CIVE1251 – Research Methods Part 1 - Weekly Guide 2017/18

Week Activities Notes Deadlines

Before  RMIT and supervisors (HK) suggest topics You must select a project and supervisor Select project
Term  Students select project and supervisor (HK) before Week 1 – Monday before term
Ensure that you can “log on” to the RMIT
site – sort out problems BEFORE
WORKSHOP
Workshop Documentation
RMIT Student should bring:
Academic  Ideas for your Initial Research Plan –draft research questions and R-CIVE1220-LibrarySkillsNotes
Weekend methodology R-CIVE1220-HarvardMethod
2/3 Sept R-CIVE1220-Literature Review Notes
Session 1 – Lectures – Saturday 14:00 – 18:00 (PC lab with access to RMIT) L-CIVE1220 – Research Methods
Organisation/overview of projects (CIVE1251 and CIVE1221) L-CIVE1220- Introduction CIVE1251
 Project requirements L-CIVE1220- Introduction CIVE1221
 The management of the project and deliverables over two semesters L-CIVE1220- Literature Review
 Research ethos and requirements L-CIVE1221- Report Writing
 Assignments Part 1
 Development of the Research Project Plan

 Library skills - talk/demonstration

 Research publication, ethics, peer review
 Literature review
 Assignment 1 – key words development
 Library database searches – ensure students are ‘online’

Session 2 – Workshop (PC lab with access to RMIT) – Sun 9.30-12.30

 Practical – students use key words and phrases to conduct library searches and
address Assignment 1 – the goal will be to ensure that each student can achieve
Assignment 1 for the deadline in two weeks

Student task – identify 5 papers and citations index

Session 3 – Workshop (PC lab with access to RMIT) – Sun 13.30-16.30

 Overview of Research Project Part 2 (1221)
 Assignments Part 2
 Report Writing & Poster Presentation

Recap on tasks for Part 1

Workshop Documentation
RMIT Student should bring:
Academic  Ideas for your Initial Research Plan –draft research questions and R-CIVE1220- Model Employer Letter
Weekend methodology R-CIVE1220- Model Evaluation Report
23/24 Sept R-CIVE1220-Literature Review Notes
Sat/ Sun Session 1 – Lectures – Saturday 14:00 – 18:00 L-CIVE1220 – Research Methods
Organisation/overview of WIL requirements (CIVE1251 and CIVE1221) L-CIVE1220- Introduction CIVE1251
 WIL requirements L-CIVE1220- Introduction CIVE1221
 Employer Letter L-CIVE1220- Literature Review
 Evaluation Report L-CIVE1221- Report Writing
 Log book

 Development of the Research Project Plan

Session 2 – Workshop (PC lab with access to RMIT) – Sun 9.30-12.30

Literature review
 Assignment 1 – key words development
 Practical – students use key words and phrases to conduct library searches and
address Assignment 1 – the goal will be to ensure that each student can achieve
Assignment 1 for the deadline in two weeks

Student task – identify 5 papers and citations index

Session 3 – Workshop (PC lab with access to RMIT) – Sun 13.30-16.30

 Overview of Research Project Part 2 (1221)
 Assignments Part 2
 Report Writing & Poster Presentation

Recap on tasks for Part 1

Week 1 Lecture to whole class – The organisation and the initial assignment
 The management of the project and deliverables over two semesters
 Development of the Initial Research Project Plan (Assignment 1)
With Supervisors: Assistance from supervisor on developing Initial Research Plan
Template
Week 2 With Supervisors:
 Further collaboration with supervisor on developing Initial Research Plan Template
 Consultation with supervisor on key words and phrases to help library search. Look
at
the Assignment 2 documentation – and start to fill in key words and phrases – print
and bring to weekend workshop with RMIT academic
 Discussion on progressing the research (dependant on topic) – ie what has to be
done? Testwork? Analysis? Development? Survey? Etc
Week 3 Work Supervisor
 Advice on Assignment 1 – Initial Project Plan
 Advice on Assignment 2 - library search task
 Discussion on progressing the research (dependant on topic) – ie what has to be
done? Testwork? Analysis? Development? Survey? Etc
Week 4
Work with supervisor
 Final advice on Assignment 1 – Initial Project Plan
 Final advice on Assignment 2 - library search task
 Discussion on progressing the research (dependant on topic) – ie what has to be
done
to achieve results.
 Discuss various headings for the literature review (Depends on project – ie method,
theory, experimental approach, history, need for research, etc etc…)
 Discuss the need in the literature review to ”identify the research gap”
Week 5 Work with supervisor
 Student brings 5 most relevant papers to meeting
 Discuss the most relevant papers – the student should explain why the papers are
important
 Discuss progress on actual research (dependant on topic) – ie what has to be done
to
achieve results? When will results be available
Week 6 Work with supervisor Submission – 10% + 10% -
 Discuss progress so far on one heading for literature review – ie methodology, … Assignment 1 - Project Plan
 Discuss progress on actual research Assignment 2 Library Coursework item
Friday October 13th Midnight via
Blackboard

Week 7 Work with supervisor

 Discuss progress so far on one heading for literature review – ie methodology, …
 Discuss progress on actual research
Week 8 Work with supervisor
 Discuss progress so far on one heading for literature review – ie methodology, …
 Discuss progress on actual research
Week 9 Work with supervisor
 Discuss progress so far on one heading for literature review – ie methodology, …
 Discuss progress on actual research
Week 10 Work with supervisor
 Discuss progress so far on one heading for literature review – ie methodology, …
 Discuss progress on actual research
 Review Draft of Assignment 3 – Check Turnitin
 Week 11 Work with supervisor
 Discuss progress so far on one heading for literature review – ie methodology, …
 Discuss progress on actual research
 Review Draft Assignment 3
Discuss Deliverable for Assignment 4
Week 12 Work with supervisor Assignment 3
 Discuss progress so far on one heading for literature review – ie methodology, … 65%
 Discuss progress on actual research Check Turnitin Requirements
 Review Draft Assignment 3 (20% Total, 5% per paper)
Agree Deliverable for Assignment 4 Assignment 4
15%
Monday 27th Nov Midnight on Blackboard

Workshop Session 1 – Lectures – Saturday 14:00 – 18:00

RMIT Progress 1220 and overview of CIVE1221
Academic  The management of the project and deliverables over two semesters
(date tbc)  Development of the Research Project

Discussion on your research plan

Session 2 – Workshop – Sun 9.30-12.30 13.30-16.30

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
What is WIL
Examples of research in industrial projects

Note :

Late submissions will receive a 5% penalty

Assignment 3 – Literature Review MUST be submitted via Turnitin and MUST have less than 20% similarity and have less than 5% similarity for individual
papers or it will not receive a mark. Note the assignment can be submitted multiple times before the deadline to check. The IT system limits it to one
submission a day so don’t check the day you want to submit!