Research plays an important role in everyone's life. In environment and sustainability fields, research allows identification of the sensitivity in human and natural systems to disturbances, responses to processes that threaten biodiversity and human well-being, and development of management strategies aimed at protecting and restoring ecosystems. Achieving these research outcomes relies upon establishing testable research questions, applying appropriate data collection and analysis methods, critically assessing results, and effectively communicating the observations. 

ENVS6103 uses a problem-focussed approach to introduce fundamental research concepts. You can expect to develop skills in ecological measurement and sampling as well as in designing and conducting research projects. You will also develop analytical skills, including data exploration, as well as effective communication and analysis techniques common to all sciences. The course promotes learning through a combination of lectures as well as field- and computer-based practical exercises. During field-based exercises you will gain first-hand experience in collecting ecological data. We also place great importance upon understanding the role of equity, integrity and ethics plays in professional practice and how these principles intersect with research.

Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates, but are expected to attend an additional graduate tutorial. Weighting and tasks within the graduate assessment schedule also differs substantively from those within the undergraduate schedule.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand and interpret quantitative research results reported within scientific literature
2. understand the principles of sampling techniques in the environmental and social sciences
3. demonstrate conceptual understanding of inferential statistics and hypothesis testing
4. explore and summarise data to identify primary and interactive effects and trends in experimental data
5. demonstrate a high-level understanding of the design and implementation of experiments and research projects
6. demonstrate a capacity to communicate research results effectively to the scientific and non-technical audiences

Research-Led Teaching

This course focusses upon current research findings that reflect research within the Fenner School and Research School of Biology. Content is delivered by researchers within the disciplinary fields covered and current research activities and their results form a basis of guest- and convener-delivered lectures. The course is also fundamentally research based. Learning is founded upon inquiry-based learning and encouraging students to act as researchers. To achieve this, current research projects being undertaken by the convener form part of learning activities and students contribute to collection of genuine research data as well as being given the opportunity to participate in research authorship.

Field Trips

Field trips to parts of the Canberra Nature Park, particularly Black Mountain Nature Reserve, will occur during scheduled practical times.

Additional Course Costs

No additional costs.

Examination Material or equipment

This course does not normally include an examination. In the place of an exam, graduate students will complete an extended research task that complements the research activities undertaken by undergraduate students. Failure to attend and participate in at least 75% of the graduate sessions will require completion of a graduate-level exam.

Required Resources

No special resources are required.

Recommended Resources

Learning in this course is supported by a set of recommended reading. From a statistics perspective, reference will be made to sections of Statistics in a Nutshell and Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists. Field survey techniques are supported by sections of Australian Soil and Land Survey, Ecological Census Techniques and Handbook of Biodiversity Methods as well as online sources. All referenced texts are accessible via the course Wattle site.

This course also draws upon an array of research literature (journal articles) and online media. Links to these resources are listed on the course Wattle site.

