Unit rationale, description and aim
The thesis units form the capstone of the Honours degree. These supervisor-led units respect the individual as an independent and active learner, allowing them to further develop and implement their theoretical and technical knowledge and skills by designing, conducting and communicating a research project in a collaborative and collegial environment. This unit is directly linked to the pre-requisite unit, Honours Thesis (Part A), and complements the coursework portion of the degree by allowing students to use the research skills and discipline specific knowledge they have developed in a real world, research setting. The aim of these units is to report the results of a research project in the form of an academic thesis to be submitted for independent examination following the existing University policy.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical issues...
Learning Outcome 01
Conduct a critical review of the literature that i...
Learning Outcome 02
Implement a program of research that will effectiv...
Learning Outcome 03
Effectively communicate on the outcomes of that re...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
A specific research topic will be chosen in discussion with the allocated supervisor. It will be based on the student’s current knowledge base, expertise and interest. The student will be required to prepare and present a systematic or narrative review of the literature, a discussion of the method chosen, describe their results, and discuss the implications and conclusions of their findings.
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to best enable students to demonstrate unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes, standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements. Assessment in this unit mimics the outcomes of research in the real world.
- The thesis assessment outcome for this unit acts as the capstone assessment for the degree, incorporating the skills students have developed in previous units in terms of designing, conducting and communicating a research project. In consultation with their supervisor or supervisory team, students may elect to submit their thesis in either a traditional or manuscript based thesis format.
- The oral presentation is a common communication method for researchers either reporting back to funding bodies and/or reporting their research outcomes to peers.
Overview of assessments
Ethics Approval Approval from the appropriate Eth...
Ethics Approval
Approval from the appropriate Ethical Committee is mandatory for all research conducted in Australia and must be obtained prior to the start for data collection. This process is to ensure appropriate safeguards have been put in place to protect the rights and wellbeing of both participants and researchers. Students must submit the approval letter from the ACU HREC and the project’s assigned ethics approval number.
Hurdle Task
i) Submission by thesis A manuscript of between 1...
i) Submission by thesis
A manuscript of between 10,000 to 15,000 words including footnotes, but excluding bibliography. The body of the thesis should include a review of the literature, a description of the relevant methodology and the outcomes and interpretation of the research.
OR
ii) Submission as a journal article
A wholly authored or significant contribution to a research article, suitable for submission to a journal with the word length dependent on the requirements of the specific journal. The manuscript must be accompanied by a literature review and expanded methods section or discussion of methodology of 5,000 to 7,500 words (Sections to be weighted as follows: Literature Review 10%, Journal Article 70%, Expanded Methods 20%)[DW1] [DW1]Reweighting of thesis sections to reflect that lit review has already been marked in thesis part A. The smaller mark allows for improvements completed since initially submitting
90%
Oral Presentation Require students to demonstrate...
Oral Presentation
Require students to demonstrate their skills in oral communication and the use of visual media by presenting the outcomes of their project.
10%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Learning will be largely by means of a mentoring relationship with the allocated supervisor. Students will be expected to meet regularly with their supervisor on an individual basis and encouraged to draw on the skills and knowledge gained within the Honours coursework units and Honours Thesis (Part A) and apply it to their own research projects. The frequency of consultation might be expected to vary at different times in the process. For example, there might be a need for more regular contact during the actual formulation of the problem, at the commencement of the data collection and in the writing-up process. The supervision process, during which students will be encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and its successful outcomes, reflects respect for the student as an independent learner.