The Experiential Research Project is part of a range of ‘capstone experience’ courses from which students can select to complete requirements for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. The course is designed principally for students currently in the workforce, and bridges classroom and practice environments by having students undertake an applied research project – on a policy or administration topic of relevance to their current employer.
As a capstone experience course, the Experiential Research Project requires students to integrate and apply the knowledge and research skills they have developed throughout the MPA degree program, and to reflect on individual professional development in the context of both the MPA degree program and the capstone experience.
An important feature of the Experiential Research Project is to negotiate and self-manage an applied research project within an organisational setting. Students will work with their employer to identify and define a research problem, design a research strategy, apply appropriate research methods to gather and analyse data, and make relevant findings. To support students in this process, each student is assigned a project advisor and will have access to an Employer sponsor.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Apply key concepts and practices to policy and administration situations in an organisational setting
- Understand a public policy or public administration issue of current relevance and/or importance
- Apply skills in rigorous evidence-based analysis and policy and/or administrative design
- Communicate the significance of applied research and research findings to different audiences concisely and persuasively
- Reflect on enhanced self-management skills and the ways in which the research project experience has influenced professional development.
Work Integrated Learning
Projects
This WIL courses offers the opportunity negotiate and self-manage an applied research project within an organisational setting. Each student is assigned a project advisor and will have access to an Employer sponsor.
Indicative Assessment
- Statement of Research Intent. 1250 words. (15) [LO 1,3,4]
- Research Report. 6500 words. (60) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Research Presentation. 1000 words equivalent. (10) [LO 1,4]
- Statement of Reflection. 1250 words. (15) [LO 4,5]
The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Contact hours: The course will be anchored by four two-hour research workshops equivalent to 10 hours of instructional contact hours. This includes an introductory workshop to commence the course and frame research design; two progress workshops to support research during semester; and a final workshop to guide the finalisation process for research reports.
Non-contact hours: The course is primarily a self-directed individual research project. Students will be required to undertake assigned pre-reading in the form of foundational research approaches, and undertake independent research consistent with their research project. In addition, students will be required to interact regularly with a project advisor, and maintain a line of communication with a nominee from their Employer.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
O’Leary, Z. 2017. The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. Third Edition. Sage: London.
Preliminary Reading
Booth, W. Colomb. G & Williams, J. 2008. The Craft of Research. Third Edition. University of Chicago Press: Chicago.
Dunn, W.N. 2018. Public Policy Analysis: An Integrated Approach. Sixth Edition. Routledge: New York.
Howlett, M., Ramesh, M. and Perl, A. 2009. Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems. Third Edition. Oxford University Press: New York.
Pollitt, C. 2016. Advanced Introduction to Public Management and Administration. Edward Elgar: Cheltenham.
Ridley, D. 2012. The Literature Review: A Step by Step Guide for Students. Sage: London
Swanson. R & Holton. E III. 2005, Research in Organizations: Foundations and Methods of Inquiry. Berrett-Koehler Publishers: San Francisco.
White, P. 2009. Developing Research Questions: A Guide for Social Scientists. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke
Assumed Knowledge
Nil. However, the Experiential Research Project is designed principally for students who are currently employed in the public sector or in an organisation interacting with the public sector.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 12 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 12.00 | 0.25000 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $8880 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $12720 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
