This unit will enable you to conduct an independent research inquiry into a specific topic relating to your discipline with the guidance of an allocated supervisor. You will complete a comprehensive review of previous scholarly work relating to your research topic and develop well-articulated research questions. Your research approach, methods and instrumentation of data collection will be determined and finalised in this unit. At the end of this unit, you will develop and present a rigorous project plan that you will execute in the subsequent unit: Research Project 2 (PPMP20016).

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student evaluation

The unit provided a positive learning experience.

To continue enhancing a positive learning environment in this subject, which focuses on communication between students and supervisors, student supervisors will actively seek and respond to student feedback, facilitate interactive and student-centred discussions, and hold regular catch-ups with students.

Feedback from UC observation

Bi-weekly workshops organised by UC to discuss key research concepts.

To enhance the effectiveness of the bi-weekly workshops, it is recommended to provide opportunities for in-depth interaction by incorporating Q&A sessions at the end of each workshop, encouraging student participation and fostering a more dynamic learning environment. Additionally, providing follow-up materials after each session such as summaries, additional readings, and supplementary resources will reinforce key concepts and facilitate further learning. A feedback mechanism should also be implemented at the end of each workshop to evaluate student understanding and gather input on the effectiveness of the session. These initiatives can be rolled out by the Term 1 2026. To measure success, it ought to monitor student attendance and participation rates.

Feedback from UC observation

Active engagement with supervisors for research progress.

To ensure students engage effectively with their supervisors and maintain progress, it’s essential to provide clear guidelines for the frequency of meetings and a structured framework for those meetings, focusing on goal setting, progress updates, and addressing challenges. A tracking system, such as an online form, can be introduced to log meeting dates, discussion points, and action items. These actions can be implemented by Term 1 2026. By the end of the term, the tracking system should be in use, and feedback from both students and supervisors should be collected to assess the effectiveness of these interactions in supporting research progress.