4000ENG
Research Methods & Statistics
Assignment
Semester 1 - 2015

COURSE ASSIGNMENT

Report Due Date: 4th June 2015.
Submit Report to: Library – Assignment Services
Length of Report: 4000 words (7 – 8 pages, excluding reference list)
Weighting: 50%
Overall Objective
The ‘Research Methods’ part of the course has a SINGLE assignment which will be primarily assessed on the student’s proficiency in describing and explaining the skills required for selected stages of the scientific research process.
The assignment contributes in part to a total understanding of the scientific research process, from initial definition of the research problem, generation of research questions and hypotheses and recommendations for undertaking the research. The overall objective of your assignment is simply for you to give a comprehensive, well structured, and methodical approach, with adequate supporting literature references, on HOW the particular selected research topic needs to be researched, with specific reference to the research problem, research questions, research hypotheses, research methodology including theoretical and empirical examples throughout all the stages of the scientific research process. The student is NOT expected to conduct actual research in the selected topic.
Research Topic
Students may select ANY research topic for completion of their assignments based on the following criteria:
1. The topic has relevance to the Engineering field
2. The topic has been the focus of a journal or conference publication, authored (or co-authored) by a GU staff member
3. The identified publication (refer to point 2, above) is relatively recent (publication date is 2011 – Present)
You will be working in groups of no more than 4 students.
Assignment Details
Before starting this assignment read the Assessment Marking Criteria on the following page. Each assignment must be presented in typical report format.
Read the following Assignment Task and respond in the format of a typical formal report. Students must present supporting material from at LEAST six (6) relevant references which include academic journal articles (minimum requirement). Your assignment must present your own work and will be checked for duplication of other authored material.
Assignment Task
The Assignment relates to the research design stage of the scientific research process and includes course learning material introduced in Weeks 7 through to 12, covering topics such as:
Engineering research project design. The construct of engineering research.
The engineering research topic and problem.
The appropriate logical reasoning approach.
The literature review leading to the research questions
Engineering research questions and hypotheses. Research methodology and methods application.
Write a formal report describing in detail HOW your particular selected research topic needs to be researched, including appropriate theoretical and empirical examples explaining your approach to identifying the research problem, conducting a preliminary literature review and assessment, adopting the appropriate logical reasoning approach, generating specific research questions, formulating research hypotheses, and deciding on what your intended research methodology would be – an outline of what is intended.
Additional Requirements
Assessment marks will be given in accordance with each assignment’s assessment sheet for content, presentation, brevity, format, and logic. Marks will be deducted for poor referencing, inadequate paragraph numbering, surplus words and irrelevant detail.


4000ENG
Research Methods & Statistics
Assignment: Research Design Semester 1 - 2015
COURSE ASSESSMENT

Name………………………..Student No.……………………Signature ……………………………
Name………………………..Student No.……………………Signature ……………………………
Name………………………..Student No.……………………Signature ……………………………
Name………………………..Student No.……………………Signature ……………………………
Assessment Marking Criteria: Assessment of this assignment will be based on the extent to which it meets each of the following criteria:
CONTENT: Your assignment content must demonstrate:
A thorough knowledge and critical analysis of the appropriate course material expressed in a coherent report format with typical headings supporting the report’s beginning, body and conclusion.
Marks /25
Appropriateness of application and extent of coverage of the Assignment Task topics.
Marks /25
Knowledge and application of example theories and models in support of your approach.
Marks /20
Relevant literature (cite at LEAST six [6] references including academic journals).
Marks /15

PRESENTATION: Your assignment presentation must demonstrate:
Clarity of expression/grammar and spelling.

Marks /5

Strict conformity to referencing style of the author-date system of referencing.
Marks /5
Appropriate presentation volume within the specified minimum/maximum word limit.
Marks /5

Total Marks /100