AGRIBUS 7061 - Research Project Part 1 - Research Principles & Methods

North Terrace Campus - Trimester 3 - 2021

This course is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge of research principles and the steps required to proposition examinations of real-world food and / or agricultural business problems, issues or strategic opportunities. This understanding is used to develop an actionable research proposal including answerable research questions, applicable research theory, justified analysis methods, setting appropriate research objectives, and planning for future secondary or primary data collection. The course also offers critical learning resources including proposal writing tips, an appreciation of the importance of ethical conduct in a food and agribusiness research, and literature search and review guidance. There will also typically be opportunities to participate in industry-based internships as a focus for the research topic, where available. This course must be undertaken prior to AGRIBUS 7062A/B, or prior to AGRIBUS 7063. It can be taken as a stand-alone elective for students outside of the GFAB or MAgBus programs.This course should be undertaken prior or concurrently with AGRIBUS 7062A, or prior to AGRIBUS 7062B and 7063. It can be taken as a stand-alone elective for students outside of the GFAB or MAgBus programs.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code AGRIBUS 7061
    Course Research Project Part 1 - Research Principles & Methods
    Coordinating Unit Centre for Global Food & Resources
    Term Trimester 3
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Taught as intensive
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites Completion of at least one of the Global Food and Agricultural Business core courses
    Course Description This course is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge of research principles and the steps required to proposition examinations of real-world food and / or agricultural business problems, issues or strategic opportunities. This understanding is used to develop an actionable research proposal including answerable research questions, applicable research theory, justified analysis methods, setting appropriate research objectives, and planning for future secondary or primary data collection. The course also offers critical learning resources including proposal writing tips, an appreciation of the importance of ethical conduct in a food and agribusiness research, and literature search and review guidance. There will also typically be opportunities to participate in industry-based internships as a focus for the research topic, where available. This course must be undertaken prior to AGRIBUS 7062A/B, or prior to AGRIBUS 7063. It can be taken as a stand-alone elective for students outside of the GFAB or MAgBus programs.This course should be undertaken prior or concurrently with AGRIBUS 7062A, or prior to AGRIBUS 7062B and 7063.
    It can be taken as a stand-alone elective for students outside of the GFAB or MAgBus programs.
    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.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The course provides a strong grounding in understanding the research process which will enable the student to go on to complete a research project as a sole researcher or as part of a research team.

    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
    1. Apply an advanced knowledge of research design options, methodologies and analysis methods (both qualitative and quantitative)
    2. Distil a broad business problem or research topic into a succinct set of research objectives and questions
    3. Create a research proposal and a plan for implementation
    4. Recognise the importance of ethics as it relates to undertaking research and its implications for a range of different stakeholders
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2, 3, 4
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2, 3, 4
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    2, 4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    See MyUni Course Materials.
    Recommended Resources
    See MyUni Course Materials.
    Online Learning
    See MyUni Course Materials.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course will involve intensive workshops as well as online learning modules on a range of relevant research principles and methods.
    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 120 non-contact hours to study the 3 unit course. It is highly advisable that students engage with the lecturer 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
    Major learning activities for the course include gaining un understanding of how to do research, as students progress toward a research proposal (using a template provided). Meetings with the lecturer outside of set teaching times (i.e. office face to face or online discussions) are aimed at helping students achieve these objectives. Active participation in these meetings will also count toward learning and assessment outcomes.
    Specific Course Requirements
    N/A
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    There will be small group discussions during the workshop.
  • Assessment

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

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

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type
    Length (words) Weighting Learning Outcome
    Research Proposal Individual ≈ 1,500 words (use template provided) 70% 1,2,3,4
    Proposal preparation Individual N/A 20% 1,2,3,4
    Active Participation Individual ongoing 10% 1,4
    Total 100%
    For specific dates please refer to MyUni. Late assessment penalty is 2% per day.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    See MyUni Course Materials.
    Assessment Detail
    There are three main assessment requirements:

    1. Active Participation: all student engagement with workshops (face-to-face and online), lecturer meetings, email progress discussions or other forms of active participation will count toward this grade.

    2. Proposal Preparation: This assessment is aimed at tracking your progress toward the draft proposal, and involves the class participation, viewing of Echo 360 videos, and discussions with the course coordinator or other members of the Uni staff/external advisers of your choosing. As such, this assessment spans the entire length of the course. To do well in this component simply requires you to spend some effort preparing your proposal and discussing it with myself or others - and if with others, then showing some evidence of those discussions.

    3. Research Proposal: Using the detailed feedback provided to you in the class sessions (very important as such), complete the template provided on the course website, and stick to the word limits (approximately 1,500 without references). See MyUni Course Materials for the submission template, which should be used to structure and complete the Research Proposal. Pay attention to the instructions provided above each text entry box, but do NOT feel bound by them strictly.
    Submission
    All submissions must be through the MyUni website as an electronic upload that can be assessed via TurnitIn.
    Course Grading

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

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    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
  • Fraud Awareness

    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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