Gender Studies Research Methods

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Please note that this subject commences the Thursday prior to Semester 2, 21st July 2016.

170 hours

Both GEND40004 Gender Studies Thesis and GEND40005 Gender Studies Research Methods must be taken concurrently in the first semester of the thesis enrolment in course BH-Arts.

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 introduces students to research methods and research skills for planning, researching and writing a thesis in Gender Studies. Gender Studies is a uniquely transdisciplinary field, incorporating critical work on topics relating to gender, sexuality and feminisms from across multiple disciplines in both the humanities and the social sciences. This subject introduces students to a wide range of research methods from across this heterogeneous field, and explores lines of interconnection as well as points of divergence in Gender Studies’ diverse intellectual projects. The subject also teaches key research skills including: defining a scholarly field, establishing a research question, writing a thesis statement, developing a critical literature review, refining a conceptual framework, writing a statement on methodology, preparing a research proposal, identifying appropriate case studies, and understanding and managing ethics principles and procedures.

Students who complete this subject will:

• develop a detailed knowledge of key professional skills (developing a proposal, organising research, writing, editing, peer reviewing) and an understanding of the principles of various approaches to research;
• acquire critical and analytical skills and methods to enable the identification and resolution of problems within specific research projects;
• develop high level written communication skills;
• develop an independent approach to understanding research practices that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate methodologies applied with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical research protocols;
• be introduced to research practices across a range of disciplines;
• work with independence, self- reflection and creativity to meet goals and challenges of research;
• be able to communicate their knowledge effectively in a variety of oral and written formats.

• A 2,000 word assignment, due 3 weeks after the end of the intensive teaching period (40%)
• A 3,000 word assignment, due 6 weeks after the end of the intensive teaching period (60%)

The assignments can take the form of a thesis outline, critical litertature review or a methodology chapter.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Any student who fails to meet this hurdle without valid reason will not be eligible to pass the subject. All required written work must be submitted in order to pass the subject.

A subject reader will be available.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have advanced research and analytic skills; and
• have the ability to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively.

Successful enrolment into this subject is dependent on admission into one of the following:

• Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)
• Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced)
• Masters by Coursework (with thesis option) in the Faculty of Arts