Course Title: Research Methods for Engineers

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Methods for Engineers

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

EEET2449

City Campus

Undergraduate

125H Electrical & Computer Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2014,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

EEET2449

City Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 1 2024,
Sem 2 2024

EEET2449

City Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face or Internet

Sem 2 2021

EEET2449

City Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Internet

Sem 1 2021

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

125H Electrical & Computer Engineering

Face-to-Face

Offsh2 14,
Offsh2 15,
Offsh2 16,
Offsh3 16

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

Offsh2 17

EEET2485

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

125H Electrical & Computer Engineering

Face-to-Face

Viet1 2016

EEET2485

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

Viet1 2017,
Viet3 2017,
Viet3 2018,
Viet2 2019,
Viet1 2020,
Viet1 2021,
Viet3 2022,
Viet1 2023,
Viet3 2023,
Viet1 2024,
Viet3 2024

EEET2572

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019

Flexible Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSe12018 (VE18)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSep2018 (VE21)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFMay2019 (VE20)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSep2019 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFMay2020 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSep2020 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFMay2021 (VC10)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSep2021 (VE27)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSep2022 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFMay2023 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSep2023 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFMay2024 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFSep2024 (All)

EEET2450

SHAPE, VTC

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face or Internet

OFFMay2022 (All)

EEET2562

Kaplan Singapore

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

OFFJan2022 (KA4)

Course Coordinator: Prof. Olga Troynikov

Course Coordinator Phone: +61

Course Coordinator Email: olga.troynikov@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: -

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email for an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None. We recommend you undertake this course in year 3 of your studies. 


Course Description

Research methods are critical aspects of engineering professional practice and scholarship. This course will provide an overview with applied exercises of best practice in addressing an engineering challenge in a systematic manner, evaluating background literature, adhering to ethics, documentation strategies, and communication in the form of both concise as well as detailed written reports, and oral and written communication of complex engineering concepts to a general audience.

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level. (This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information web page for more information. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course develops the following Program Learning Outcomes:

1.4) Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline.
1.6) Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline.
2.4) Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.
3.1) Ethical conduct and professional accountability.
3.2) Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
3.4) Professional use and management of information.


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

  1. Understand the concept of research and the circumstances under which formal research is required in the field of engineering. Approach engineering research problems in a structured and strategic manner.
  2. Undertake an effective literature review to learn the background material required for the research project and to identify the current state of the art. Communicate the findings of a literature review following the accepted standards and traditions of engineering disciplines – especially with regard to referencing.
  3. Prepare and communicate a formal research proposal including a plan, a convincing justification for the research and formal placement of this research within the context of the current state of the art.
  4. Understand and describe the ethical obligations associated with conducting research. Identify many different forms of plagiarism and ethical breaches. Appreciate the impact and importance of ethics in engineering research.
  5. Understand and be able to implement best practices in data management. Appreciate the role of intellectual property in commercialisation of engineering. Demonstrate communication skills (written and oral) to explain an engineering research exercise to specialist and non-specialist audiences with motivation, approach, justification, and key outcomes.


Overview of Learning Activities

The course will provide an interactive learning experience through pre-recorded lectures, and on-line lectorials and tutorials with significant workshop-style content.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be provided with detailed pre-recorded lectures and videos, lectorial content as learning resources. This will be supported by supplementary (non-assessable) reading and interactive material to enhance the learning outcomes. All course content will be made available online.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment tasks
The assessment tasks are in one of  two schedules: A or B. 

 

Schedule A (For Melbourne campus)

Assessment Task 1: Journal Paper Reviews
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 4, 5

Assessment Task 2: Research Literature Review
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment Task 3: Research proposal
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

 

Schedule B (For Hong Kong campus)

Assessment Task 1: Journal Paper Analyses
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 4, 5

Assessment Task 2: Research Literature Review
Weighting: 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4

Assessment Task 3: Research proposal and Oral presentation
Weighting: 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5