Advanced Design Research Methods
Unit code: HDR904
| Credit points | 100 Credit Points |
| Duration | 12 months. |
| Contact hours | 48 hours ot taught time plus supervision of 36 hrs per annum |
| Campus | Prahran |
| Prerequisites | Nil |
| Corequisites | Nil |
Related course(s)
A unit of study in the Doctor of DesignAims and objectives
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
• develop knowledge and strategies for information seeking,
• demonstrate critical appraisal of research sources,
• apply methods for framing design research projects.
Also after successfully completing HDR904 students should be able to:
• Use library resources to identify relevant academic sources
• Use EndNote bibliographic software to manage academic sources
• Complete an Ethics application accurately and effectively
• Justify the choice of research methods in a research project
• Present a research proposal in written, visual and oral formats.
Assessment
Written document: Paper of approximately 6,000 words and 100% assessment marked as Pass or Fail only. The assessment for the unit is based on the final document which must be submitted by week 20. That document is a coherent statement of the student’s research area and proposed research question. Assessment for HDR904 comprises 33% assessment for the Award of Doctor of Design. Feedback is provided by:
• Classroom exercises: These are not assessed for a mark but provide cumulative feedback.
• Set Tasks: Each week students are required to write approximately 1000 words on set tasks as well as 1000 words on their specific topic. This aspect of the unit builds to form the assessment document for this unit.
• Oral Presentation: This is assessed as satisfactory or not satisfactory.
• Classroom exercises: These are not assessed for a mark but provide cumulative feedback.
• Set Tasks: Each week students are required to write approximately 1000 words on set tasks as well as 1000 words on their specific topic. This aspect of the unit builds to form the assessment document for this unit.
• Oral Presentation: This is assessed as satisfactory or not satisfactory.
Generic skills outcomes
Graduate Capabilities
• An ability to demonstrate a significant contribution to professional practice;
• A capacity for independent research;
• A high level of communication skills (both oral and written);
• An ability to engage in critical thinking and independent judgement;
• An ability to plan, conduct and manage a substantial research project;
• A potential for collaboration or team work;
• A knowledge of ethical practice, intellectual property and commercialisation;
• Employment potential and a capacity to prepare for the unknown.
• An ability to demonstrate a significant contribution to professional practice;
• A capacity for independent research;
• A high level of communication skills (both oral and written);
• An ability to engage in critical thinking and independent judgement;
• An ability to plan, conduct and manage a substantial research project;
• A potential for collaboration or team work;
• A knowledge of ethical practice, intellectual property and commercialisation;
• Employment potential and a capacity to prepare for the unknown.
Content
This program of study develops strategies for information seeking, critical appraisal of research sources, and methods for framing design research projects through text and visual material. It assists candidates in framing a research question by establishing what is and is not known about an area of design-related inquiry, areas of controversy or limitation in the field. The program also gives candidates an overview of research related topics such as intellectual property, ethical considerations, research policies and procedures and project planning. It includes appropriate research methods, research protocols and academic literacy. This unit builds on the professional expertise of doctoral students by exposing them to leading thinkers and challenging ideas in their fields, as well as the ideals and principles of research.
The outcome delivered at the conclusion of the Advanced Design Research Methods is a written document of a minimum of 6,000 words plus the inclusion of relevant visual material.
The outcome delivered at the conclusion of the Advanced Design Research Methods is a written document of a minimum of 6,000 words plus the inclusion of relevant visual material.
On successful completion of this unit, students will have developed a compilation of their proposed research that includes:
1) Title page.
2) A 200 word abstract.
3) Table of contents.
4) Introduction which includes:
a) Topic area,
b) Research question/issues (A statement of the question that you will examine during the research candidature), and
c) Significance.
5) A discussion of the history of the ideas in the particular topic area.
6) An examination of what has already been done (and what has not been done) by others in the particular topic area.
7) A speculative argument as to what methodologies or theories could be used in constructing an answer to the research question.
8) A consideration of any ethical issues that may affect the research.
9) Appropriate visualisation of the research topic, and
10) A bibliography of at least 36 sources relevant to the particular topic area.
