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
- 6
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
Students work by themselves, under the individual supervision of a member of the academic staff of one of the following schools: School of Social Science; School of Political Science and International Studies; or School of Architecture, Design and Planning. This allows students of exceptional ability to engage in a substantial research project. Students need to be self-motivated and self-disciplined and will determine and develop their own project in consultation with their supervisor. At the outset of their research, it is vital for students to swiftly identify and focus upon a clear research question. The semester then involves independent reading and research, regular contact between student and supervisor, and the preparation of a 10,000 to 12,000-word report. This course can only be undertaken if the planned project is of immediate interest to a supervisor in one of the three Schools. Prospective students must themselves identify and approach a potential supervisor and discuss their proposed research question; supervisors are not assigned by the Program Director, however they can assist in facilitating potential supervisors, if necessary.
This is a restricted entry course and requires prior approval from the Program Director. Students interested in this course should in the first instance download and read through the Expression of Interest form available on the School of Social Science website.
Starting from Semester 2, 2017 the minimum GPA for enrolment has been increased to 5.5.
Full time students wishing to complete the thesis in one semester should enrol in SOSC7100. Part time students wishing to complete the thesis over two semesters should enrol in SOSC7101 for commencement in semester 1, and SOSC7102 for commencement in semester 2.
The thesis to be produced should reflect a synthesis of relevant academic literature on the chosen topic. It must develop a reasoned and coherent central argument. It does not necessarily need to make an original contribution to knowledge or involve empirical research.
Students interested in this course should download the Expression of Interest Form available on the School of Social Science website here: https://social-science.uq.edu.au/postgraduate/development-practice. For more information please contact the School of Social Scienceﾠ(student.socsci@uq.edu.au).
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
GPA of 5.5 and the agreement of a supervisor
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
#2 research methods course from the list
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PLAN7640, PLAN7641, PLAN7642, POLS7320, POLS7321, POLS7322, SOSC7310, SOSC7311, SOSC7312, SWSP7360, SWSP7361, SWSP7362
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.
Timetable
Additional timetable information
There are no timetabled classes for this course.
The thesis is due on the last Friday of classes for the relevant semester.
Students seeking an extension may apply in writing to the Program Director after consulting with their supervisor.
Extensions are usually only given under exceptional circumstances or for medical circumstances as per guidelines at the following website: Applying for an assessment extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is for students to work independently on their own research project, developing analytical and research skills and specialist knowledge in development studies.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge in a field, topic or issue in development.
LO2.
Effectively communicate the results and significance of research.
LO3.
Make use of developed skills in critical analysis and independent research.
LO4.
Demonstrate research skills, including design, methods and analysis.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution | Meetings with Supervisors | ||
| Project | Outline of Research Thesis | ||
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Ethical Clearance | ||
| Thesis | Abstract |
4/10/2024 |
|
| Thesis | Research Thesis | 100% |
25/10/2024 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Meetings with Supervisors
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
It is advised that students should arrange for a minimum of 4 meetings with their supervisors to receive feedback on drafts, and advice on research strategy. These meetings are considered essential, and are required for completing the course.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Outline of Research Thesis
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Learning outcomes
- L01
Task description
Each Candidate is required to produce an outline of their thesis. This is a formative process ensuring that the supervisor and student have agreed on the research project details. The deadline for submission should be arranged with the supervisor.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Ethical Clearance
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Learning outcomes
- L04
Task description
As part of the design process of any research involving human subjects, all researchers must pay careful consideration to their ethical obligation to conduct research that protects the welfare and the rights of all human participants. This requires researchers to familiarise themselves with the national codes of ethical research as outlined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and to subject all research involving humans to ethical review by an appropriate ethics committee.
If your thesis will involve interviews or surveys with human participants you will need to seek ethical clearance. Please review the Ethical Clearance Guideline on the School of Social Science website: Ethical Clearance Guidelines - School of Social Science - University of Queensland (uq.edu.au) and ensure you start the process no later than week 2 of the semester.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Abstract
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Thesis
- Due date
4/10/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
A summary of your research thesis to be submitted by the Friday of week 10.The abstract will be used by the Program Director to find appropriate examiners for your thesis. Abstracts should be approx. 250 words, and no more than 500 words. Please ensure the title of the thesis, your name and your supervisor's name are included.
Submission guidelines
Please submit the abstract to your supervisor and the Program Director (s.babidge@uq.edu.au) and copy in your supervisor.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Research Thesis
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Thesis
- Weight
- 100%
- Due date
25/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students produce a 10-12,000 word thesis. Students are strongly advised to read previous theses to get a sense of approach and consult with their advisor as well as Program Director.
Outline of the Thesis (indicative): Theses presented in the Program involve a wide variety of legitimate approaches and structures. The following outline of how a report might be constructed is intended only as a general guide to the key issues that might normally be addressed.
1. Statement of the research problem - context of the research, theoretical or intellectual background in which the problem arises, why this is a significant problem, general formulation of the research problem.
2. Central research - question provide your own conceptualisation of the problem, indicate your central argument and any hypotheses you may have developed on the subject. How will your research contribute to solving the problem? Subsidiary questions and limitations.
3. Review of previous research - critical review of the literature designed to locate your research in the context of previous published work. Organised presentation of the major streams or schools of research and where your work is located. Identify unresolved issues or gaps in the literature. Locate your work in an academic dialogue and show how/where your research contributes.
4. Research procedure - how you intend executing the task you have identified above. Detail your theoretical or conceptual framework. Are you adjudicating between competing or rival accounts? Describe your research design and method of approach. Describe any special analytical techniques and any important methodological issues.
5. Research findings - provide an account of what your research shows. This section should focus on your theoretical, conceptual and analytical account of the findings reported.
6. Conclusion - you now should review your analysis presented above in the light of your introduction and your review of previous research. What has your research added? What has it shown to be flawed? How have your research hypotheses been revised as a result of your research and analysis? It should also be noted that the thesis will usually be assessed by an academic identified by your supervisor within the school that your supervisor is located.
Formatting: Use the UQ's Assignment Writing Guide: Steps for writing assignments - my.UQ - University of Queensland
The length of the body of the thesis (from the first page of the first or introductory chapter to the final page of the concluding chapter) should be no more than 12,000 words. Text in figures, diagrams and tables is excluded from the word count. Fore-pages (title page up to the first page of the first or introductory chapter), appendices, and references/bibliography are excluded from the word count and page count. Confine yourself within the limit, as excessive length will be penalised. Note that appendices must contain only auxiliary material that is too detailed, technical or complex to be included in the body of the thesis but which is referred to in the thesis and is essential for the reader’s reference (for example technical details of statistical formulae, questionnaires, lengthy or complex tabular data or information that cannot be printed on a single page, even if folded).
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
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
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).
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. |
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/
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 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Not Timetabled |
Independent Work Each student undertakes independent reading and research, regular contact between student and supervisor, and finally the preparation of a 10,000 to 12,000-word thesis. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
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.