Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Transformative Research & Evaluation

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HUSO2393

City Campus

Undergraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023,
Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Rachel Goff

Course Coordinator Phone: Contact via email please

Course Coordinator Email: rachel.goff@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Builing 8, Level 10

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment (please email)


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

Contemporary social issues have many complex dimensions, and this reality creates new challenges that social service sectors must address. In this context, human services practitioners need deep evidence-based understandings of social issues so they can develop effective, human-centered solutions appropriate to the realities of the sector. This course will introduce you to the role of qualitative research, lived experience, participatory research methods and evaluation, and will teach you the skills to critically evaluate their contribution to the transformative, social change agenda.  

In this course you will critically examine the competing discourses evident within research, lived experience and the broader human services sector, and learn to evaluate the appropriateness of interventions when working toward social justice, empowerment and evidence-informed, human-centered outcomes. The course includes a work integrated learning experience in which your developing knowledge and skills will be applied to a real issue identified by human services agencies and where feedback from industry and/or community is integral to your experience. To guide the development of these capabilities, you will be required to engage with design thinking processes and activities and work with others to develop an evidence-informed and creative intervention aimed to address your selected issue. With these skills and knowledge, you will improve your ability to develop and evaluate ethical interventions within an organisational setting and use evidence to inform social change. 

This intensive course runs three full day workshops in semester 2 and requires students to engage with self-paced learning between workshops. This intensive format allows you to work with others to develop your understanding and ideas, with time between workshops to absorb these ideas and engage with learning materials and assessments. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes 

In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes: 

  • Apply professional, theoretical and practical knowledge of the social sciences and psychology to your professional practice and further study.
  • Critically analyse, synthesise and apply theoretical and professional insights from the psychological and social sciences to reflect on the challenges facing professional practice in a rapidly changing world.
  • Apply logical, critical and creative thinking from the psychological and the social sciences to respond effectively to a range of issues associated with changing social, cultural and political contexts.
  • Design, conduct and critically evaluate evidenced-based ethical research projects in the psychological and social sciences. 


Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

1. Critically analyse, evaluate and utilise qualitative research and evidence in relation to a transformative social agenda.  

2. Identify, understand and analyse the role of research, lived experience, and organisational and government policy and practice to enact social change. 

3. Use design thinking processes and methods to engage with principles of transformative research and evaluation. 

4. Co-develop ethical and innovative program interventions specific to community or organisational need and communicate these proposals to a diverse audience. 

       


Overview of Learning Activities

This is a designated WIL course for BP112. Learning activities will include interactive workshop/seminar activities that focus on group-based discussion and problem-solving tasks, using processes and approaches used within the human services. Seminars include opportunities to interact with industry representatives who will present you with current issues and real-world challenges facing their sector or organisation. Industry representatives will then later provide feedback on the work you develop in the course. This engagement with industry constitutes a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) aspect of the course. 

Course learning materials will be made available in a range of formats, which may include lectures, guest speakers and online media. In workshops / seminars you will also develop academic skills including analytical reading and academic writing.  

In order to develop your knowledge and skills, you will be expected to participate in interactive discussions and activities and to critically engage with the reading materials. The workshops / seminars offer a supportive learning environment where you will have the opportunity to share your knowledge and experiences, and to learn from the knowledge and experience of your peers. This peer-based learning may take place through small-group discussions, collaborative work on activities and assessments and/or peer reviewing of research, written work and/or oral presentations. 

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities.  

Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. 

You will be given access to a wide range of resources through course readings and you will also be able to access to a wide range of online learning tools and content for your course from the student portal, myRMIT, and RMIT Library resources. These resources will include book chapters, journal articles, media articles, lecture notes, bibliographies for supplementary reading, video, and links to external websites. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.

Assessment 1: Evidence Review (30%) CLOs 1, 2
Assessment 2: Work-in-progress Intervention Development Activities (30%) CLOs 2, 3, 4
Assessment 3: Presentation (40%) CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.