218.717 Assessment One

Course Code : 218717
Course Name : Research Methods in the Built Environment
Title: Literature Review Report on Emerging Themes in the Built Environment
Assessment : Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
File type: Word document (NOT pdf files)

Learning Outcomes

LO1 – Critically analyse, synthesise and review literature in a discipline area.

LO2 – Discuss a range of research methodologies, and review tools and techniques for data collection.

LO3 – Review data analysis techniques and their application in construction research.

LO4 – Evaluate contemporary research findings relevant to the built environment.

Written Assessment Brief:

You have been tasked by your organization to assess and develop a Literature Review Report to explore current trends, challenges, and research gaps related to the selected topic. Specifically, your objective is to investigate the latest research and developments in this field. This will involve identifying and analysing key scholarly sources, including academic journal articles, peerreviewed conference papers, and book chapters, to provide a thorough overview of recent advancements and their implications for the construction industry.

Review Report Guidelines

1. Introduction: Introduce the context and significance of your chosen topic. Clearly define the scope of the review and outline the research objectives. Briefly explain why this area is important for the construction and built environment sectors.

2. Methods: Describe the systematic approach used to identify and select key research sources, including journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, and relevant studies. Clearly explain and justify the criteria used for selecting these sources, and discuss any limitations encountered during the search process.

3. Results and Discussion: Present the findings from the selected research sources.

Utilize summary tables to categorize key aspects such as:

• Research methodologies employed;
• Types of data utilized;
• Countries where the studies were conducted;
• Main findings of each study.
• Other relevant information

Ensure that your discussion is written in your own words, maintaining academic integrity and minimizing the use of direct quotations.

4. Conclusions and Future Directions: Summarize the key findings of your review, emphasizing their implications for the construction industry. Discuss any limitations of your review and provide recommendations for future research or practical applications.

Reference Requirements

Your review report must incorporate a minimum of twenty peer-reviewed sources, including journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, or other credible academic references. At least ten of these sources should be synthesised into a summary table focused on the selected topic.
While informal sources (such as company websites and news media) may be utilized for background information, they will not count toward the ten peer-reviewed sources required for inclusion in the synthesis table. The sources should encompass research conducted in both New Zealand and other countries.

Recommended Length and Formatting

Length: Approximately 10 pages (Approximately 2,500–3,000 words, excluding references). Do not exceed 15 pages.

Formatting: Use Times New Roman, with an 11 pt font size. Line spacing should be 1.5. Include a separate title page with your name, student ID number, course number, assessment number, and title. Use a table of contents and include page numbers.

For the distribution of marks, please read the marking criteria document carefully Penalties:

Plagiarism: All written assignments will be submitted to Turnitin, which generates a similarity report identifying text copied from other sources. You must write your assessment in your own words. If you use direct quotes, they must be enclosed in quotation marks and followed by a reference to the source. Unreferenced bulk quoting will be penalized. Copying work from another student constitutes serious misconduct and will be reported to the Teaching and Learning Director for the College of Sciences. Penalties may
include a zero mark for the assessment and exclusion from the course.

Late Submission: A late penalty of 3% per day applies, including weekends and public holidays. Work submitted more than 14 days after the due date will not be marked.