Task: Research Report- Mini Research Project
Due Date: Week 11 – Sunday Feb 08, 2015, 11:55 pm
Worth: 40% (30 marks for Project Report and 10 marks for Reflective Journal)
Objectives
The purpose of this assessment is to enable students to demonstrate a critical awareness of previous research in an IT context within a chosen topic area through a basic understanding of research theory and techniques. It requires clear communication of ideas in a professional manner so that the reader can easily understand the purpose and results of your research. Overall goals of this assignment are to help you to:
• Become more knowledgeable about finding and using varied research sources in your chosen area in IT.
• Further develop your critical thinking skills and back up your points with evidence.
• Become more adept at synthesizing information and developing informed views.
• Discipline yourself to follow a scholarly research format to document in-text sources and a references page (bibliography).
• Compose a well-organized, clear, concise, research paper to expand your knowledge on a research question in your chosen area.
Background
The mini research report provides a detailed description of a proposed research idea. It is similar to an essay and needs to be in a formal style with introduction, body and conclusion. In addition it requires a critical analysis and a coherent presentation.
Requirements
Each student is required submit a mini research report (4000-4500 words excluding the title, abstract, TOC and references/bibliography). The purpose of this task is to assist students to prepare and write a scholarly paper at an appropriate standard for this level of study.
You have already done quite a bit of work for this research: you should have a tentative research issue, strategies and evidence to persuade your readers about the significance of the problem you’re researching, as well as the validity of your research issues. You also should consider opposing views or good counter-arguments that you can address in order to help establish your credibility and enhance the relevance of your paper.
A. Report Layout
The mini research report must contain the following sections, submitted in the order as listed below-
• Title Page – selection of an informative title
• Abstract - summarization of the significant concepts in the study focusing on key aspects (major results and conclusions)
• Introduction – Outline of the thesis, problem, question, etc. (stating the thesis/theory in terms of relationship among variables and examining the problem or investigating the question, or the like) and preview of the structure of the paper.
• Literature Review- demonstration of the ability to find significant sources, familiarity with the existing body of knowledge, analysis of existing research, and learning through a careful reading of existing scholarship.
• Methods (and Methodology)- procedures and processes undertaken in your investigation/study including the research design– study type, research question, hypotheses, variables, and data collection methods (as applicable).
• Results (and Findings) – presenting your evidence and developing your argument. If appropriate, you analyze your data, outline your evidence, and apply your research design.
• Discussion (Analysis & Substantiation )- match up with the aims/goals/argument of the research question/s, bring together the major outcomes of your project, interpret and review all significant findings, notes and discuss all shortcomings.
• Conclusion – briefly restate the research highlighting the implications of your findings
• References- include relevant literature sources (in-text citation and a list of full-text references)
• Appendices (if applicable) - tables, graphs, charts or any other- related to the study not included in the main paper but referred to.
Note: Students are required to follow the ‘General guide to referencing’ and ‘Guide to Writing and Study Skills’- specially the ‘Layout and Appearance’ and the ‘Report’ sections.
http://federation.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/164121/FedUni-General-Guide-to-Referencing-2014.pdf
http://federation.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/190044/2014-General-Guide-to-Writing-and-Study-Skills.pdf
[For distribution of marks, see the Marking Rubric at the end of this document]
B. Reflective Journal
You are required to produce a Reflective Journal (approximately 1000 words) that has been ongoing and progressive in terms of reporting ideas developed and other findings for the purposes of the research work.
For this part of the assignment, write up a Reflective Journal of all work relating to your research topic and research idea as you have progressed through on a weekly basis, based on your weekly work/exercises in Part B of your Tutorial-Workshops from weeks 1-10.
