77697 Higher Degree Research Seminar

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Handbook description

This subject is designed to prepare higher degree research students in law for undertaking and writing a research thesis. Through a series of seminars and workshops, students are provided with a thorough grounding in the components of an effective research strategy and positioned to produce a written research proposal directed towards preparation for their Candidature Assessment at the end of stage one.

Subject objectives/outcomes

This subject will assist students to develop graduate attributes by pursuing the following learning objectives. Students will undertake class activities to practise their development of these attributes, and will complete a range of assessment tasks designed to assess their attainment of the identified attributes.

Objective 1: Knowledge of the broad contexts of legal research, the different constituencies of that research and various research methodologies - Targeting Graduate Attributes: 1, 4
Objective 2: Ability to construct a literature review, frame research questions and develop an appropriate research methodology - Targeting Graduate Attributes: 1,2 and 3
Objective 3: Ability to design a research project and write a research proposal - Targeting Graduate Attributes: 1,2 and 3
Objective 4: Effective written and oral communication skills - Targeting Graduate Attributes: 3

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

The UTS, Faculty of Law has identified a number of professional attributes that graduates from the Faculty will possess upon graduation.

INTELLECTUAL
1. Critical Thinking: An appropriate level of independent thinking, creativity and critical analysis.
2. Analysis and Evaluation: An ability to strategically analyse issues of law, evaluate options and viewpoints to reach and implement decisions.
3. Spoken and Written Communication: Advanced oral and written communication skills.
4. Legal Research and Technological Literacy: Appropriate research techniques to acquire, distil and utilise legal information.

PROFESSIONAL
5. Disciplinary Knowledge: A coherent and extensive knowledge of substantive and procedural law.
6. Lifelong Learning: A capacity to continually update the knowledge skills and awareness appropriate to the practice of law.
7. Ethics: A capacity to value and promote honesty, accountability and ethical standards.

PERSONAL
8. Self and Cooperative Work Management: Self and priority management skills including cooperative work.
9. Cultural Awareness and a Global Outlook: An appreciation and valuing of cultural and intellectual diversity and an ability to function in a global environment.
10. Social Justice: An acknowledgement and acceptance of individual responsibilities and obligations and of the assertion of the rights of the individual and the community.

Teaching and learning strategies

Strategy 1: The substantive content of this subject will be taught in spring semester in the first year of their candidature. This is so students come into the subject having already undertaken preliminary research and some redevelopment and refining of their original proposal. However it is also important that students be provided with advance resources to enable them to prepare their Doctoral Study Plan (DSP) as required at the commencement of their candidature. These resources will consist of one 3 hour seminar that will follow the HDR induction and 2 x 2 hour (optional) library workshops. The workshops will focus on the use of a range of legal resources and management of data.

Strategy 2: This substantive content of this subject will be taught in 9 x 3 hour small groups using a combination of seminar-style discussions and workshops.

Strategy 3: Class presentations - each student will present a revised research proposal as well as comment upon and critique a research proposal allocated to them. Summaries of the research presentations will be distributed to class members prior to the class and presented in class for group discussion. The written critique will be due in the next class following the presentation. A de-identified copy of the critique will be handed back to the presenting student together with their marked research proposal. It is anticipated that the revised research proposal will later form the basis of the student’s candidature assessment material. This combination of written and oral presentation of the refined research plan will replace the practice candidature assessment trialled by ADR in 2012.

Content

• Research tools
• Managing and storing data
• Writing a thesis, Supervision, thesis management and developing a Doctoral Study Plan (DSP)
• Starting a legal research project: The nature of legal research, expectations of post graduate research, formulating research questions and introduction to research methodology.
• Situating the research project: reviewing the literature, key concepts, problems, issues, research approaches, and significance and innovation of research.
• Designing a legal research project and Introduction to conceptual frameworks and legal research methodologies.
• Research methodologies in Depth.
• Application of research methodology to your topic.
• Developing your literature review.
• Research Proposal and Class Presentation.
• Chapter plan.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Class Participation

Assessment Item 2: Revised Research Proposal