This unit develops candidates' understanding of how to engage and utilise academic literature and develops a range of critical skills necessary to effectively do so. It deals with the central question, what is the nature and function of a critical literature review and how can one be effectively completed in practice? It introduces a variety of concepts to help candidates comprehend what a literature review is: for example intertextual fields; coherence patterns in literature; gap types; problematisation types; asserted knowledge claims; citation types; and rhetorical practices. Candidates are required to critically analyse how these concepts are evident in topic relevant literature and to directly apply them to their own areas as a basis for commencing their critical literature review. A special emphasis is placed upon approaching literature in a systematic and rigorous manner to help support or motivate a topic by identifying specific themes or issues to generate and refine research questions. An important focus in the unit is developing an appreciation of the demands of higher degree by research study and developing time management skills in preparation for writing a thesis.

Learning outcomes

The outcome of any unit for individual students is contingent upon what each student brings to class and the amount of energy and effort they deploy. However, a student who engages in all class activities with diligence can expect to be able to:
1. Efficiently read academic articles, effectively utilise articles for multiple purposes and develop strategies for managing academic expectations around reading and interpreting literature;
2. Critically evaluate literature reviews in topic-relevant disciplines and subject areas according to learned concepts;
3. Connect specific information from existing articles as a basis for identifying implicit themes and issues within a literature;
4. Critically analyse a literature to identify gaps and/or problems; and
5. Use literature to more effectively situate and motivate a research project.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas

Skills development

 

 

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

6647 Research Methodology and Research Design PG

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.