AGRIBUS 7062A - Research Project Part 2 - Theoretical Frameworks and Research Design

North Terrace Campus - Trimester 2 - 2023

The purpose of the Research Project is to enable students to analyse real-world agribusiness problems or opportunities. The assessment of the Research Project will have oral and written components taking into account the students' workload and participation at workshops organised by the Centre for Global Food and Resources. Students apply and utilise the appropriate conceptual and theoretical models and skills developed through their participation in AGRIBUS 7061 to address the relevant issue or opportunity identified in their proposal. Students will be aligned to an appropriate academic supervisor, and throughout the course students are required to meet regularly with their supervisor to ensure successful completion of the research project. Given the diversity of the project types, subject to the supervisor's approval students can present the project report in the form of a traditional academic paper or a formal business report. Whilst the structure of the Research Project Report can be different between projects, students are expected to follow the guidelines and discuss with their supervisors if a modification of the Report structure is needed.

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Course Details

Course Code	AGRIBUS 7062A
Course	Research Project Part 2 - Theoretical Frameworks and Research Design
Coordinating Unit	Centre for Global Food & Resources
Term	Trimester 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Contact	Includes in-class time and individual supervision
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	AGRIBUS 7061
Assessment	Written report, presentation, supervisor evaluation

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Adam Loch

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

The emphasis of this course is on application. On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Identify literature relevant to the subject of investigation.
2. Source, interpret, evaluate and analyse primary and/or secondary data.
3. Draw and justify conclusions from this analysis.
4. Present research findings and conclusions in an academically-appropriate manner.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1, 2, 3
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	2, 3, 4
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	4
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1, 2, 3, 4
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	2, 3, 4
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	NA
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	2,4
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	3, 4

Learning Resources

Required Resources

There are no required resources or readings to complete ahead of this course.

Recommended Resources

Not applicable – this will be discussed further in the workshops. See MyUni Research Project guidelines document.

Online Learning

Some of the content for this course may be offered online.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

This is a continuing course, linked to 7062B – where the assessment for the courses will be due. See 7062B course site for full assessment details.
The basis for this research project is the proposal completed in AGRIBUS 7061. Students will be assigned supervisors to help guide them through their research project. To meet the requirements for this course, students must meet regularly with their supervisor (and the lecturer if needed) to ensure that they are on track and progressing their research project. Assistance from the supervisor may include advice about research design, writing, presentations and (light) final report editing.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Students are expected to attend all workshops and approximately 360 non-contact hours to study the full 9 unit course. It is highly advisable that students engage with the lecturer/supervisor during the trimester in face-to-face meetings aimed at working through the draft proposal and any questions that arise along that process.

Learning Activities Summary

As a continuing course, there is no formal assessment for this course. All major assessment will be due in the AGRIBUS 7062B delivery period (usually Trimester 3).

Specific Course Requirements

None.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Again, note that all assessment for the course is due in AGRIBUS 7062B (usually in Trimester 3 each year). However, in that teaching period the following assessment will fall due:

Assessment Task	Task Type	Length	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Written Report	Individual	8000 words	70%	1,2,3,4
Student presentation	Individual	10 minutes	15%	1,2,3,4
Supervisor Assessment	Individual	Ongoing	15%	1
Total			100%

For specific due dates and assessment detail please see MyUni. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they are progressing well toward these assessment goals throughout the AGRIBUS 7062A teaching period, and that they are meeting any supervisor expectations or agreed commitments.

Assessment Related Requirements

Not applicable.

Assessment Detail

See AGRIBUS 7062B course website on MyUni for full assessment details. As a continuing course, the full assessment will be expected as a major part of that course, but where your effort during the teaching period for AGRIBUS 7062A will contribute significantly to your assessment outcomes.

The following criteria will apply to all students.

Assessment criteria and performance sheet:
Assessment criteria	Very good	Satisfactory	Unsatisfactory
(i) Research Final Report
Clarity and succinctness of writing and logical structure of Research Project Report	In addition, to the criteria in Satisfactory, use appropriate language and genre to extend the knowledge of a range of audiences.	Use concise, fluent, well-constructed and carefully proof-read language suitable for academic work. Tables and Figures are properly designed. Follow required format and submission guidelines.	Language is not well-developed or suitable for an academic paper due to grammatical errors, incoherence, etc. Tables and Figures do not provide additional information to the main text.
Critical assessment of the existing literature	Collect and record self-determined information/data from self-selected resources, and critically review the collected information to independently identify knowledge gaps.	Collect and record self-determined information/data from self-selected resources, and summarise knowledge gaps stated by others.	Collect and record required information/data from a prescribed source.
Appropriateness of methodology used	Choose and improve an appropriate methodology with self-structured guidelines.	Choose an appropriate methodology based on structured guidelines.	Choose one of several prescribed methodologies.
Level of sophistication displayed in the analysis	Evaluate information/data rigorously using self-generated criteria based on experience, expertise and literature. Reflect insightfully to renew others’ processes.	Evaluate information/data rigorously using self-determined criteria developed within structured guidelines. Reflect insightfully to refine others' processes.	Evaluate information/data using criteria related to the aims of the research project. Replicate others' processes.
(ii) Research Presentation
Student presentation	In addition to the criteria in Satisfactory, be able to respond to questions in an effective manner to demonstrate his/her post-research improved set of skills and engage audience to generate new ideas.	Summarise the main content of his/her Research Project Report in concise and fluent language suitable for academic presentations within a specified time and provide relevant answers to questions being put forward.	Summarise the main content of his/her Research Project Report in ways unsuitable for academic presentations and fail to provide relevant answers to questions being put forward.
(iii) Supervisor Assessment
Supervisor meeting participation and research management skills	In addition to the criteria in Satisfactory, demonstrate an enthusiastic attitude, potential capability and leadership capacities to manage a relatively complex project.	Actively participate at workshops organised by GFAR and actively seeking guidance and feedback; demonstrate an ability to effectively manage a small research project; effectively take on personal responsibility.	Little attempt to actively participate at workshops organised by GFAR, taking no initiative in managing an independent research project, showing minimum leadership skills including taking on personal responsibility.

Submission

The course is a continuing mode of delivery, and thus all assessment is due in AGRIBUS 7062B (usually in Trimester 3).

Students can submit drafts and working copies of their slides, written work and other pieces to their supervisors during the teaching periods. They will receive feedback on those drafts, which can be used to improve them.

Students must submit a softcopy of the report via the MyUni website, so that the assessment can be assessed via TURNITIN. All submissions must be uploaded before midnight on the submission date. Access to TURNITIN will be made available two weeks prior to the submission date to allow students to check the originality of their work before making a final submission. The details will be provided on MyUni. Any report submitted after the deadline will be considered late. The penalty will be 4 marks out of 100 for every working day which elapses after the submission date.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

NOG (No Grade Associated)
Grade	Description
CN	Continuing

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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