This unit is offered as the first introduction to research for the coursework Masters students. It is also a compulsory part of the preliminary program for research students who do not have prior research training.

24/7/13 Adding additional current versions of research methods units to prohibitions. Effective Semester 1, 2015.

17/7/13 Amending prohibitions and location of offering. Effective Semester 1 2015.

9/8/13 - Objectives have been amended by CE to comply with AQF requirements, for 2015 offering.

16/10/13 - Administrative change: added FIT5143 to Prohibitions.

1/11/13 - This unit has been updated as part of a review in 2013 of research training units in the Faculty. The changes aim to provide more flexibility and to enable this unit and the co-taught unit FIT4005 IT research methods to better meet the needs of the different cohorts of students who take them.

This unit will reflect the content of FIT5185 which is a mandatory unit in the Masters Honours. A 0 point clone version of FIT5185 (FIT5143) is mandatory in the MPhil.

FIT4005, FIT5125, FIT5143, FIT5185 or an equivalent unit is a co-requisite unit for FIT6021 for PhD students who have not taken an equivalent unit in their previous studies. Changes to be implemented from Semester 1 2014.

15/12/2013 - Amended date of introduction to Semester 2, 2014 and amended locations to Caulfield and Off-campus as approved by ADE.

15/12/2013 - Amended pre-requisites to include: Students must have successfully completed 24 points of level five non-foundation units and have achieved an overall average of at least 70% across all non-foundation units. Foundation units are FIT5123, FIT5130, FIT5131, FIT5132, FIT5134 and FIT5135.

2/1/2014 - Amended locations to Caulfield, Clayton and Off-campus (Caulfield) to allow for co-teaching arrangements with FIT4005 to continue, if required.

9/1/2014 - Admin change, fix bull point in Special Arrangements and edited synopsis at ADE's request.

21/10/2014 - Amended prerequisite requirements by adding 2015, FIT9xxx version

12/06/2017: Admin - updating location of offering to reflect actual campus offerings at the ADE's request. of 2014, FIT5xxx foundation units. Approved at GPC 4/14 (Item 6.2).

7/10/15 - Amended prerequisite requirements to reflect that students must have successfully completed 24 points of level five non-foundation units and achieved an overall average of at least 75% (rather than 70%) across all non-foundation units. This change is effective for all students from Semester 1, 2016.

5/11/15 - Amended pre-requisite requirements to clarify the requirement that the 24 credit-point and 75% average hurdle applies specifically to FIT level five non-foundation units.

09/01/2017: Admin - CE updated unit learning outcomes (objectives) effective Semester 1, 2017.

03/09/2018: CE Updated contact hours to 2 hour lecture and 2 hour tutorial to clarify timetabling.

30/9/2019: Adding pre-requisite FIT5125 and concurrent enrolment prohibition with FIT5109. Effective semester 1, 2020. Incorrect unit amended. All entries Reverted to previous.

16/10/2019 Updates to reflect that all master students now take this unit, updated delivery mode, updated locations.

18/10/2019: Update to prerequisites; effective semester 1, 2020. Adding new foundation-level unit, and removing disestablished 5xxx-coded foundation units.

20/01/2020: Amended prerequisites. Any PG students looking to undertake the minor research thesis option must have achieved at-least 75% in FIT5125; therefore, all FIT PG students student are eligible for enrolment as of Sem 1, 2020.

22/09/2020 - Admin: Update to include new assessment and teaching approach fields as per Handbook requirements.

21/12/2020 Admin - adding Reasons for Change for CE. Edited to clarify that the activity type is tutorial. This is necessary given the flipped and learner driven nature of the teaching and learning experience. Update to assessment and workload. Added a weekly didactic summary lecture for all students.

This unit is a compulsory unit for all Masters students. This unit will replace FIT5185 which is a compulsory unit for students in the Masters (Honours). Its 0 point clone (FIT5143) is a mandatory unit in the MPhil. It forms the basis for all research that students will conduct.

FIT5125 provides an introduction to research philosophies and paradigms, research design, research ethics and IT research methods and techniques in the disciplines of computing science, information systems and information management. It develops research skills essential to undertaking a major or minor Masters research thesis, or research projects in a research or industry setting.

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

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The aim of the unit is to prepare Masters students to conduct research across the range of IT sub-disciplines. It provides broad coverage of the issues, concepts, methods, and techniques associated with Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems and Information Management research. It introduces students to major research paradigms, the principles of research design, research ethics, and research methods and techniques of data collection and analysis appropriate to IT research generally and to their sub-discipline specifically. It covers oral, written, online and video research communication skills. Skills developed and knowledge acquired from this unit will prepare students to conduct and communicate their own research, as well as to be knowledgeable and critical interpreters of research more generally.

On-campus

The unit comprises 12 weeks, one 3-hour studio per week, with a summary 1 hour lecture at the end of each week.

Studios contain 60 students, and for the same cohort up to 4 studios can be run in parallel in adjacent flat classroom spaces.

Students will prepare for studios each using online learning material.

Students will work in groups between 2-6 students in studios (depending on the activity).

Work conducted after the studio each week will form the basis for the assessment.

In-semester assessment: 100%

1. Assessment tasks for weeks 1 to 3 - 20% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
2. Assessment tasks for weeks 4 to 6 - 20% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
3. Assessment tasks for weeks 7 to 9 - 20% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
4. Assessment tasks for weeks 10 to 12 - 30% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
5. Online weekly quiz - 5% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
6. Online weekly communication activity - 5% - ULO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Minimum total expected workload is 12 hours per week comprising:

Tutorials of 20 students per tutor are conducted in classes of 60 to allow for key summaries and maximum use of tutor expertise (note these are not workshops).

FIT

Students must be enrolled in an FIT Masters degree.