Assignment 2: Methodology statement
Overview:
This assignment builds on your chosen planning or broader built environment and/or natural environment problem from Assignment 1. You will propose a method of research to address the identified research problem.
This assignment consists of three distinct components (A, B & C). Each component is to be submitted separately, on distinct due dates. Each component will be assessed against different assessment criteria. The three components of this assignment are:
Part A: Draft methodology statement
Part B: Peer review of 2 draft ‘methodology statements'
Part C: Final methodology statement
The details of each component of this assignment, and their associated assessment criteria are provided on the following pages.
Part A - Draft methodology statement
Overview:
Part A of this assignment requires you to develop a draft methodology statement to address the research problem you identified in assignment 1. The methodology has to be suitable for a dedicated two person team (from a government department) to complete in a one year timeframe, with a small budget (approximately $50,000 AUD).
Your draft methodology statement will do the following:
- Provide an overview of the problem, its context and importance
- Define a research question appropriate to the problem
- Provide a description of sufficient detail* of the chosen method including consideration of how it will be operationalized, of the population involved, sampling, scope, bounds, etc.
- Provide a description of sufficient detail* of how the data will be gathered
- Provide a description of sufficient detail* of how the data gathered will be analysed
- Justify the method - in doing so include a critique of other methods that were considered and a justification of why they were discounted / included.
- Provide an account of how the results will be disseminated / communicated
- Include a timeline of proposed research activities including, but not limited to, the analysis of data gathered and communication of results
- Explicitly address professional ethics considerations made (PIA 2014)
Learning Resources:
- Evans, D., Gruba, P., and Zobel, J. (2014). How to Write a Better Thesis [E Book], Cham: Springer.
- Planning Institute of Australia (2014) Professional Code of Conduct. Available at: https://www.planning.org.au/membershipinformation/code-of-conduct
- Bryman, A (2016). ‘Chapter 3: Research designs' in Social Research Methods. 5th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 39-72.
- Bryman, A (2016). ‘Chapter 4: Planning a research project and formulating research questions' in Social Research Methods. 5th Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 73-89.
- Babbie, E. (2010). ‘Chapter 4: Research Design' in The Basics of Social Research.' Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing pp. 94-129.
- Core and additional readings from the subject guide
Attachment:- Assignment 1.rar