Skip to main content
Unit of study_

ECOP4012: Advanced Research in Political Economy

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This is an advanced unit that considers the relationship between theory and practical research questions. The unit draws on contemporary theoretical innovations and explores how they contribute to research in political economy and public policy.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ECOP4012
Academic unit Political Economy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Lynne Chester, lynne.chester@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Seminar participation
n/a
10% Progressive n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Literature Review
Essay
30% Week 06
Due date: 16 Apr 2021 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5
Assignment Data Visualisation
Short essay
20% Week 09
Due date: 07 May 2021 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
Assignment Essay
Long essay
40% Week 13
Due date: 04 Jun 2021 at 14:52
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Work not submitted on or before the due date is subject to a penalty of 5% per calendar day late. If work is submitted more than 10 days after the due date, or is submitted after the return date, the mark will be 0.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: Ontology, epistemology, methodology and research methods Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 02 Methodological issues: Positivism and Empiricism Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Methodological issues: Interpretive approaches and critical realism Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Research design, operationalisation and literature review Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Research methods Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Locating data sources and methods of analysis Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Data Visualization Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Quantitative analysis (including correlation and regression) Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Qualitative analysis Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Research ethics and the practicalities of a research project Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Managing a research project Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance at Honours Seminars is compulsory. According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

Students expereincing illness or misadventure shodul apply for Special Consideration and contact the unit coordinator as soon as possible. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Weekly seminar readings are available on the Canvas site

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

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

  • LO1. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the methodologies and analytical focus of different schools of economic thought, and the reasons for differences and similarities.
  • LO2. Critically evaluate the methodological issues faced in undertaking different political economy research projects.
  • LO3. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of traditional approaches to data and information analysis.
  • LO4. Demonstrate the capacity to apply appropriate research methods and analytical techniques to answer a research question.
  • LO5. Demonstrate the ability to design and conduct an effective and feasible political economy research project to generate new knowledge about a contemporary issue.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The content of this unit has been reviewed so that students receive pratical training in different research methods and analytical techniques.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.