ABN401 Research Strategies in the Built Environment
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABN401 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Completion of 192 credit points, or admission into DE83 Master of Architecture |
| Equivalent(s): | DYN102 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,612 |
| International unit fee | $5,196 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABN401 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Completion of 192 credit points, or admission into DE83 Master of Architecture |
| Equivalent: | DYN102 |
| Coordinators: | Glenda Caldwell | g.caldwell@qut.edu.au |
Overview
In this unit, you will learn how research informs practice across the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, construction management, quantity surveying, and urban and regional planning. You will develop critical thinking, information retrieval, and synthesis of research skills necessary for professional practice. The unit emphasises research and writing techniques essential for developing informed, evidence-based solutions.
You will explore various research methods for data collection and analysis, preparing you to frame and deliver research and design projects in subsequent units. You will engage with quantitative and qualitative research methods through lectures and tutorials and learn how to apply these tools to create research plans and proposals.
These research skills are integral to many aspects of professional practice, including communicating your evidence-based findings to clients, colleagues, and collaborators.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply critical thinking and advanced written and verbal communication skills to frame and describe problems, research proposals, and findings relevant to discipline and industry.
- Utilise contemporary strategies and technologies to effectively search, organise and use information.
- Delineate gaps in knowledge and develop research objectives to address identified gaps in knowledge.
- Identify and evaluate a range of methods for collecting and analysing data in a systematic and rigorous way.
Content
Key themes to be covered in this unit include:
- Critical thinking skills
- Research topic identification
- Information retrieval
- Literature review
- Research strategies
- Qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection and analysis
- Research proposal development
- Academic writing skills.
Learning Approaches
This advanced unit is designed for Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) students. It covers research strategies in architecture and the built environment, training you in industry-relevant qualitative and quantitative research methods and understanding their appropriate application. Upon completing this unit, you will be prepared to conduct your research-based project in capstone 'project' or design/studio units.
Throughout this unit, you will engage with lectures and tutorials underpinned by your thorough preparation and critical reading of weekly assigned materials. Lectures will present and interrogate key theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches for conducting research in architecture and the built environment. Tutorials employ an inquiry-based learning model, with in-depth discussion and other activities that reinforce and extend your understanding of the research strategies and methods introduced in lectures and readings.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessments will take the form of two reports. While each assessment will be graded upon completion, there will be ongoing formative feedback throughout the semester to guide your progress. Assessment expectations will be provided through criteria referenced assessment (CRA) sheets, and discussed during relevant lectures, presentations, and tutorials. Students are encouraged to engage in peer evaluation and feedback during tutorials. Marked assessments will include feedback from markers based on your performance in each criterion.
Assessment
Overview
The summative assessment items in this unit develop your understanding of contemporary strategies and technologies to search information and literature for developing a literature review, identifying a gap in knowledge, and creating a plan for research.
The first assessment focuses investigating a problem relevant to your discipline. You will develop an annotated bibliography and identify gaps in knowledge pertaining to a research topic you choose. In the second assessment you will review the current literature and develop a strategy to build on existing research to address these gaps pertaining to your research topic.
You will gain feedback on your topic, literature review and research strategy throughout the semester during tutorials from both your peers and the teaching team.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Problem Investigation Report
You will identify and undertake preliminary exploration of a problem relevant to your intended field of practice. Using critical thinking, concept mapping, and information retrieval skills to identify, filter and annotate information from journal articles and other peer-reviewed literature you will produce a report which delineates a gap in knowledge based on an annotated bibliography and your research questions.
Assessment: Research Proposal Report
You will prepare a research proposal report presenting the research problem you are investigating, synthesising findings of previous research, identifying remaining gaps in knowledge, and developing objectives to address the gaps based on a literature review. You will present a research plan that incorporates research methods appropriate for addressing the research questions identified in the first assessment.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resources for this unit include required and recommended weekly readings on Canvas throughout the semester.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are minimal risks associated with this unit. Students may be exposed to communication risks associated with postings, comments or feedback provided during the unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report
DE83 Master of Architecture
- Independently researching and evaluating emergent knowledge as it becomes necessary to fulfil the profession's role in society.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Supporting their decision-making using evidence-based, reasoned argument and judgement pertaining to architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Research Proposal Report - Communicating with a variety of audiences in appropriate ways.
