Course Title: Research Methods in Engineering

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Methods in Engineering

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

OENG1120

City Campus

Postgraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2016

OENG1120

City Campus

Postgraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2016,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 1 2024

OENG1120

City Campus

Postgraduate

172H School of Engineering

Internet

Sem 1 2021

Course Coordinator: Dr Shadi Houshyar

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9191

Course Coordinator Email: shadi.houshyar@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 10.10.10

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email to book an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None.


Course Description

You will develop skills to critically evaluate the literature, formulate research questions, compose a comprehensive literature review and develop research project plans/ proposals. This course introduces you to the general principles, methodologies and practices of data collection (both qualitative and quantitative) and analysis in research, intellectual property, research integrity and ethics. Furthermore, you will develop skills to design and effectively communicate information in an engineering context. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes:

4. Professional Practice:

  • Initiate, plan, lead or manage industry activities.
  • Display a personal sense of responsibility for your work.

5. Research:

  • Plan and execute a substantial research-based project, with creativity and initiative in new situations in professional practice and with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.
  • Be aware of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
  • Demonstrate professional use and management of information.
  • Acknowledge (clearly) your own contributions and the contributions from others and distinguish contributions you may have made as a result of discussions or collaboration with other people.

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.  


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

  1. Develop skills required to apply research terminology, critically assess published research and systematically manage information;
  2. Evaluate and identify the types of methods best suited for investigating different types of problems and questions;
  3. Construct research questions that are based on and build upon a critical appraisal of existing research problems;
  4. Apply ethical obligations associated with conducting research;
  5. Design and effectively communicate information in an engineering.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities including viewing pre-recorded lectures, and participating in lectorials and classroom discussions and other activities as well as presentations from experts in the field. Students will be involved in individually guided activities possibly incorporating, for example, critical analyses of bodies of literature and project planning. Delivery is online. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course

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

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment tasks:

Early Assessment Task: Brief Project Presentation 
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs  1, 2, & 5
Description:  Presentation of progress in reviewing the literature and identifying the research gaps

Assessment Task 2: Literature Review
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLO: 1, 2, 3 & 5
Description:  Critical analysis of the literature in a chosen field of study.

Assessment 3: Project Proposal
Weighting 40% 
This assessment supports CLOs:2, 3, 4 & 5
Description:  A research proposal based on your research gaps identified in the literature review.

A marking criteria rubric will be provided for each assessment on Canvas. 

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 coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.