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Research Methods for Planners (PLAN30003)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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Urban areas are a complex interplay between social systems and the range of physical, economic, ecological and other forces that act upon them. Successful urban planning depends upon the comprehensive understanding of the social dimension of urban places. This subject provides theoretical and applied instruction in how to design, conduct and analyse social research related to urban planning and development. The workshop will integrate ethics, theory, principles of research and methods/tools with applied planning examples, giving students an opportunity to explore research foundations in a practice-relevant learning environment.

Students will develop the necessary skills to design, execute and analyse a substantial urban planning research project and to provide results/analysis in ways suitable for a range of users including the public, other planners and urban managers.

Intended learning outcomes

Having completed this subject it is expected that the student be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the key social issues facing urban places and the main mechanisms available to planners to understand and manage these issues;
  • Understand key urban research methods;
  • Demonstrate an ability to design, execute and analyse an applied research project, responding to a contemporary urban issue;
  • Identify, gather and use key data sources, following appropriate ethics requirements;
  • Demonstrate communication skills to convey key information to a wide audience.

Generic skills

Students completing this subject will have developed the following generic skills:

  • High level written and oral communication skills;
  • Familiarity with key planning issues;
  • Problem solving and analytical skills;
  • Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution;
  • Capacity for independent thought;
  • Ability to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision;
  • Ability to participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

 

Last updated: 3 June 2023

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
ABPL20035 Cities: From Local to Global
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

It is recommended that students have completed all required first-year Urban Planning subjects.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 3 June 2023

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Social research position paper

  • 500 words
Week 310%

Social research report

  • 1000 words
Week 725%

Weekly quizzes

  • 1000 words (equivalent)
From Week 2 to Week 1125%

Final report

  • 1500 words
Week 1440%

Last updated: 3 June 2023

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorJudy Bush
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours 1X2 hour lecture +1X1 hour tutorial per week
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023
    Last self-enrol date10 March 2023
    Census date31 March 2023
    Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023
    Assessment period ends23 June 2023

    Semester 1 contact information

    Subject Coordinator

    Judy Bush

    judy.bush@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

170 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
    - Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
    - Completion rate. Students who started their course from 2022 and are in a CSP or receiving a HELP Loan (eg FEE-HELP) must meet the completion rate to continue to receive Commonwealth Support for that course.

Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement, and as a fail toward the completion rate, unless there are approved ‘special circumstances’.

Last updated: 3 June 2023

Further information

Last updated: 3 June 2023