Leader: Caulfield - Judy Sheard; Clayton - Nandita Bhattacharjee

Offered

Caulfield First semester 2008 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2008 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

FIT5018 is an optional research/ thesis unit for FIT coursework masters degrees, taken in the final stage of the Masters Professional or Masters course. Students must have first:

1. completed at least 24 points of level 5 units in their degree;
2. attained a Distinction average on their Masters coursework;
3. their course leader's approval to enrol; and
4. completed FIT4005 IT Research Methods. While FIT5014 is a 24-point unit taken in a single semester, FIT5018 is a component of the 24-point Minor Thesis taken over more than one semester (generally with FIT5016).

Objectives

Before enrolling in the unit, students need:

1. to have prior approval from their course coordinator; and
2. to have reached agreement with a potential supervisor about a research area/feasible research topic for their Minor Thesis project.

On completion of the unit, students should be able to demonstrate:

1. Thorough knowledge of their research topic and the wider research domain.
2. A sound understanding of research approaches and methods, and how to resolve research problems and issues.
3. Well honed skills in critical thinking, analysis, evaluation and synthesis.

After completing this unit, students should have developed attitudes of:

4. Confidence in their ability to undertake independent research, and to plan and execute an individual research project.
5. Appreciating the significance and contributions of a research culture in both academic and workplace contexts.

After completing this unit, students should be able to plan and undertake rigorous independent research, and in particular have the skills to:

6. Locate relevant research literature, and critically analyse and evaluate published research findings.
7. Identify open problems in current research and promising new research directions, and from this to define a viable research topic.
8. Develop a sound research design and feasible research project plan and schedule.
9. Communicate effectively research results in a variety of forms, including informal oral presentations, written reports, seminar presentations and poster presentations.

Although research projects are carried out individually, students will be part of a wider research group, with whom they will interact regularly, and participate in research seminars and discussions. After completing this unit, students should be able to:

10. Communicate research ideas effectively in formal or informal contexts.
11. Collaborate effectively with others involved in a research project (supervisors, research colleagues, industry collaborators).

Assessment

Presentation and final thesis: 100%

Prerequisites

Students must be enrolled in a Faculty of IT coursework Masters or Masters Professional course; Minor Thesis units are to be taken in the final stage of the course. In undertaking the Minor Thesis, students must have: (1) completed at least 24 points of level 5 units in their degree; (2) attained a Distinction average on their Masters coursework; (3) their course leader's approval to enrol in the unit; and (4) completed FIT4005 IT research methods.

Co-requisites

FIT4005, taken in the first semester of enrolment (only in cases where enrolment in the Minor Thesis extends over more than one semester).