Relates to: ULO1, Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABN401 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Completion of 192 credit points, or admission into DE83 Master of Architecture |
| Equivalent: | DYN102 |
| Coordinators: | Bo Xia | paul.xia@qut.edu.au |
Overview
In this unit, you will learn how research informs practice across the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, construction management, quantity surveying, and urban and regional planning. You will develop critical thinking, information retrieval, and synthesis of research skills necessary for professional practice. The unit emphasises research and writing techniques essential for developing informed, evidence-based solutions.
You will explore various research methods for data collection and analysis, preparing you to frame and deliver research and design projects in subsequent units. You will engage with quantitative and qualitative research methods through lectures and tutorials and learn how to apply these tools to create research plans and proposals.
These research skills are integral to many aspects of professional practice, including communicating your evidence-based findings to clients, colleagues, and collaborators.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply critical thinking and advanced written and verbal communication skills to frame and describe problems, research proposals, and findings relevant to discipline and industry.
- Utilise contemporary strategies and technologies to effectively search, organise and use information.
- Delineate gaps in knowledge and develop research objectives to address identified gaps in knowledge.
- Identify and evaluate a range of methods for collecting and analysing data in a systematic and rigorous way.
Content
Key themes to be covered in this unit include:
- Critical thinking skills
- Research topic identification
- Information retrieval
- Literature review
- Research strategies
- Qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection and analysis
- Research proposal development
- Academic writing skills.
Learning Approaches
This advanced unit is designed for Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours) students. It covers research strategies in architecture and the built environment, training you in industry-relevant qualitative and quantitative research methods and understanding their appropriate application. Upon completing this unit, you will be prepared to conduct your research-based project in capstone 'project' or design/studio units.
Throughout this unit, you will engage with lectures and tutorials underpinned by your thorough preparation and critical reading of weekly assigned materials. Lectures will present and interrogate key theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches for conducting research in architecture and the built environment. Tutorials employ an inquiry-based learning model, with in-depth discussion and other activities that reinforce and extend your understanding of the research strategies and methods introduced in lectures and readings.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessments will take the form of two reports. While each assessment will be graded upon completion, there will be ongoing formative feedback throughout the semester to guide your progress. Assessment expectations will be provided through criteria referenced assessment (CRA) sheets, and discussed during relevant lectures, presentations, and tutorials. Students are encouraged to engage in peer evaluation and feedback during tutorials. Marked assessments will include feedback from markers based on your performance in each criterion.
Assessment
Overview
The summative assessment items in this unit develop your understanding of contemporary strategies and technologies to search information and literature for developing a literature review, identifying a gap in knowledge, and creating a plan for research.
The first assessment focuses investigating a problem relevant to your discipline. You will develop an annotated bibliography and identify gaps in knowledge pertaining to a research topic you choose. In the second assessment you will review the current literature and develop a strategy to build on existing research to address these gaps pertaining to your research topic.
You will gain feedback on your topic, literature review and research strategy throughout the semester during tutorials from both your peers and the teaching team.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Problem Investigation Report
You will identify and undertake preliminary exploration of a problem relevant to your intended field of practice. Using critical thinking, concept mapping, and information retrieval skills to identify, filter and annotate information from journal articles and other peer-reviewed literature you will produce a report which delineates a gap in knowledge based on an annotated bibliography and your research questions.
Assessment: Research Proposal Report
You will prepare a research proposal report presenting the research problem you are investigating, synthesising findings of previous research, identifying remaining gaps in knowledge, and developing objectives to address the gaps based on a literature review. You will present a research plan that incorporates research methods appropriate for addressing the research questions identified in the first assessment.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resources for this unit include required and recommended weekly readings on Canvas throughout the semester.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are minimal risks associated with this unit. Students may be exposed to communication risks associated with postings, comments or feedback provided during the unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report
DE83 Master of Architecture
- Independently researching and evaluating emergent knowledge as it becomes necessary to fulfil the profession's role in society.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report - Supporting their decision-making using evidence-based, reasoned argument and judgement pertaining to architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO3, ULO4, Research Proposal Report - Communicating with a variety of audiences in appropriate ways.
Relates to: ULO1, Problem Investigation Report, Research Proposal Report