Research Proposal#

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The content is specific to the student's thesis topic. The subject will comprise a course of independent study conducted under academic supervision. While enrolled in this subject each student is required to develop a research proposal in consultation with their supervisor and to defend the proposal in a departmental forum (a meeting at which the student's thesis advisory committee will be present).

In this subject students will:

• select a thesis topic in consultation with academic staff;
• conduct a review of the appropriate literature;
• present a written thesis proposal and defend it orally before a thesis advisory comittee.

Students will:

1. Prepare a literature review of no more than 3000 words (30%) to be submitted at the end of semester;
2. Prepare a research proposal (to be submitted mid-semester) of 2000 words in the Doctor of Psychology programme (not offered after 2006) and of 1500 words in the Master of Psychology programme (25%);
3. Present and defend their proposal successfully at a 1-hour meeting (mid-semester) of the thesis advisory committee (25%); and
4. Prepare an Ethics proposal following a successful defense of their research proposal (20%) (end of semester).

As regards (2), the proposal should be in the form of an argument containing a brief critical review of the appropriate research literature, a set of specific research aims, and a method for achieving those aims. The thesis advisory committee comprises the supervisor and at least two other members of the academic staff and is appointed by the Postgraduate Research Coordinator. Successful defence of the proposal is the basis for continued progress in the thesis and subsequent enrolment in the thesis subject.

Students must mount a successful thesis proposal presentation by the end fo the year in which they are enrolled in this subject. Failure to do so by the end of December will result in a fail being registered for this subject. Thie subject will then have to be repeated, thereby incurring fees for the repeated enrolment.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will develop a greater critical appreciation of scholarly work and develop their own skills in formulating problems and means of addressing problems. They will develop their writing and communication skills and learn to develop and sustain written and oral argument.