Critical Thought and Research Design
PostgraduateMAQ-PICX8122019
Course information for 2019 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Hone your reading, writing and analytical skills. Select key sources and investigate their worth using established methodologies. Sharpen your ability to logically break down evidence. Apply what you’ve learnt and develop a strategic research design.
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- -
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Critical Thought and Research Design
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- Evaluate and explain the key theoretical approaches, methodologies, and concepts in the social sciences discipline.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and advanced reading and writing skills – the ability to formulate a research question, understand and apply a theoretical approach and a methodology to cases, and independently collecting one’s own empirical evidence and data.
- Model advanced research skills, particularly the ability to select sources appropriately, to integrate knowledge from diverse sources, to critically evaluate significance and relevance, synthesise materials, and present findings logically, rationally and lucidly.
- Demonstrate critical communication skills, including the ability to present sustained, persuasive and original verbal and written arguments cogently and coherently, and mediate in-class debate and discussion.
- Engage consistently with the subject through proactive communication with peers and the convener, and demonstrate professional conduct in all class activities and in the submission of assessments.
- A week-by-week guide to the topics will be provided in the study materials.
This subject is a graduate seminar that provides training for student proficiency in critical thinking and research design. The degree content utilises inter-disciplinary approaches and methods for the social sciences. Students will practice advanced reading and writing skills, examine the logic of inquiry, investigate methodologies and theoretical approaches, and evaluate diverse sources. Students will then progress to applying their advanced research skills through critical thinking and problem-solving. They will examine what are concepts and measures, how to understand causation and correlation, as well as use and apply qualitative, quantitative and multi-methods research. Students will be assessed based on their application of skills to practice, both in formulating research design and presenting their research for broader consumption.
- Assignment 1 (40%)
- Assignment 2 (20%)
- Assignment 3 (20%)
- Assignment 4 (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
- Other requirements -
- Broadband access
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.