Applied Theories and Methods of Research PG (12188.1)

Required texts

Readings are available in the Canvas site. You are also encouraged to source additional readings, particularly those pertinent to your own research discipline and research project. Consult with your supervisory panel as needed. 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assessment items must be posted to Canvas by the due date.

If you require an extension, please let the teaching staff know ahead of the due date. No extension will be given on the due date or afterwards.

Special assessment requirements

There are three assessments. Assessments are marked as "Complete/Pass" or "Incomplete/Fail".

Please note 

1)  the unit is not graded; rather, it is "Complete/Pass" or "Incomplete/Fail". All assessments and each part of each assessment must be completed and achieve a "Pass" standard in order to achieve a "Pass" in the unit.

2) the assessments are submitted prior to the class in which the assigned readings will be discussed. As a result, it will be clear after the class seminar how the assessment items could be improved. That is expected: research is an interative process, and every iteration is a development and improvement upon the prior iteration. Accordingly, understand that the assessment item you submitted is the best you are able to do at that point in time, in the iteration prior to the seminar discussion in class.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

As a PhD candidate, you are expected to be self-motivated, and to take ownership of your project and its progress, with the support and guidance of your supervisory panel. 

Because this unit is offered in intensive mode, you will need to plan your time carefully to ensure that you work on the content of the unit every week: complete the set readings and those you source yourself, and participate in Bulletin Board discussions, presenting your own ideas, and commenting on those of your peers. During the intensive seminars, you will spend 3 hours per day on two consecutive days. On each of the other weeks, expect to spend at least 3 hours reading, thinking, drafting and posting your thoughts to the Discussion Board, reflecting on the issues raised by the unit, and how these might inflect your approach to your PhD project, and engaging with posts uploaded by your fellow students.

Inclusion and engagement

No additional information required.

Participation requirements

You are expected to attend and participate actively in all intensive sessions, either in person or virtually. If you are unable to attend in either mode, please ensure you have advised the lecturer in advance.

Required IT skills

The four intensive seminar sessions will be offered in hybrid mode. If you are not able to attend on campus, you will be able to participate via the Virtual Room site, on the Canvas page. This will require you to have a microphone and camera enabled on your computer, and sufficient IT access to ensure you can participate comfortably in each session. There will be presentations by teaching staff and by the candidates enrolled in this unit. There will also be group work / break-out discussions to address issues pertinent to the seminar topic.

Each seminar will be recorded, and you will be able to access those, also from the Virtual Room site, after the session.

In-unit costs

If you need to travel to Canberra to participate in the seminars, this will incur travel and accommodation costs. You will need to bear those costs.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

None.

• Semester 1, 2026, Hybrid, UC - Canberra, Bruce (233840)
• Semester 1, 2026, Intensive, UC - Canberra, Bruce (233839)