RESEARCH REPORT CONTENTS
Task: Research Report- Mini Research Project
Due Date: Week 11 – Sunday Feb 06, 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 (3500-4000 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]
[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