Reference no: EM132312093 , Length: word count : 5000
ASSESSMENT 1 : CONCEPT MAP
LEARNING OUTCOMES
ULO1 - Identify an issue of current relevance to the discipline of construction management and the construction industry.
ASSIGNMENT PURPOSE
This assessment task requires the student to read extensively from a range of sources including current research publications, and industry and government reports, in order to gain an understanding of current issues in construction management and the construction industry.
ASSIGNMENT TASK
• Each student must prepare a concept map that pictorially describes their research context and how related concepts/themes/issues may be connected. The concept map should clearly identify the research gap that is to be explored.
• The concept map should be accompanied with a summary of the literature that supports how the concept map was derived. This summary should include a annotated bibliography and/or short literature review, or short paragraphs on how the literature informed the diagram. Example will be provided the class/seminar notes
ASSIGNMENT 2: RESEARCH DESIGN
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• ULO3 - Prepare a report that provides the background to your issue and its importance, and outlines a proposal for research into your stated problem.
ASSIGNMENT TASK
Students are expected to prepare a research design that outlines the problem they have identified and how they will undertake research to address that problem. The research design refers to the overall strategy that you choose to integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby, ensuring you will effectively address the research problem. Put simply, it is the blueprint for the collection, measurement and analysis of data.
FORMAT OF ASSIGNMENT
The structure and content of the research proposal will be provided through CloudDeakin in a template.
In general, it will include the following:
• Research Purpose - clearly articulating the context and purpose of the research is vital. In most cases, a good research initiative draws from a straightforward and clearly articulated statement of purpose.
• Research Questions - the research questions mobilise the Research Purpose and convert the statement of the research purpose into a set of workable questions. But as with the statement of the research purpose, these questions should be straightforward and clear.
• Research Approach – a discussion of whether the research predominantly lends itself to a qualitative, quantitative or mixed-method approach. Justify which approach is most appropriate for your stated research question.
• Data Collection Techniques - these are the ‘tools’ via which data might be collected. The techniques will vary according to whether the research is Qualitative or Quantitative, or mixed-method. Mapping both the approach to research and the techniques that will be utilised
to uncover viewpoints is an important aspect of research planning.
• Analysis - once evidence has been uncovered via the data collection techniques analysis is required to make sense of the data and to generate conclusions from the research inquiry. How analysis is undertaken, and which aspects of the data are noted and used as
evidence will determine what assessments are made. The analysis may be limited to critical literature review, or content analysis, thematic analysis, case study analysis, statistical analysis, comparative analysis, etc.
• Limitations and Scope: It is important to reflect on the limitations and scope of your research. Think about what is achievable within the timeframe of 1 trimester. Can you actually get the data you need for the research? Do you have to travel to get the data required? Is the study limited to Australia, or just one state, or a particular type of project or contractor classification?
ASSIGNMENT 3: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR ASSIGNMENT 3:
At the completion of this assessment you will be able to:
• ULO2 - Critically analyse underpinning literature to support the development of a research proposal.
• ULO4 - Demonstrate skills in professional written communication.
ASSESSMENT TASK
Now that you have an understanding of your research topic and its importance you need to plan how you will undertake research that addresses this problem. This plan is formally known as a Research Proposal. A good research proposal will demonstrate that you have a clear vision of what you want to investigate, what data or information you need to obtain in order to address your research question and
how you will obtain this data.
The importance of being “critical” cannot be over-emphasised. Your review of existing literature to identify a ‘gap’ in research for your investigation is not just an account of what others have said, but a thoughtful analysis and synthesis of ideas. You are allowed and encouraged to disagree and to question, seek out controversy and perhaps test it later in your research.
The research proposal will be useful in giving you focus and serves as a starting point for your Research Proposal for SRR721.
STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The structure and content of the research proposal will be provided through CloudDeakin in a template.
In general, it will include the following:
• Title of research – make sure it is clear, specific, simple and informative
• Background to topic: A critical and detailed analysis of current knowledge on your topic
• Research Questions
• Research aim and objectives (limit the number of objectives to no more than 5. It is recommended that you have just 1 aim)
• The importance of your research.
• Your research design, that is, the data (information) you need to answer your research question and the research method that you will use to obtain that data (‘what’ and ‘how’). A brief explanation of why you have selected this research method.
• Your research timeline. This includes a bar chart or flow chart of key milestones and activities that are required to complete your SRR721 research project.
• The potential obstacles or limitations to your research.
• The outcomes you expect from your research.
• List of references used in preparing the proposal