62405 RESEARCH PRACTICE AND ETHICS

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
98	62405 	S1  	D 	RESEARCH PRACTICE & ETHICS	1.00

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: T. MUKKUR
Moderator: G. DAGGARD

RATIONALE:

In the contemporary world, science and technology are increasingly seen as fundamental for human progress and survival. As the power of technology has increased, ethical considerations in the practice of science have become a critical component in the interaction between science and society. Additionally, the limited ability of society to support scientific research has led to ever increasing competition for these resources and emphasised the need for skills in both scientific communication and information technology. This unit is designed to allow students to appreciate the role of philosophy and ethics in the practice of science and to be aware of, and develop, a range of communication skills required to successfully pursue a career in scientific research.


SYNOPSIS:

This unit is designed to allow students to appreciate the role of philosophy and ethics in science and to develop a range of communication skills required in the successful pursuit of a career in scientific research. The first component of the course considers the interactions between science and society with an emphasis on science philosophy and ethics. The second component is designed to allow the student to develop skills in particular aspects of scientific communication. These include computer based information retrieval, verbal and written scientific communication skills (debates, seminars, posters and papers) and the preparation and presentation of research grant proposals.


OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

  1. demonstrate an understanding of the varieties of scientific
    method and their historical evolution
  2. demonstrate skills in verbal presentation of ic data
  3. demonstrate skills in the written presentation of ic data
  4. demonstrate skills in the preparation and presentation of
    research grant applications
  5. use computerised data base searching facilities

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)
  1. Structure of Science 15.00

  2. Science and Society (scientific ethics and current debates) 25.00

  3. Scientific presentation skills 40.00 - verbal - poster - written (abstracts)

  4. Grant applications (written and oral) 20.00


RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Booth, V. 1992, Communicating in Science, 2nd edn, Cambridge
University Press, ISBN 0 521 42915 3

Briscoe, M.H. 1996, Preparing Scientific Illustrations, 2nd edn,
Springer-Verlag, ISBN 0-387-94581-4

Daly, J. 1996, Ethical Intersections, Allen & Unwin Publishers,
Sydney. ISBN: 1-86448-050-5.

Day, R.A. 1989, How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper,
Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 36760 3

Englehardt, H.T. 1996, The Foundations of Bioethics, Oxford Press,
ISBN: 0195057368.

Evnson, B. 1995, Writing Technical Documents, John Wiley and Sons.
ISBN 0-471-33566-5.

Kimmel, A.J. 1996, Ethical Issues in Behavioural Research, Blackwell
Publishers. ISBN: 1-55786-395-4.

Lobban, C.S. and Schefter, M. 1992, Successful Laboratory Reports,
Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 40741 9

Oldroyd, D. 1989, The Arch of Knowledge, University of NSW Press,
Kensington.

Oldroyd, D. 1982, Science and Ethics, University of NSW Press,
Kensington.

Riggs, R.J. 1992, Whys and Ways of Science: Introducing Philosophical
and Sociological Theories of Science
, Melbourne University Press.
ISBN 0 522 84471 5

Sides, C.H. 1992, How to Write and Present Technical Information,
Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0 521 43861 6

Snow, c.P. 1969, The Two Cultures and a Second Look, Cambridge
University Press.


STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Tutorials/Workshops                           	2
Private Study                                 	140

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S              WK 5      SCIENTIFIC DEBATE                         10.00     N   N
2   S              WK 5      ABSTRACT                                  5.00      N   N
3   S              WK 7      JOURNAL PRESENTATION                      15.00     N   N
4   S              WK 7      REFEREED PAPER                            15.00     N   N
5   S              WK 10     LITERATURE REVIEW SEMINAR                 10.00     N   N
6   S              WK 11     ESSAY                                     20.00     N   N
7   S              WK 12     GRANT APPLICATION (SEMINAR)               10.00     N   N
8   S              WK 14     GRANT APPLICATION (WRITTEN)               15.00     N   N

*F=Formative, S=Summative

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    In accordance with University policy and Guidelines,
1.1  an  Examiner  may  grant  an extension of  the  due  date  of  an
     assignment in extenuating circumstances;
1.2  no  assignments  will be accepted for assessment  purposes  after
     assignments  or  model  solutions have been  released  except  in
     extenuating circumstances;
1.3  assignments  submitted after the due date without any extenuating
     circumstances  will  attract a penalty of  at  most  20%  of  the
     assignment mark for each working day late;
1.4  students who submit an assignment after the due date and wish  to
     claim   extenuating   circumstances,  must  provide   documentary
     evidence with the assignment explaining the circumstances;
1.5  the   unit  examiner  shall  consider  a  claim  for  extenuating
     circumstances and decide on the outcome;
1.6  the  decision of the Dean shall be final in any dispute that  may
     arise in the implementation of these guidelines.

This information is accurate as at 04/11/98