| University | Auckland University of Technology (AUT) |
| Subject | SCIE707 Research Project Proposal |
SCIE707 Research Project Proposal (Part 1) and Cultural Safety & Engagement Statement (Part 2), 2026
| Course | SCIE707 (proposal for the SCIE708 capstone project) |
| Institution | Auckland University of Technology (AUT) |
| Assessment | 2026 Assignment 1: Project Proposal / Project Contract + Cultural Safety & Engagement Statement |
| Length | Part 1: maximum 2,000 words | Part 2: maximum 500 words |
| Referencing | APA 7th edition, minimum 20 peer-reviewed sources |
| Template | Official Project Proposal & Contract template on Canvas |
| GenAI | Permitted as a support tool; mandatory disclosure appendix after the reference list |
This SCIE707 assessment asks postgraduate science students in Aotearoa New Zealand to design a clear, feasible and well-justified capstone project that they will carry out in SCIE708. Part 1 is a planning document, not a report of results: it must show the project is achievable within the available time, resources and supervision. Part 2 is a short reflective statement on cultural safety, ethical responsibility and respectful research practice, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Vision Mātauranga where relevant.
Part 1: Research Proposal Template (maximum 2,000 words)
The word count excludes references, the GenAI appendix, tables and figures. The title page lists student name, student ID, course, supervisor (if applicable), working title and date.
- Working Title (20-30 words): a concise, informative title that clearly identifies the research topic.
- Background and Rationale (500-700 words): the broader scientific context, the problem or knowledge gap, why the topic is important and how the project contributes to existing knowledge.
- Literature Review (800-1,000 words): critically review key theories, previous studies, current knowledge, conflicting evidence and gaps, finishing with how the project addresses those gaps.
- Research Aim and Objectives (150-250 words): one clear aim and 3-5 measurable objectives.
- Research Question and/or Hypothesis (100-200 words).
- Proposed Methodology (700-900 words): study design (experimental, survey, literature review, laboratory study, case study or mixed methods), participants or data source with inclusion and exclusion criteria, data collection (methods, equipment, surveys, interviews, laboratory techniques, databases) and data analysis (statistical or thematic analysis, qualitative coding, software).
- Ethical Considerations (300-400 words): informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, participant safety, data security and conflicts of interest, or why ethics approval is not required.
- Cultural Considerations (300-400 words): Māori perspectives, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity, inclusiveness, community engagement and cultural safety.
- Project Feasibility (250-350 words): resources, equipment, laboratory access, software, time, limitations, risks and mitigation.
- Expected Outcomes and Significance (250-350 words): expected findings, scientific contribution, practical applications, impact and future research.
- Project Timeline: for example weeks 1-2 topic refinement, 3-4 literature review, 5 research design, 6 ethics and cultural considerations, 7-8 methodology, 9 proposal revision, 10 final editing, 11 submission.
- References: APA 7th edition, at least 20 peer-reviewed sources.
- Appendices: for example survey questions, interview schedule, laboratory protocol, search strategy, conceptual framework, Gantt chart or risk assessment.
Part 1 Marking Rubric
| Criterion | Points |
| Project context and rationale | 20 |
| Aim and objectives | 15 |
| Project approach / methods | 20 |
| Feasibility and planning | 15 |
| Ethical considerations | 10 |
| Integration and coherence | 10 |
| Academic and professional standards (APA, template followed) | 5 |
| GenAI appendix | 5 |
Part 2: Cultural Safety & Engagement Statement (maximum 500 words)
A reflective piece showing how culture, values and responsibility intersect with the project. Headings are optional, but the statement must clearly address:
- Cultural and social context of the project: who may be affected by the project or its outcomes, whether it relates to people, organisations, environments or knowledge systems, and whether Māori or other communities may have an interest or stake.
- Cultural safety, engagement and responsibility: the relevance (or not) of Te Tiriti o Waitangi or Vision Mātauranga, respectful use of knowledge, data or perspectives, power, equity and inclusion, and professional and ethical responsibilities.
- Reflection on your positioning as a researcher: your assumptions, values or potential biases, how your background shapes your approach and the responsibilities you carry.
- Justification if engagement is not applicable: for desk-based, secondary-data or modelling projects, explain why direct engagement is not required and show cultural responsibility in other ways (ethical data use, respectful interpretation, acknowledging limitations).
Part 2 Marking Rubric
| Criterion | Points |
| Cultural and social context | 20 |
| Cultural safety, ethics and responsibility | 20 |
| Reflection and personal positioning | 20 |
| Justification if engagement not applicable | 20 |
| Clarity and professional writing | 15 |
| GenAI appendix | 5 |
GenAI Disclosure Appendix
Any GenAI use that contributes to the work must be disclosed in an appendix after the reference list (Part 1) or after the statement (Part 2), covering the sections where AI was used, the purpose, the tool, the prompts, the output received and how it was edited. If no GenAI was used, include the statement “I did not use GenAI tools for my assignment.”
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Most SCIE707 proposals lose marks when the section word limits and the 20-source requirement pull in different directions, so plan the literature review first and let it set up a single measurable aim, 3-5 objectives and a methodology that matches them. Be explicit about project type: a laboratory study needs equipment, protocols and a risk assessment, while a literature-based project needs a reproducible search strategy. In Part 2, link Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Vision Mātauranga to who your research could actually affect, and justify respectfully if direct engagement is not needed. Our research proposal writing help and assignment help Auckland experts can guide structure and APA 7 referencing. You can also compare the HEAL865 health research design and planning assessment or the research methods assignment on Tongan older people.
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