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Unit of study_

ARCF9001: Modes of Inquiry: Research and Scholarship

This unit is a seminar with mini-lectures, presentations by members of the academic staff about research and scholarship methods in which they are most expert, critical review of readings, discussions based on the seminar material, research writing and preparation of research proposals. The aim is to provide newly admitted research students with a fundamental understanding of the nature of inquiry through research, the philosophy of scientific research and interpretive scholarship and a range of fundamentally different epistemologies or 'modes of inquiry.' The modes of inquiry explored include (1) empirical, field-based and laboratory epistemology used heavily in architectural science, human-computer interaction, urban planning and other field-based research, including experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, naturalistic, ethnographic and case study methods; (2) text-based, interpretive epistemology used heavily in architecture and the allied arts and other humanities, including archival, historical, theoretical, interpretative, discourse analysis and other text based methods; (3) design-led research and associated methodologies like research-through-design, research through creative practice, action research, design innovation, critical and speculative design; and (4) policy-oriented, communication-contingency and modelling epistemologies used heavily in urban and regional planning and other policy-based disciplines, including archival, strategic and evidence-based policy research, communications and morphological analyses and quantitative modelling; as well as (5) interdisciplinary combinations, triangulations and mixed modes.

Code ARCF9001
Academic unit Architectural and Design Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. evaluate the appropriateness of methods of research and analysis to specific research questions
  • LO2. write a preliminary research proposal
  • LO3. deliver a well-structured and engaging research proposal presentation
  • LO4. provide constructive feedback on research outside your own field of expertise.