The course makes use of Microsoft Excel and JMP for data analysis and Statistics-focussed learning. JMP has an excellent user interface and reports statistics in a comprehensive and comprehensible fashion. Course participants will receive direct instruction for both programs. JMP is available on all machines in the ANU's Info Commons machines (Mac and Windows), including those within the University's Colleges. Many on-campus Info Commons rooms are open 24 hours. Home access to a current version of JMP can be gained by either downloading a free 30-day trial or purchasing a six- or twelve-month licence.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments, marked rubrics and verbal discussion on assignments;
• Verbal feedback to the whole class on field exercises, data outcomes, analysis tasks, quiz answers exercises and on assignments;
• General online feedback on quizzes
• Additional, individual feedback on request.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lectures Introduction: nature and necessity of research skills; statistical thinking and knowledge; course outline. Vegetation description and survey: attributes and drivers of diversity; functional traits - from individuals to landscapes. Practical None scheduled. Tutorial None scheduled.
2	Lectures Field methods - presence, abundance, density, richness and diversity; plots, points and transects; matching methods and data needs. Introduction to Black Mountain Nature Reserve - vegetation patterning; impact of disturbance. Practical Black Mountain survey I - overstorey structure and composition. Tutorial Introduction to ENVS1003 - statistics and statistics anxiety; reading academic papers.
3	Lectures Canberra Day holiday (no lecture) The nature of error - precision and accuracy; varying, variability, variation and variance; summarising the centre and spread. Practical Black Mountain survey II - canopy cover. Tutorial Research authorship I - introducing a research aim; defining a research question; hypotheses; introduction to the first written assessment.	Quiz Wattle-based quiz reflecting Week 1-3 lecture and practical content, and recommended reading.
4	Lectures Sampling and replication - goals of sampling; understanding sampling error; non-randomised vs randomised error. Experimental design - experimental and observational studies; natural and controlled experiments; scale of replication; confounding factors; BACI and RCT. Practical Summarising and displaying vegetation data I (computer labs). Tutorial Research authorship II - theoretical frameworks; reviewing literature.
5	Lectures Central limits and likelihood - central limits theorem; implications and conditions Confidence intervals - z and t distribution; role of n and a; standard error; estimating µ Practical Summarising and displaying vegetation data II (computer labs). Tutorial Research authorship III - citing and referencing.
6	Lectures Hypothesis testing I - interpreting a confidence interval; testing differences; the null hypothesis Hypothesis testing II - t-critical and t-calculated, p-values, two vs one tailed tests Practical Black Mountain survey III - understorey richness and diversity. Tutorial Designing an experiment I - interpreting effects of Shinrin yoku.	Minor written assessment Introduction to study of vegetation in Black Mountain Nature Reserve.
7	Lectures Two-sample tests I: type I and II error, unequal variance Two-sample tests II: equal variance; dependence. Practical Summarising and displaying vegetation data III Tutorial Designing an experiment II - In-tutorial presentations.	Quiz Wattle-based quiz reflecting Week 4-6 lecture and practical content as well as recommended reading. In-tutorial presentations outline and critique of survey (Shinrin yoku).
8	Lectures Two-sample hypothesis testing II - understanding dependence; repeated-measures tests. Linear association - an introduction to the correlation coefficient (r); assumptions and limitations Practical Hypothesis testing I - independent testing. Tutorial Designing an experiment III - In-tutorial presentations.	In tutorial presentations outline and critique of survey (Shinrin yoku).
9	Lectures ?2 - quantitative comparison of frequency data ANOVA - multiple means tests; expansion on the sum of squared deviates and df; Fischer's (f) ratio ; the coefficient of determination (r-square) Practical Hypothesis testing II - dependent testing; comparing distributions Tutorial Research authorship IV - presenting results and structuring a discussion.	Quiz Wattle-based quiz reflecting Week 7-9 lecture and practical content as well as recommended reading.
10	Lectures Linear relations I - OLS; parameter estimation; significance testing Linear relations II - assumptions of model fitting; analysis of residuals Practical Hypothesis testing III - regression Tutorial Research authorship V - Discussions
11	Lectures The limits of null-hypothesis significance testing - Why significance is not importance; the p-value as a foe; reproducibility crisis and p-hacking Logical fallacies Practical Open support sessions Tutorial Research authorship VI - Abstracts	Major written assessment Research paper focussed on vegetation description in Black Mountain Nature Reserve.
12	Lectures Research ethics: equity; modern academic challenges; competing objectives. Course wrap up and examination discussion. Practical Hypothesis testing case study (examination preparation) Tutorial Exam strategies and wrap up.

Tutorial Registration

Please register via the course Wattle site.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Online quiz	10 %	15/03/2020	18/03/2020	1,2
Online quiz	10 %	29/03/2020	01/04/2020	1,2,3
Minor written assessment	15 %	05/04/2020	20/04/2020	2,4
Shinrin-yoku research critique	10 %	20/04/2020	04/05/2020	1,3,4
Online quiz	10 %	10/05/2020	13/05/2020	1,3,4
Major written assessment	45 %	07/06/2020	07/06/2020	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

In addition to regular tutorials and practical sessions attended by all students in ENVS1003, ENVS6103 must attend an additional weekly tutorial focussed on the issue of fire impacts on understorey vegetation. Students will be expected to review supporting literature and lead discussion during tutorial sessions.

Examination(s)

This course does not normally include an examination. However, failure to attend and participate in at least 75% of the graduate sessions will require completion of a graduate-level exam.

Assessment Task 1

Online quiz

Wattle-based quiz reflecting lecture content and recommended reading during Weeks 1 to 3

Assessment Task 2

Online quiz

Wattle-based quiz reflecting lecture content and recommended reading during Weeks 3 to 5.

Assessment Task 3

Minor written assessment

Research 'Introduction' focussed on aspect-related vegetation description and the impacts of managed fire in Black Mountain Nature Reserve. Submissions will need to propose a research question and hypotheses that are informed by an appropriate conceptual/theoretical framework and brief literature review. Post-marking feedback will be useful for integration into the major written assessment. Completed 'Methods' sections may also be submitted for feedback, but will not contribute to marking.

Assessment Task 4

Shinrin-yoku research critique

Critique of a published manuscript aimed at assessing impacts of designed Shinrin-yoku, delivered as an oral presentation within tutorials.

Assessment Task 5

Online quiz

Wattle-based quiz focussed on methods covered during weeks 6-9 with particular reference to kangaroo pellet data collected during previous field practicals

Assessment Task 6

Major written assessment

Scientific article focussing on aspect-related classification of vegetation and impact of manged fire in Black Mountain Nature Reserve. Reports are expected in the form of a 5000-word journal article for Australian Journal of Botany. The report will be supported by feedback on earlier assessment pieces and in-practical analyses.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand-written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request it in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Feedback on written assessment will be provided on either electronic or hard-copies of the electronically-submitted assessment.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assignments is not permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students