• A Reflective Journal is a tool that allows students to reflect on and write about their progress in their learning. They can identify and reflect on success and challenges. Its purpose is:
o To record the development of your ideas and insights through the weekly exercises
o To reflect on your own learning process
o To analyze and discuss key issues covered by class work and/or readings
• In other words, a Reflective Journal is a personal record of your progress and your developments in thinking about a subject or a topic. Although it’s a more informal style of writing than other academic assignments, you now need to submit it as regular entries developed over a period of time- from week 1 till week 10. Your reflective journal forms the basis of your research report.
• Consider the following when writing a reflective journal:
o Describe events and your experience on weekly basis (weeks 1-10 based on the Tutorial-Workshops Part B) – What did I do/hear/see?
o Interpret and evaluate the events from your perspective – What do I think about it now? How does it relate to other things that I know?
o Explain your experience- reveal your new insights, connections with other learning, your hypotheses, and your conclusions.
o Have I changed how I think about the situation? How have I used these to help organize my writing?
• Create individual weekly headings to reflect on and add a brief conclusion on the reflections at the end, all as suggested above.
[Adapted from the following sources: Morley-Warner, T. (2000), Academic writing is: A guide to writing in a university context, Centre for Research and Education in the Arts, Sydney.]
[For distribution of marks, see the Marking Rubric at the end of this document]
Submission
Submit an electronic copy of the Research Report along with your Reflective Journal via the Turnitin submission link on the course Moodle page. Please refer to the Course Description for information regarding late assignments, extensions, special consideration, and plagiarism. A reminder all academic regulations can be accessed via the university’s website, see: http://federation.edu.au/staff/governance/legal/feduni-legislation
Research Proposal via the Turnitin link
You will be able to view the originality report immediately after submission. You are advised to submit earlier so that you can check the originality report and make necessary changes (by paraphrasing, adding appropriate in-text citation/referencing etc.) to eliminate matching and avoid PLAGIARISM. You may re-submit the assignment until the due date/time.

Plagiarism
It is important to learn from the work of others and you are encouraged to explore the library, World Wide Web resources and have discussions with other students. However, work for the assessment must be entirely your own work.
*Important*
Plagiarism is the presentation of the expressed thought or work of another person as though it is one's own without properly acknowledging that person. You must not allow other students to copy your work and must take care to safeguard against this happening. In cases of copying, normally all students involved will be penalised equally; an exception will be if you can demonstrate the work is your own and you took reasonable care to safeguard against copying. Plagiarism is a serious offence. As set out in the University Regulation 6.1.1., students who are caught plagiarising will, for a first offence, be given a zero mark for that task. A second offence will result in a failing grade for the course involved and any subsequent offence will be referred to the Student Discipline Committee.

ITECH5500 Research Report- Marking Rubric
Student Id. Student Name

Category Excellent Good Acceptable Poor/Unacceptable Marks
Introduction 4-5
Strong introduction of topic’s key question(s) and terms. Clearly delineates subtopics to be reviewed. Specific thesis statement. 3
Conveys topic and key question(s). Clearly delineates subtopics to be reviewed. General thesis statement. 2
Conveys topic, but not key question(s). Describes subtopics to be reviewed. General thesis statement. 0-1
Does not adequately convey topic. Does not describe subtopics to be reviewed. Lacks adequate thesis statement. /5
Literature Review 12-15
Sources are exceptionally well-integrated and they support claims argued in the paper very effectively. 8-11
Sources are well integrated and support the paper’s claims. 4-7
Sources support some claims made in the paper, but might not be integrated well within the paper’s argument. 0-3
The paper does not use adequate research or if it does, the sources are not integrated well. /15
Methods (and Methodology) 12-15
Appropriate procedures and processes included and clear design of the research addressed. 8-11
Procedures and processes are included, and research design is somewhat clear. 4-7
Some procedures and processes included, and research design is not clear. 0-3
