PERF 3009 Music Research Methods

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102429

Coordinator John Encarnacao Opens in new window

Description This capstone musicology subject will consolidate approaches to research transferable to a variety of music careers and post-graduate study. Students will learn to critique various methods, considering their strengths, weaknesses and appropriateness to a self-devised research project. Delivered in a workshop format, each week students will consider a method or aspect thereof and develop skills in pursuing these towards their research outcome. Methods canvassed in the subject include practice-led research, where creative practice can be both the starting point and the research outcome; primary research (where the researcher gathers information from interviews, surveys and so on), music science (cognition and computation); ethics in research; identifying appropriate fields of research; and quantitative and qualitative methods.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Music

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Equivalent Subjects PERF 3017 - Music in Theory and Practice

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. Design a research project, including the location of appropriate research field(s)
  2. Develop a proposal for a research project
  3. Retrieve and provide a literature review for a research project
  4. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of various research methods: practice-led research, primary and secondary research, quantitative and qualitative method, music science (cognition and computation)
  5. Work in groups to refine research projects and methodologies
  6. Interpret the findings of a research project to produce cogent research outcomes
  7. Write a final paper reporting on the research undertaken

Subject Content

  1. Defining a research field
  2. Focusing a research project
  3. Practice-led research
  4. Qualitative and quantitative research methods 
  5. Primary and secondary research 
  6. Music science (cognition and computation) 
  7. Research and ethics
  8. Organising research into cogent findings and outputs

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Log/Workbook n/a 25 N Individual
Literature Review 2,000 words 35 N Individual
Portfolio 2000 word essay or 1200 word exegesis plus creative output 40 N Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Bell, Judith, and Waters. Stephen, Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-Time Researchers. 6th ed. Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK: McGraw-Hill Education, 2014 

Teaching Periods

Spring (2024)

Penrith (Kingswood)

On-site

Subject Contact John Encarnacao Opens in new window

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