Skip to main content
Unit outline_

DECO4002: Design Computing Honours Research B

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Students must submit an Honours application form. Entry into Honours in the Bachelor of Design Computing requires you to have completed your pass degree with a weighted average mark of at least 70. The Honours degree requires full-time study over two semesters (DECO4001 and DECO4002 and then DECO4003 and DECO4004). In special cases the Dean may approve a part-time enrolment over four semesters. The units are not assessed separately. A single dissertation is required. The appointment of a supervisor will depend on the topic chosen for the dissertation by the student. The dissertation should be submitted by the end of the first week of the formal examination period in the semester in which DECO4004 Design Computing Honours Research D is taken.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 12
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
DECO4001
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Lian Loke, lian.loke@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Honours thesis Dissertation
Written dissertation
100% Formal exam period max 30,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Dissertation:

When you commence Honours research, you will first develop a research proposal in consultation with your supervisor. Throughout the year, you will work on the research project, with regular guidance and feedback from your supervisor. At the conclusion of the year you are expected to submit a dissertation that was written in consultation with your supervisor. This makes up 100% of your total mark. The dissertation should:

  1. Outline the state of the art through a literature review, outlining the key knowledge gaps and explaining how the research addresses them.
  2. Report on the aims and objectives of the work, the rationale and process taken in its conception and development, and a detailed reflection or empirical evaluation of the (design) research work.
  3. Utilise quantitative, qualitative or mixed mode research methods to explore the research questions.
  4. Introduce new knowledge in the form of novel design work, conceptual model, framework, method, or a technology-driven design process that is realised through either theory or the introduction, incorporation, enhancement or development of a prototype.

Assessment criteria

The honours dissertation itself receives a mark, which is recorded on the transcript next to DECO4004. The other units will be converted to SR for Satisfied Requirements upon successful completion of the dissertation.

The grade of honours is determined by using a mark derived from averaging the marks for each criteria. While this number is not recorded on the transcript, the final class of honours awarded is.

The honours degree of Bachelor of Design Computing shall be awarded to eligible students, with the following grades:
•    Honours Class I (with a mark of at least 80)
•    Honours Class II, Division 1 (with a mark of at least 75)
•    Honours Class II, Division 2 (with a mark of at least 70)
•    A student of the honours program who does not meet the requirements for award of honours (mark less than 65) shall be awarded the Bachelor of Design Computing pass degree.

The University Medal may be awarded for students who achieve over 95.

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.

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.

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

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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

Attendance and class requirements

There will be no formal weekly classes to attend, although you are invited and strongly encouraged to attend the scheduled classes for Masters by Coursework research units. These classes run on Wednesday afternoons, 2-5pm, for 5 weeks covering topics of what is (design) research, research design and methodology, how to do literature searches, formulating research questions, human ethics, qualitative data analysis, writing up your research for publication. The schedule will be available on Canvas.

Students are expected to make arrangements for regular (weekly/fortnightly) contact with their supervisors on an individual basis to chart the work, receive advice, and review and monitor progress. Supervisors have a workload allocation of 26 hours of supervision, which includes meetings, review of draft material, and attendance at student presentations.

At the conclusion of the year you are expected to submit the dissertation with any auxiliary material to Canvas. Along with the dissertation, students are expected to give two presentations during their honours year to give an update on their progress and receive feedback. The presentations are scheduled in Week 12 of Semester 1 and Semester 2.

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

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. Plan, scope and manage an independent research-based project.
  • LO2. Critically engage with published scholarship and trusted sources of data to identify gaps and contributions in knowledge.
  • LO3. Select and apply appropriate research methods to answer well-formulated research questions.
  • LO4. Communicate persuasively through diverse forms of media the value and validity of research proposals, findings and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • LO5. Work independently, with an ability to make independent judgements, reflect, self-evaluate and self-improve, and incorporate the guidance and feedback of others.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

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.