This is a Higher Degree by Research training course in research design and writing in the social sciences. It is designed as an introduction to the HDR programs in the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, and is required for all HDR students across the school. It is held in the autumn session of each year, to allow students newly enrolling at the beginning of the year to participate. Students enrolling in second semester will take the course in the autumn session of the following year. Presenters in each of the classes come from across the constituent units of the Bell School. 

 

Through the course, students will be introduced to the practical requirements of the School's HDR programs. They will acquire the basic skills and understanding necessary for designing and undertaking a research project in international, political, and strategic studies. They will learn to communicate their research plans in both oral and written forms. Students will develop cognitive and communicative skills and independent thinking that will enable them to critique and debate research theories and ideas. Finally, these students will be introduced to a range of disciplinary approaches in international, political, and strategic studies.  

 

This course is graded on a pass/fail basis. To pass, a student must: 

 

Participate in 9 out of 12 weeks' sessions (LOs 1, 3, 7) 

Participate in a half-day writing retreat run by the Academic Skills and Learning Centre  

Complete Research Integrity training online (LO 6) 

Pass each of the assessment items outlined in ‘assessment rationale’ and receive an average grade of 60% across all items (LOs 2-5) 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the requirements of the HDR program in the Bell School (IPSS) and support services available; 
2. Demonstrate the ability to undertake thesis/research project planning;  
3. Demonstrate an understanding of a range of disciplinary approaches in international, political and strategic studies and an ability to engage in critique and debate about them;  
4. Identify and apply appropriate theoretical and conceptual approaches and modes of analysis;  
5. Communicate a research plan and disciplinary approaches to peers;  
6. Understand issues relating to research integrity and how to address them in the context of HDR; and,  
7. Understand issues relating to workplace health and safety (including in fieldwork) and how to address them in the context of HDR.

Research-Led Teaching

This is a research training course, designed and taught by world-renowned researchers in the fields of Asian and Pacific international, political and strategic studies. Each week, guest speakers draw on their own research expertise and experience to give presentations and lead discussions on various issues relating to the design, conduct and communication of research.

Required Resources

All the reading required for this course will be available on the course Wattle site.

Recommended Resources

Many (not all) recommended further readings are available via links on the course Wattle site.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, individuals and peer groups.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: Getting Started This session will introduce you to the PhD programme. It will set out how to approach your project and where you fit in the School. It is designed to give you a sense of what the PhD process looks like, from beginning to end. What does it mean to conduct PhD research? Where do you start? What challenges can you anticipate? What expectations should you set? What targets should you strive for? What kind of examinations will you have to complete? This session will cover these issues.	Presenters: Meighen McCrae
2	Research Questions: What do Supervisors Want? This session will comprise a roundtable discussion led by experienced PhD supervisors from different departments in the School. It will challenge you to reflect on the purpose, scope, and design of your research question. The visiting supervisors will be invited to share their thoughts on the research questions being developed by members of the class. The second hour of this session will involve a series of reflective group exercises wherein class members will deliver peer feedback to one another.	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
3	Research Design: Lessons from the Frontlines This session will comprise a roundtable discussion led by PhD colleagues from different years and departments across the School. The purpose of this session is to reflect upon the role that research design plays in the composition of a thesis, from proposal through to submission. To this end, advanced PhDs will reflect on the evolution of their research design from the point of proposal to the present moment. The second hour of this session will involve a peer-review session focused on your own research proposals.	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
4	Philosophy of Social Science: What You Need to Know The purpose of this seminar is to introduce the class to some of the key concepts in the Philosophy of Social Science that you are likely to encounter over the course of your studies. What is ontology? Am I a positivist? This session will provide a brief overview of the fundamentals of social science research. The Literature Review: Situating Your Work in the Field This session will take the form of an interactive seminar on the how and the why of the literature review. What exactly is a literature review, what is its function in the context of a PhD thesis, and how should it be written?	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
5	Academic Writing: Craft and Purpose This interactive seminar will focus on the craft and technique of academic writing. What should an introduction look like? What is the purpose of a paragraph? How many references should my chapter include? How do I link one chapter to the next? This class will tackle these questions. It will involve writing and peer-review exercises.	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
6	Project Workshops:	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
7	Project Workshops:	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
8	Project Workshops:	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
9	Project Workshops:	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
10	Project Workshops:	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
11	Project Workshops:	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues
12	Project Workshops:	Presenters: Meighen McCrae & Bell School Colleagues

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
A literature review (3000 words)	40 %	21/04/2023	3,4,6
Oral Presentation	40 %	28/04/2023	1,2,5,7
A reflective essay (2000 words)	20 %	02/06/2023	4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are expected to participate in 9 out of 12 weeks' sessions in order to pass this module.

Assessment Task 1

A literature review (3000 words)

Write a 3,000 word literature review that is connected to your thesis research. 

Assessment Task 2

Oral Presentation

For your presentation, you should prepare remarks for a ten-minute slot. Presentations should address four key areas:

1)     The central research question of your thesis should be introduced;

2)     Your motivation for engaging this question should be elaborated;

3)     The puzzle that your question engages should be explained; and

4)     Your plans for how you will address your question should be previewed.

Assessment Task 3

A reflective essay (2000 words)

Write a reflective essay (2000 words) on the topic, What are the main strengths and weaknesses of my research project, and how should I address them?

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension occurs after the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students