A subject outline provides you full information about the whole subject. It describes:

• Teaching staff
• Learning outcomes
• Study schedule
• Assessments information
• Requirements
• Policies on things like plagiarism, communication, appropriate behaviour, etc.

Reading the subject outline tells you everything worth knowing about the subject!

The subject outline for Research Methods and Design can be found here.

Assessment information

The assessment tasks for this subject were designed to give you an authentic experience of international studies research.
This subject involves three forms of assessment: online contribution, a written research proposal, and a presentation.

• Online contribution:
  • As part of a virtual research center, you will experience collaboration and research contact with other researchers. This will give you an opportunity to exchange ideas with others – this is how research is done these days!
  • Most international studies scholars communicate on social media tools, such as twitter. This is your opportunity to be train at professional social media engagement.
• Written research proposal:
  • This subject is designed to help through the development and writing of your own research proposal.
  • After this subject, you will know enough about international studies research to write other research proposals, if you choose to. Going through the process once and having the knowledge of other research approaches will prepare you to the next time.
• Presenting the research proposal:
  • Most reports, proposals, or other written outcomes are communicated verbally.
  • This is your opportunity to experience a different form of delivering your knowledge, with the added complexity of addressing questions.

Detailed information about the assessment for this subject can be found here.

Quiz: Do I get it?

What this subject teaches

• Which if the following topics is covered in this subject?
  • How to write a research thesis
    • Sorry. Have a closer look at the subject outline.
  • Only quantitative research methods
    • Oh no, no way! Have a closer look at the subject outline.
  • International studies theory
    • A little bit about them. But this will not be our focus. Have a closer look at the subject outline.
  • How to design international studies research
    • Yes!. We will cover that. Hope you are ready!

Study schedule

What topics will we cover each week?
Fill in blanks. Use your cursor or “tab” key to advance to the next answer.

• Research ethics will be covered in week 1, as well as how to generate research questions ;
• Week 2 will focus on literature review, which means that we will look at theories and past research.
• We will learn about case study research design in week 3 and we will cover some qualitative methods used in that design in week 5;
• Our focus in Week 4 will be on quantitative research methods.
• Writing the research proposal will be the focus of week 6.

Assessment elements

• When are the assessments due in this subject?
  • There is a presentation at the end of the term.
    • Sorry. Have a closer look at the subject outline.
  • A presentation and a report are due in the middle of the term
    • That would be a bit busy Have a closer look at the subject outline.
  • Discussion posts are due every fortnight
    • A little bit more frequent than that. Have a closer look at the subject outline.
  • Weekly throughout the six weeks of subject, and at the end of it
    • Yes!. For exact details, have a closer look at the subject outline.

Necessary technology

What technology do you need to complete this subject?
Fill in blanks. Use your cursor or “tab” key to advance to the next answer.

• If you are an on-campus UOW student, all you need is internet connection.
• If you are an OERu student paying for credit, you will also need a microphone so we can hear you during your Skype interview, and speakers so you can hear us.
• You will also need to join a discussion forum to make your online contribution.

• If you need help to complete these questions, have a closer look at the subject outline.