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Course Outline

COU754 Research Project A

Course Coordinator:Catherine Creamer (ccreamer@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course will build on the work you completed in your Research Methods course. Using the proposal you developed, you are required to develop a research project in a core area of counselling under the supervision of academic staff in counselling. The research question under investigation may have either theoretical or practical application of counselling significance. In this trimester, you will refine your research project with your Supervisor, complete your application for ethical approval, and commence the project.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus training on design of research project - 3 hours 3hrs Week 1 11 times

Course Topics

  • Introduction, Research Literacy, and HREA
  • Manuscript Introductions / Research Questions
  • Methodologies adn Research Designs / Power Analysis
  • Research Robustness (measures of credibility)
  • Sampling and Data Collection Techniques
  • Data Analysis Techniques
  • Research Reflexivity / Positionality Statements and Bracketing
  • Ethical Considerations
  • Research Proposal (written and oral)
  • QDA or NVivo?
  • SPSS or JASP?
  • Collecting and storing data over the trimester break / Researcher Etiquette
  • Revision

Mature Content

Coarse Language, Adult themes

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Demonstrate a mastery of theoretical knowledge and reflect critically on theory and professional practice through a research project. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
2 Develop the cognitive and technical skills to ethically investigate, analyse and synthesise complex counselling information and develop interventions or research for specific needs. Empowered
Ethical
3 Communicate and justify your findings with clarity through written and oral presentations. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
4 Demonstrate academic scholarship Knowledgeable
Ethical

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

CMN574, SCS725 or other approved Research Methods course and enrolled in Program AR708

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Timely and detailed feedback is provided for each assessment. Feedback is provided both within text and general comments to build scholarly skills. Students are able to seek feedback through face-to-face discussion with the course coordinator. Tutorials will include extended discussion and review of the assessment task requirements and scope.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 0% 
500 words
 Week 4 In Class
All 2 Written Piece Individual 25% 
1000 words
 Week 7 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Oral Individual 20% 
15 minutes
 Week 11 In Class
All 4 Literature Review (or component) Individual 55% 
4000 words approx.
 Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Analysis of a research article
Goal: 
To demonstrate skill in the critical evaluation of published research.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Students will be invited to critically evaluate a provided research publication, and complete a provided worksheet.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Able to accurately identify points of methodological strength in research design;
 1 2
2 
Able to accurately identify limitations in research design;
 2
3 
Able to identify alternative strategies that could potentially strengthen the research.
 1 2
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Proposed Dissertation Introduction
Goal: 
To develop a written introduction to your research dissertation.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You are invited to prepare a 1000 word written introduction to your dissertation.  The introduction should include an overview of the research topic and a clear rationale for the research questions to be addressed. The introduction should explicitly state the overall study objectives and the specific aims of the investigation. The introduction should be submitted following discussions with your supervisor
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary research in the chosen topic area.
 1 2 4
2 
Construct a clear rationale for the research question/s to be addressed.
 2 3
3 
Concisely state the research questions.
 1 4
4 
Exactly state the overall objectives and specific aims of the investigation.
 1 3
5 
Demonstrate a sound knowledge of APA6 format, writing and referencing styles.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Oral Presentation
Goal: 
The oral presentation will provide you with an opportunity to receive additional considered feedback on your dissertation proposal. The oral presentation will demonstrate your ability to: articulate the theoretical framework, research questions and research methods selected; argue for, and defend, the proposed research. It will be presented within your research supervision group.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Detailed presentation criteria for this assessment are available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Underpinning theoretical framework
 1 3
2 
Research questions
 1 3
3 
Research methods selected
 1 2 3
4 
Organisation of the project / thesis
 1 3
5 
Coherent and logical structure and flow
 1 3
6 
Adheres strictly to USC presentation guidelines
 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 4:Dissertation research proposal
Goal: 
You will produce a dissertation research proposal which will lead into your next research stage.
Product: Literature Review (or component)
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
The dissertation research proposal, including introduction, literature review, and method, should be submitted following discussions with your supervisor. The introduction should include an overview of the research topic and a clear rationale for the research questions to be addressed. The introduction should explicitly state the overall study objectives and the specific aims of the investigation. The literature review should provide a critical review of relevant literature, identify knowledge gaps, and address the relationship of the literature to the thesis aims. The method will describe the specifics of investigation design, participant recruitment, ethical approvals, procedures, and data analysis.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary research in the chosen topic area.
 1 2
2 
Construct a clear rationale for the research questions to be addressed.
 1
3 
Exactly state the overall study objectives and the specific aims of the investigation.
 1 2
4 
Clearly provide all necessary information to understand the method of enquiry adopted
 2
5 
Demonstrate a sound knowledge of APA7 format, writing and referencing style.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Applying technologies, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required John McLeod 2022 Doing Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy 4th Sage Publications Limited

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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