Units / ATS4520
ATS4520 · Honours research methods
2026 Handbook12 credit pointsLevel 4Faculty of Arts
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
The unit engages you in the diverse range of methodologies and approaches that are drawn upon by researchers across the social sciences and humanities. You will be exposed to theoretical, applied, qualitative and empirical research studies, skills and critiques to deepen your understanding of the research process. You will develop practical skills and techniques for identifying and investigating social issues and problems. On completion of this unit, you will have developed a deeper insight into the process of research design and applied practice and will have acquired the skills and confidence to develop and present your own research to a professional academic audience.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exercise/s | Exercise | 35% | — |
| 2 | Exercise/s | Exercise | 25% | — |
| 3 | Essay | Written | 40% | — |
Within semester assessment: 100%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- design a research project in accordance with established research design principles and methodological approaches;
- critically evaluate practical, theoretical and ethical issues involved in research in the humanities and social sciences;
- compare the advantages and limitations of different methodological approaches in relation to your own research project;
- present your research to a professional academic audience.
Workload
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 288 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 12 hours |
| Tutorials | 24 hours |
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