Research in Construction

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 Hours

Admission into one of the following courses

MC-CM Master of Construction Management
MC-CONMG2Y Master of Construction Management (200 points)
MC-CONMG3Y Master of Construction Management (300 points)

OR

Written approval from the subject coordinator and the program coordinator

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

This subject critically reviews established and emerging research areas in the field of construction. This is accompanied by an exposition of the underlying research objectives, the methods in use or required, and the challenges and limitations of the methods.

Designed as an advanced, hands-on introduction to the culture and protocols of disciplinary research in construction, the subject has two aims: 1) To equip students with the skills necessary to conduct rigorous and original research; 2) To provide them with an opportunity to develop a scholarly foundation and a theoretical framework for an investigation of their choice.

The subject concentrates on the preliminary stages of research, from defining a research question through to planning and commencing the research. The product of their work constitutes the basis for original empirical research project conducted in ABPL90359 Research Practicum in Construction and forms an integral part of the final research report of that subject.

To provide students with a broad understanding of objectives, hurdles and strategies of research in construction fields;

To facilitate critical thinking and analytical ability in the construction discipline;

To help develop appropriate research questions and hypotheses;

To teach how to seek out, evaluate and retrieve information, using appropriate research methods, from multiple sources;

To teach students how to comprehend complex concepts and to express them lucidly, orally and textually;

To introduce students to the ethics associated with knowledge acquisition and usage;

To provide training in research topic definition, literature reviewing, research planning and development, and report writing.

On completion of the subject students should have developed the skills required to:

• Written and graphic communication of ideas
• Development of logical arguments
• Textual (and other information) analysis
• Critical evaluation of policies and practices
• Use of citations and sources

Assessment 1: Preliminary problem definition and literature review of 1,000 words on the topic defined by the student in consultation with the subject coordinator due in week 6 and worth 15%
Assessment 2: Oral presentation based upon research proposals due in week 10 and worth 20%
Assessment 3: A scholarly report of 4,000 words containing research problem definition, development proposal and literature review on a topic defined by the student in consultation with the subject coordinator, and establishing the basis for the empirical work that will be carried out in NEW “Research Practicum in Construction” due in last week of semester and worth 65%

Note: A pass must be attained in all assessments in order to pass the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.