Undergraduate - UnitFIT2083 - Research methods in computer science

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Information Technology
Offered	Clayton First semester 2014 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit introduces students to the issues, concepts, methods and techniques associated with IT research in general and those most commonly used for research in computer science. It covers research methodologies, data collection and analysis, ethical and professional issues and oral and written communication skills.

Skills developed and knowledge acquired from this unit will prepare students to conduct and to communicate their own research, as well as to be knowledgeable consumers of others research.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

critically analyse and assess computer science research;
recognise the main research methodologies used in information technology research and explain those used in computer science research;
choose the appropriate research methodology;
describe the most common data collection and analysis methods used in computer science research;
explain the ethical and professional issues that may arise in research;
communicate both orally and in writing;
describe the professional environment and different kinds of roles in which information technology research is conducted.

Assessment

In-semester assessment: 100%

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Kim Marriott

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

Two hours of lectures
One 2-hour tutorial

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

A minimum of 8 hours independent study per week for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Computer science
Computing technology

Prerequisites

Enrolment in course 4310

Prohibitions

FIT2084, FIT4005