Recent Approaches to Research/Evaluation

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours. Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

It is preferable to have completed EDUC90713 Program Evaluation: Forms and Approaches prior to commencement of this subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, 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 the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

In this subject, students will focus on developing the skills and knowledge needed to effectively evaluate emerging topics, issues, and approaches throughout their evaluation careers. To this end, we will explore and evaluate a series of topics that have recently emerged in research and evaluation, and/or recent developments in existing approaches, practices, and methods. This subject will be run seminar style with the content developed and adapted annually based on student needs and interests. The first 4 weeks of the subject will led by the instructor and current Masters by Research and PhD students presenting on key topics. The final 4 weeks will be student led.

In addition to content knowledge in the topic areas, students will gain experience working with teams, using technology to disseminate information, engaging stakeholders in consensus building practices, various qualitative techniques, public presentations, and creating and using rubrics.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• understand various forms of small-scale research and evaluation needed for program design, development of programs and program improvement;
• choose appropriate approaches to answer particular research and evaluation questions;
• understand the theory underpinning various approaches and techniques;
• apply each of the techniques presented through practice; and
• write research and evaluation reports that incorporate these approaches.

There are three pieces of assessment:

• Written task of 1500 words due in Week 4 (30% );
• Written task of 3000 words due at the end of the subject (60%);
• Class or forum participation throughout the semester (10%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.