor on the appropriate format in such cases.

Ethical Research

It is the responsibility of all research students to ensure research undertaken is ethically sound. Ethics approval must be sought prior to any form of primary data collection. For more information on research ethics process, please see below links:

• All research involving humans that is not greater than low or negligible risk can be reviewed by one our Faculty-based ethics sub-committees. Please direct all questions regarding low or negligible risk process to bellnr@uq.edu.au.
• Research involving humans that is greater than low or negligible risk will be reviewed by one of UQ’s Human Research Ethics Committee in a full committee meeting.
• Please liaise with your Business School academic supervisor for assistance with ethics application process.

The ethics committee meet fortnightly to assess ethics applications. The cut-off date for submissions is one week prior to each scheduled meeting.

Project Format and Word Count

The report must be a minimum of 10,000 words with an upper limit of 12,000 words of 1.5 line-spaced (minimum) in 12 point Times New Roman font. Left and right hand margins and top and bottom margins should be no less than 25mm. The word limit includes tables, figures and references but excludes any appendices.The fly page must show:

• The University of Queensland
• Faculty of Business, Economics & Law
• UQ Business School
• (the title)

A project submitted to the Business School, The University of Queensland, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of (program title) [e.g. Master of Business].

• by (student's name)
• the date
• Supervisor: (name)

On a separate page, show ‘Acknowledgements’ which must include a signed disclaimer statement which says: 

"The work presented in this project is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text. The material has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other university."

The marking guide for your thesis provided by course coordinator. This is also available via Blackboard course site.  

Note: marking will cease should the project exceed 12,000 words (not including cover page, acknowledgements, disclaimer, and appendices)

Research Data and Project Submission.

The research project is to be submitted electronically to Turnitin located in the Blackboard Assessment link. The report will be subject to plagiarism checks through Turnitin.

Business School research students are obligated to submit all research data through the UQ Research Data Manager (UQRDM). Instructions on how to set up your research project are available via UQ Library. For assistance with this process, please contact Business School Librarian at UQ Library.

Students whom submit a research project are required to submit their final project for upload to UQ eSpace. This repository aims to create global visibility and accessibility of UQ's scholarly research. You will have the opportunity to revise your thesis after submission for upload to UQ eSpace. Your Postgraduate Student Liaison Officer will be contact with you after release of final grades to provide an opportunity to revise your project. For any student that does not submit a revised project, the School will revert to your original project on file (unless an alternative arrangement has been approved by the School).

Criteria & Marking:

Examination procedure

The research project will be examined by two academia staff who have research expertise in your research project topic. Your supervisor, in liaison with their Discipline Convenor, will assign these examiners. The student should not influence or discuss the names of potential examiners with the supervisor. The examiners may approach the student if they wish to do so. The percentage score and grade ultimately awarded to a research project represents the consensus view of the examiners.

Marking of the project

Examiners will be looking for the following broad attributes in respect of research-based course work writing:

1. An original contribution to knowledge in the field
2. A demonstrated knowledge of the literature relevant to the subject and the field or fields to which the subject belongs, and the exercise of critical and analytical judgment of it
3. Where applicable, development and execution of a satisfactory research methodology
4. Satisfactory quality and coherence of the written expression, and its scholarly presentation and format (including adequate references and bibliography).

Marking guides will be provided by the course coordinator and on the Blackboard Course Site.

In the event a third examiner is required to moderate the research project, the following process applies:

1. In the event the variance between the first and second examiner is greater than 10 or across two grade thresholds, a third examiner will be employed for moderation.
2. Upon finalisation of the third examiner marks, the final average mark for the research project is taken from the two examiner marks closely aligned (i.e. within 10 marks or same grade threshold).
3. In the event the variance between all three examiners is greater than 10 or across multiple grade thresholds, the final average grade for the research project is taken from across all three examiners.

AI Statement

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.