This unit introduces students to IT research. Specifically, it introduces major research methods that are used by IT researchers including experiments, surveys, case studies, and design science. It also addresses the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Students will learn how to effectively communicate research. Skills developed and knowledge acquired from this unit will prepare students to conduct their own research, as well as to be knowledgeable consumers of others' research.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs studios/tutorials/wk
The workload commitment for on campus students for this unit is 12 hours per week. This includes:
Students must be enrolled in an FIT Masters Honours degree. Students enrolled in a postgraduate coursework degree must have permission from the chief examiner and course director.
Professor Frada Burstein
Consultation hours: After the lecture, or for appointment email frada.burstein@monash.edu
Geoff Webb
Jacques Steyn
In-semester assessment (assignments and class tests): 100%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment 1: critical analysis of published research | 20% | Week 6, Friday, 5pm |
| Assignment 2: Practical work portfolio | 30% | Complete all by week 11, Friday 5pm |
| Assignment 3: Mini-research | 40% | Week 14, Friday 5pm |
| Peer-review assessment of unit participation | 10% consisting of the average of a student's best 4 participation scores | From Week 2 to Week 12 |
| Examination 1 | There is no formal examination for this unit | To be advised |
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through SETU, Student Evaluation of Teacher and Unit. The University's student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
For more information on Monash's educational strategy, and on student evaluations, see:
http://www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions/directions.html
http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
The sequence and arrangement of topics has been changed from last semester. The aim is to more clearly identify the major research strategies. The objectives and assessment strategy of the unit have not been changed.
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp
Please check with your lecturer before purchasing any Required Resources. Limited copies of prescribed texts are available for you to borrow in the library, and prescribed software is available in student labs.
Students may be required to use Web browsers, text processing, spread sheets and slide presentation packages to complete their assignments.
These are available in University computer labs.
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | The Nature of Research | |
| 2 | Literature Analysis/ workshop on searching research resources | Assessment Task 4: Weekly assessment from Week 2 to Week 12 |
| 3 | Research in Information Technology: major methods/ workshop on research questions | |
| 4 | Design Research / workshop: Writing a research proposal | |
| 5 | Experiments / workshop on oral presentations | |
| 6 | Surveys | Assignment 1 due by Monday 5pm, Melbourne time |
| 7 | Case studies | |
| 8 | ntroduction to Data Analysis/workshop on literature review | |
| 9 | Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis | |
| 10 | Correlation and Regression | |
| 11 | Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis | Assignment 2 due Friday 5pm, week 11 |
| 12 | Communication of Research | Assignment 3 presentations; report due Friday 5pm, 2012 - Week 14 |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your MUSO (Blackboard or Moodle) learning system.
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/
Participation in the tutorials will be peer-assessed and these marks will be aggregated into 10% of total mark for the unit.
The assignment will be assessed by:
Each of the tasks in this assignment will be awarded marks based on the ability to correctly perform the analysis/test, and interpret the findings (what do the findings indicate).
The assignment will be assessed by:
Quality of individual preparation and participation, assistance and encouragement of activities of other students will be assessed by peers. Students will be provied with the forms to record their perseption of the performance of their peers in the class during the lectures and tutorials
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
All assignments should use APA style for referencing.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University's academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them.
You can find Monash's Education Policies at:
http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/
The Monash University Library provides a range of services and resources that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
Academic support services may be available for students who have a disability or medical condition. Registration with the Disability Liaison Unit is required. Further information is available as follows:
Zikmund, WG, Babin BJ, Carr JC, Griffin M. (2010). Business Research Methods (8th edition) South-Western (Cengage Learning). ISBN-13: 978-0-324-32062-6
Creswell, John W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd Edition). ISBN: 9781412965576
Neuman, W. Lawrence Neuman (2006). Social Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, Pearson.
Lists of additional readings will be provided for each lecture. See Moodle for further details.