James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

SC5055 - Research Methods and Communication Skills

Only available to students enrolled in the Master of Marine Biology.

Subject Description

Effective communication is a critical skill for a successful career in research oriented science, environmental management, public policy and/or education. This subject provides postgraduate students the opportunity to develop and practice advanced communication skills necessary for contextualizing and justifying research, for understanding and articulating research impact, and for relaying research findings in the marine biological and environmental sciences to stakeholders. Students will learn about research integrity, including techniques for project planning, management and record-keeping and they will gain skills for reviewing the literature and scientific writing. The ethical and legal requirements for best practice science will also be covered. Students will complete written and oral assessment tasks encompassing a range of communication styles and tools. This is a mixed mode subject that combines online and face-to-face teaching delivery.

Learning Outcomes

• communicate theoretical propositions, methodologies, scientific data, arguments and conclusions clearly and coherently to specialist and non-specialist audiences through advanced written and oral English language skills and a variety of media
• Identify and articulate research questions in marine biology or marine science, and generate solutions to unpredictable or complex problems within tropical marine ecosystems
• critically review regulatory requirements, ethical principles and, where appropriate, cultural frameworks, to work effectively, responsibly in developing a research proposal

Subject Assessment

• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (20%) - Individual
• Oral > Presentation 1 - (30%) - Individual
• Written > Proposal - (50%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Availabilities