FIT4005 IT research methods
Faculty of Information Technology
FIT4005 IT research methods is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate and postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Information Technology, offered in 2023 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2023
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton, Malaysia
- Assessment
- No exam
- 6 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2023 handbook entry. See the 2026 entry.
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Requisites
Before FIT4005
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After FIT4005
1 unit list FIT4005 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Prohibition: FIT2083*
* BCS Honours students who have completed FIT2083 are exempt from completing FIT4005 as part of their Honours study but must select an alternative unit with the approval of their course director. However, FIT4005 remains the preferred research methods unit option for BCS Honours students.
Prerequisite: Foundation knowledge in computer science or business information systems or information technology and systems fundamentals.
For students enrolled in E3001, E3002, E3005, E3010, E3011, E3007: completion of 144 credit points of study in the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) degree.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
The aim of this unit is to prepare students to conduct research in an industry IT context. It provides broad coverage of the issues, concepts, methods, and techniques associated with the diverse responsibilities expected from the contemporary IT professional as they evaluate products, conduct R&D and plan product feature development. 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 research in the IT industry. It covers how to effectively communicate the results of a piece of research through the established method of short-form video. Skills developed and knowledge acquired from this unit will prepare students to plan, conduct and communicate research within an IT organisation, as well as to be knowledgeable and critical interpreters of research more generally.
Offerings in 2023
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| First semester | Malaysia | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- Assessment tasks for weeks 1 to 3Other20%
- Assessment tasks for weeks 4 to 6Other20%
- Assessment tasks for weeks 7 to 9Other20%
- Assessment tasks for weeks 10 to 12Other30%
- Online weekly quizOther5%
- Online weekly communication activityOther5%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Demonstrate the ability to frame and design an effective research plan, with respect to all aspects of the research pipeline;
- 2
Review and critique the current state of art from a wide range of sources to inform a research question and appropriate methods;
- 3
Explain the ethical and professional issues that may arise in IT research and demonstrate practical ways to approach them when operationalizing research;
- 4
Evaluate, select and justify research methods and techniques of data collection and analysis appropriate to particular research designs and projects in sub-disciplines of IT, with a focus on both qualitative and quantitative data;
- 5
Identify and describe the potential intellectual property involved in a piece of IT research, including prior art and new knowledge;
- 6
Communicate research findings, demonstrating an understanding of diverse audiences and stakeholders in the research pipeline.
Workload and teaching
- Studio activities36 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled online and face to face learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated reading and preparation for scheduled teaching activities.
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.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Reading list: There is no required textbook for this unit. See the Library list on Moodle. Lists of additional readings will be provided for each module.
Technology resources
Students may be required to use Web browsers, text processing, spread sheets and slide presentation packages to complete their assignments, media production tools and statistical analysis software. These are available in University computer labs.
Where it fits
FIT4005 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2023 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Wong Kok Sheik
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Tom Bartindale
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for FIT4005?
FIT4005 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after FIT4005?
FIT4005 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including FIT4448.
When is FIT4005 offered?
In 2023, FIT4005 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia.
How much work is FIT4005?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does FIT4005 have an exam?
No. FIT4005 has 6 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include FIT4005?
FIT4005 is part of Computational science and Software engineering.