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Course Outline

HNE420 Honours Research - Methods and Planning

Course Coordinator:Nguyen Nguyen Hong (nnguyen@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

 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 is structured to develop the analytical, interpretative and communication skills you will need to plan and carry out your scientific research project. You will learn about and then commence work on conducting a literature review and critically evaluating evidence, formulating a research question and designing a study, collecting and managing data, evaluating and applying basic epidemiological and statistical methods, complying with the legislative framework for human and animal ethics in research, writing and presenting in a scientific format, and producing a research plan.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Independent Study/Research – Orientation workshop followed by work with supervisory team towards preliminary talk and research plan. 300hrs Orientation week Once Only

Course Topics

Topics covered in this course will depend on the research area of the student’s honours project.

What level is this course?

400 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

24 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 Gather, interpret, synthesise, and critically evaluate information from a range of sources. Creative and critical thinker
2 Select and apply practical, conceptual and/or theoretical techniques or tools in order to formulate and model problems. Empowered
3 Integrate and apply knowledge and skills associated with research principles and methods to plan a substantial research project. Empowered
4 Communicate knowledge, data, arguments and research findings clearly and coherently in oral and written format to peers and other scientific audiences through advanced English language, numeracy and technological skills. Creative and critical thinker
Empowered

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

Must be enrolled in SC401

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

English; Maths A, B or C; and at least one of the sciences.

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

This course is different to undergraduate courses in that you will work closely with your supervisor to establish a research question and develop the knowledge to support the research.

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 Oral Individual 0% 
10 minutes
 Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Plan Individual 100% 
3500 words
 Week 8 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Preliminary presentation
Goal: 
The purpose of the presentation is to develop skills and knowledge and provide critical, timely feedback to the Honours candidate at an early stage of the project and to provide experience in oral communication to scientific audiences.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Knowledge gained in the Research methods and project planning can be applied to the preliminary oral presentation.  Talks should be 10 minutes duration, with 5 minutes for questions.  Presentations should normally be prepared using PowerPoint.  Video clips are permitted if they are integral to the understanding of the material being presented, and compatible with the computer systems within the lecture theatre. The preliminary oral presentation will be assessed by two internal examiners who are appointed by the Honours coordinator.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Synthesis and evaluation of information
 1 2
2 
Selection and proposed application of methods and techniques
 3
3 
Communication of knowledge, data, methods, and proposed research approach coherently in oral format.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication
All - Assessment Task 2:Research plan
Goal: 
The purpose of the research plan is to develop skills and knowledge and provide critical, timely feedback to the Honours candidate at an early stage of the project and to provide experience in planning scientific research and writing a scientific research plan.
Product: Plan
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Knowledge gained in the Research methods and project planning can be applied to the write-up of the Research Plan.  Plans will be 3,500 words (10%), and presented in font, formatting and referencing style that is standard for the student’s discipline. The specific requirements for the Plan will be provided on Canvas. It is suggested that students meet with their supervisors in the weeks leading up to the commencement of the project to work on any ethics applications or applications to survey USC students that are required.  The inclusion of an abbreviated literature review within the Research Plan will encourage candidates to commence background reading into their research area in the initial stages of their research project. Research Plans are to be submitted via Turnitin. This will permit checking of your work for plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and it is important at this stage of your career that you are coached to avoid. The Research Plan will be examined by two independent examiners at USC, or external.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
The quality of critical evaluation and synthesis of scientific literature to identify knowledge and knowledge gaps within your research area, and to provide a rationale for your Honours research thesis/project;
 1
2 
The selection and application of practical, conceptual and/or theoretical techniques or tools in order to formulate and model problems;
 2
3 
The quality of integration of knowledge and skills associated with research principles and methods to plan the research project;
 3
4 
The quality of communication of knowledge, data, methods, and proposed research approach coherently in a written format and the use of appropriate references and appropriate referencing.
 4
Generic Skills: 
Collaboration, Organisation

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

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all laboratory classes and a moderate level of health and safety risk exists. Moderate risks are those associated with laboratory work such as working with chemicals and hazardous substances. You will be required to undertake laboratory induction training and it is also 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

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

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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