MECO4116: Semester 1, 2025

Units MECO4116 Semester 1 2025 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

MECO4116: Research Practices

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit provides an introductory understanding of key research methods and practices relevant to media and communications, organised in 'clusters' such as multimedia, literary journalism, public relations, magazines and audio/podcasting. Cluster choices are dependent upon staff availability each year. Students will choose a 'cluster' by end of Week 3 and write an essay and media project proposal. The proposal will form the basis of a major project which they will complete in semester 2 in MECO4117 Critical Practice in Media. MECO4116 and 4117 are linked and 4th year unit choices should accord with this year-long structure.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Media and Communications
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	18 credit points at 3000-level in Media and Communications
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Catharine Lumby, catharine.lumby@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Lea Redfern, lea.redfern@sydney.edu.au
	Julia Booth, julia.booth@sydney.edu.au
	Mark Tredinnick, mark.tredinnick@sydney.edu.au
	Catharine Lumby, catharine.lumby@sydney.edu.au
	Oliver Heath, oliver.heath@sydney.edu.au
	Robin Austin, robin.austin@sydney.edu.au
	Gina Flaxman, gina.flaxman@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Pitch Students pitch their project idea to their cluster	10%	Multiple weeks	5 minutes (approx 800 words)
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Participation in weekly tutorials	5%	Ongoing	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research Essay cluster specific	40%	Week 07 Due date: 17 Apr 2025 at 23:59	2400 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Proposal Students write a proposal for a major media project	45%	Week 13 Due date: 30 May 2025 at 23:59	2800 words
Outcomes assessed:
= AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Cluster specific research essay: this task requires you to write an essay in response to your cluster leader’s stimulus question about a case study in your field, which shows your understanding of research methods in media and communications and the state of practice.
Project pitch: you will present a short pitch for a major media project as an in-class presentation to your cluster group
Project Proposal: you will write a proposal for a major media project, including your research methods and
Participation: you will contribute to reading analysis, discussions and pitch feedback in weekly cluster classes.

Detailed information for each assessment and submission instructions can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Rubrics for each assessment are provided on Canvas.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

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:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

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.

Learning support

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to the unit. Each cluster leader discusses their subject, method of teaching, expectations, etc.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Cluster-based tutorial (see Canvas for weekly seminar topics, specific to each cluster)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Cluster-based tutorial	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: 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.

Preparation: Students should commit to approximately three hours of preparation time (reading, viewing, listening, studying, researching, writing, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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

See research cluster instructions and Canvas learning modules.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. understand the key research methods commonly used in media and communications research and practice
LO2. apply key methods to creative case studies across a range of areas of media and communications
LO3. understand the value of research methods within scholarly and professional contexts

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

Thanks for your feedback on each of the cluster groups. This year you rated the unit overwhelmingly highly at 4.64/5 overall. Much work was done last year on clarifying the assignment requirements and marking rubrics, and this has seen far greater satisfaction here. This year we will enlist your help in improving the learning resources for each cluster, and ensuring the Canvas site learning modules are easier to navigate

Additional information

Additional costs

Those students undertaking the Magazines and Video modules will have the option of subscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud for $85 or using the university lab computers for their production work. Magazines students will be asked to print one copy of their work for assessment. Cost could $20-100 depending on the number of pages and copies they choose to print. Please consult the cluster leader for current quotes as prices vary depending on the scope of the work. Students undertaking the Video and Audio clusters must be prepared to buy back up hard dives and consumable storage items (SD cards etc) for recording devices.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

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