Note: This unit version is currently under review and is subject to change!
INFO5993: IT Research Methods (2017 - Semester 1)
| Unit: | INFO5993: IT Research Methods (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Postgraduate |
| Faculty/School: | School of Information Technologies |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
HoseinyFarahabady, M. Reza
Professor Zomaya, Albert |
| Session options: | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| Versions for this Unit: |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | This unit will provide an overview of the different research methods that are used in IT. Students will learn to find and evaluate research on their topic and to present their own research plan or results for evaluation by others. The unit will develop a better understanding of what research in IT is and how it differs from other projects in IT. This unit of study is required for students in IT who are enrolled in a research project as part of their Honours or MIT/MITM degree. It is also recommended for students enrolled or planning to do a research degree in IT and Engineering. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | None. |
| Lecturer/s: |
HoseinyFarahabady, M. Reza
Professor Zomaya, Albert |
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| Timetable: | INFO5993 Timetable | |||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.
| Attribute Development Method | Attribute Developed |
| Sound knowledge of fundamental evaluation approaches of research in IT | Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4) |
| Searching library web site, domain-specific databases and internet for academic literature | Information Seeking (Level 4) |
| Developping effective written and oral communication skills | Communication (Level 4) |
| Development of research skills, literature search, research methods specific to IT and understanding of ethical practice in academia | Professional Conduct (Level 4) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4)| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
A1 (10%): Database Search Results A2 (15%): Presentation of a Research Paper A3 (30%): Literature Review (25%) and Outline of Research (10%) A4 (45%): Write your own paper (30%), and review others’ (15%) |
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| Grading: |
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| Policies & Procedures: | IMPORTANT: School policy relating to Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism. In assessing a piece of submitted work, the School of IT may reproduce it entirely, may provide a copy to another member of faculty, and/or to an external plagiarism checking service or in-house computer program and may also maintain a copy of the assignment for future checking purposes and/or allow an external service to do so. Other policies See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies. |
Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
| Week | Description |
| Week 1 | Introduction to Research Methods Part 1 |
| Week 2 |
Introduction to Research Methods Part 2 Literature Review and Search |
| Week 3 |
Writing a literature review Writing a thesis research proposal |
| Assessment Due: Database Search Results | |
| Week 4 | Student Presentation (Assignment 2) |
| Week 5 | Student Presentation (Assignment 2) |
| Week 6 | Student Presentation (Assignment 2) |
| Week 7 | Evaluation Methods (I) |
| Assessment Due: Literature Review and Outline of Research | |
| Week 8 |
Evaluation Methods (II) PhD Optimization |
| Week 9 | Evaluation Methods (III) |
| Week 10 |
IP Law Industrial Research and Development |
| Assessment Due: Write your own paper and review others` | |
| Week 11 | Student Presentation (Assignment 4) |
| Week 12 | Student Presentation (Assignment 4) |
| Week 13 | Student Presentation (Assignment 4) |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 4) | Yes | 22% |
| Information Seeking (Level 4) | Yes | 8% |
| Communication (Level 4) | Yes | 46% |
| Professional Conduct (Level 4) | Yes | 24% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.
