BIOL412-19S1 (C) Semester One 2019

Research Proposal

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 18 February 2019
End Date: Sunday, 23 June 2019
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 1 March 2019
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 10 May 2019

Description

To introduce and develop skills in the synthesis of research findings and the writing of a detailed research proposal.

The general aim of the course is to prepare postgraduate students to engage in research through the development of a detailed research proposal – it has been designed for BSc (Hons), MSc Pt I and PGDipSci students as a compulsory component of the 4th year postgraduate experience. It comprises a series of modules in contemporary research methodology and proposal preparation and time to engage with potential supervisors to discuss project ideas. The skills and perspectives developed in this course will serve students progressing to research projects (in BSc Hons and MSc PtII) and those students who decide to pursue other careers.

Recommended preparatory course(s): BIOL411. For those students who begin 4th year in the middle of the year, BIOL412 and BIOL411 must be completed in Semester 1 of the following year.

Learning Outcomes

  • As a student in this course, I will develop the ability to:
  • Communicate the findings of scientific research in plain English and verbally for a scientifically-literate audience (assessment tasks: verbal proposal presentation).
  • Synthesise primary scientific literature to generate a clear and concise argument in support of a perspective (assessment task: research proposal).
  • Critically evaluate a colleague’s work and generate constructive feedback (assessment task: peer-assessment of research proposal draft).
  • Synthesise primary scientific literature to provide in-depth background and context for understanding and critical evaluation of topics in biological sciences (assessment task: research proposal).
  • Apply an understanding of scientific practice to the generation of new testable hypotheses and to the development of advanced methodologies for testing hypotheses (assessment task: methodology section of research proposal).

    Transferable Skills Register
    As a student in this course, I will develop the following skills:
  • Writing a literature review to focus ideas for research proposals. This is essential for MSc Pt I students to be fully prepared for Pt II. Beyond University this skill is important for any career in research or in an NGO, where you will need to write convincing applications for increasingly-limited funding. We will have tutorials to provide instruction on the elements of successful proposals and develop your abilities to identify these elements in group sessions.
  • Critical synthesis of information. In everyday life and in many job situations you will be required to read information from different sources, construct your own understanding and shape your own viewpoint. In BIOL412 we develop your abilities to identify the essential elements of research outputs - you will use these skills in your proposal.
  • Research design. Important for research and in governmental and non-governmental organisations. We will provide discipline-specific advice on the major elements involved in developing testable questions and designing research projects.
  • Writing critical summaries of other work. Clear and constructive written criticism is essential in most professional careers. In a tutorial we will provide instruction on the elements of successful critical assessment and help you identify these elements with clear marking rubrics – you will use these in your peer-review of a colleague’s work.
  • Verbal presentation. In most careers in science the ability to present findings clearly in verbal form is likely to be critical. In BIOL412 we provide clear guidance on what makes a good presentation and you will test these skills in your proposal presentation.

Prerequisites

BIOL411. For those students who begin 4th year in the middle of the year, BIOL410 and BIOL411 must be completed in Semester 1 of the following year.

Restrictions

BIOL405

Course Coordinator

Matthew Turnbull

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Short verbal presentation 20%
Research Proposal 70%
Peer-review 10%

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,033.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Biological Sciences .

All BIOL412 Occurrences