Procedures and processes are absent or vague, and research design is not addressed or very poorly addressed. /15
Results (and Findings) 9-10
All data (results) is recorded and organized in a clear manner. All visible observations are provided. Complete and correct analysis of data is provided. 6-8
All data (results) is recorded and organized in somewhat clear manner. All visible observations are provided. Analysis of data is provided with a few errors. 3-5
All data (results) is recorded, not organized. Visible observations are not clear. Analysis of data with some errors. 0-2
Data (results) not provided or vaguely provided. Visible observations and analysis of data are missing. /10
Discussion (Analysis & Substantiation) 20-25
Exceptionally well-presented and argued. Ideas are detailed, well-developed, supported with specific evidence and facts, as well as in-depth analysis. 13-19
Well-presented and argued. Ideas are detailed, developed and supported with evidence and details, mostly specific, displays evidence of basic analysis. 6-12
Content is sound. Ideas are present but not particularly developed or supported; some evidence of analysis, but usually of a generalized nature. 0-5
Content is presented but not sound, and analysis is vague or not evident. /25
Conclusion 4-5
The conclusion is engaging and strong integration with the thesis statement. 3
The conclusion restates the thesis. 2
The conclusion does not adequately restate the thesis. 0-1
Incomplete and/or unfocused. Does not summarize evidence with respect to thesis. /5
Overall Organization 9-10
Well-planned, logically-flowing and well-thought out. Includes informative title, an abstract that summarizes key aspects and an appropriate TOC. 6-8
Good overall organization and somewhat logically-flowing. Includes title, abstract with some key aspects and a TOC. 3-5
There is a sense of organization. Includes title, abstract with few key aspects and a TOC. 0-2
No/lack of sense of organization. Missing title and/or a TOC. Also missing abstract or includes abstract that is vague. /10
Grammar & Mechanics 4-5
Excellent grammar, spelling, syntax and punctuation. 3
A few errors in grammar, spelling, syntax and punctuation, but not many. 2
Shows a pattern of errors in spelling, grammar, syntax and/or punctuation- a sign of lack of proof-reading. 0-1
Continuous errors /5
References and Formatting 9-10
Includes range of legitimate references (internet, articles, quotations, books and journals etc.). Correct use of referencing and citation using APA style. Used University Guide for layout and appearance. 6-8
Few errors in references or citations and also in layout and appearance.
3-5
Some errors in references or
citations and also in layout and appearance. 0-2
Many errors in references or
citations and also in layout and appearance. /10
Total (out of 100)
Scaled (out of 30)
Comments
(if any):
Marked by:
ITECH5500 Reflective Journal- Marking Rubric
Student Id. Student Name

Category Excellent
4-5 Good
2-3 Poor/Unacceptable
0- 1 Marks
Reflection of learning
Shows great depth of knowledge and learning, reveals understanding and thoughts. Abstract ideas reflected through use of specific details. Relates learning with research and project, personal and general reflections included. Does not go deeply into the reflection of learning. Generalizations and limited insight and uses some detail. Little or no explanation or reflection on learning. No details to support reflection or few details that do not reflect thoughtful consideration or important aspects of own experiences of the research. /5
Structural
development of
the Ideas
Demonstrates logical and subtle sequencing of ideas and insights by connecting the student’s experiences to the research work. Transitions are used to enhance organization. Ideas and insights present but not perfected. Demonstrates some understanding of course material, but does not clearly connect the student’s research experiences. Lack of or no development of ideas and insights. No evidence of structure or organization. /5
Mechanics and Usage No errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling as well as sentence structure and word usage. Some errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling as well as in sentence structure and word usage. Numerous and distracting errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling as well as in sentence structure and word usage. /5
Content All entries are provided containing complete answers to all questions prompts. Entry provides answers to most question prompts for all entries, missing some. Entry significantly misses key question prompts or does not answer important questions and also missing some entries. /5
Conclusion The conclusion is engaging and restates personal learning. The conclusion does not adequately restate the learning. Missing, incomplete and/or unfocused. /5
Total (out of 25)
Scaled (out of 10)
Comments
(if any):
Marked by: