Course Title: Research Strategies - Social Sciences

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Strategies - Social Sciences

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HUSO2079

City Campus

Postgraduate

330H Social Science & Planning

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 2 2006

HUSO2079

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2007,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 2 2013

HUSO2079

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022

HUSO2079

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face or Internet

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 2 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 1 2024

HUSO2112

City Campus

Research

330H Social Science & Planning

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 2 2006

HUSO2112

City Campus

Research

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 2 2013

HUSO2112

City Campus

Research

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Dr. Paul Scriven

Course Coordinator Phone: Please email

Course Coordinator Email: paul.scriven@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 8, Level 10

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study 

You should have satisfactorily completed at least one semester of study at Masters level before you commence this course. 

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.  

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.   


Course Description

In this course you will develop research skills to help prepare you to design a small-scale research project in the humanities and social sciences, such as a Masters Capstone Research Project or Masters Minor Thesis. The course will also develop your knowledge of a wide range of practical, conceptual, ethical and methodological issues associated with social research, to enable you to more effectively use and analyse others’ research and to commission and manage research projects undertaken by others. 

**NOTE: This course is a prerequisite for HUSO2350 Masters Minor Thesis 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes 

In course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:  

Master of Public Policy MC216  and Graduate Diploma in Public Policy GD068 

  • Make use of complex theories, diverse evidence and modes of reasoning, to extend and challenge knowledge and practice in policy and social innovation.
  • Demonstrate research literacy in terms of recognizing and accounting for the potential and limitations of research findings and their application to policy problems.

MC214 Master of Translating & Interpreting  

  • Apply high level professional communication skills in multilingual environment

Master of Social Work MC150 

  • Use appropriate research strategies to inform ethical professional social work practice and to broaden the scope of contemporary social work theory and practice
  • Apply research knowledge and skills to develop practice research based interventions and conduct independent research to contribute to the generation of specialist social work knowledge and skills 

Master of Urban and Regional Planning MC221 

  • Use a wide range of research tools, methods and strategies to generate new knowledge and inform decision-making in urban planning and environmental management
  • Communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical findings, and professional decisions to diverse audiences including policy makers and practitioners as well as non-professional audiences
  • Apply a range of communication and management skills to engage effectively in interdisciplinary teams and with diverse stakeholder groups in a range of contexts, demonstrating cultural and social sensitivity, environmental stewardship and ethical and reflective practice 
Master of International Urban and Environmental Management MC222 
  • Develop and use appropriate research tools, methods and strategies to generate knowledge, manage urban environments, and inform decision-making in diverse social, cultural and geographic contexts.
  • Apply the specialist knowledge and technical skills required to implement locally inspired solutions to a range of environmental and other consequences of urbanisation.
  • Clearly communicate complex and technical research findings and environmental management decisions to diverse audiences.
  • Provide professional leadership by demonstrating environmental stewardship, cultural and social sensitivity, and ethical and reflective practice. 


Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

  1. Describe and evaluate key theoretical and practical approaches to developing social research 
  2. Synthesise research literature relevant to a chosen question or topic 
  3. Apply your understanding of social research to the design and evaluation of small-scale social research projects 
  4. Investigate the ways in which social research informs professional practice and public policy in your chosen profession 
     


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be engaged in learning that involves a range of activities, both teacher-directed and student-directed, delivered through video lecture content, course readings, workshops and / or online activities.  You will be expected to locate, read and analyse a variety of academic research as part of student-directed learning. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. These resources will include book chapters, journal articles, media articles, lecture notes, bibliographies for supplementary reading, videos, and links to external websites. You will have the opportunity to contribute collectively to class resources by sharing your own research and sources with your peers. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Assessment tasks in this course are scaffolded, so the feedback you receive on earlier assessment tasks may assist you in developing assessment tasks later in the course.  

Assessment Tasks 

Assessment Task 1: Research Ideas, 10%, CLO 1 

Assessment Task 2: Initial Literature Review & Strategy, 40%, CLO 2 & 4 

Assessment Task 3: Research Proposal Review OR Original Research Proposal, 50%, CLO 1, 2 & 3 

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program manager or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.