Original thinking
The first generic quality refers to the HDR student's comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the literature of the research area, detailed knowledge of appropriate research methodologies, ability to perform critical analysis and, most importantly, ability to produce original knowledge.
Introduction
Keirsey (1998) cites use of intuition, making unusual connections, imagination, flexibility, objectivity, rationality, and willingness to take risks as personal characteristics that encourage creative thinking. Creative or original thinking develops from 'personality characteristics such as inventiveness, flexibility, imagination and courage. These characteristics are believed by psychologists and educators to be associated with an approach to thinking which is known as "divergent", in which thought and reasoning are permitted to "roam", exploring a number of possible solutions to problems. Like all skills, divergent thinking can be learned' (Generic capabilities of ATN university graduates).
The progress of original thinking is formally assessed by the examination panel appointed for
the thesis. Evidence of original thinking is initially expressed in the
research proposal.
UniSA resources
It is not only important that your research proposal be original, but that you respect other people's intellectual property. Legal issues of doing research include:
On campus workshops
Research Education Support Activities (RESA) offers on campus workshops relevant to original thinking as part of the core series (all disciplines). Check the calendar for details of when these workshops are offered.
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Online workshops, courses and resources
Ethics and compliance index (RESA) provides links to online workshops, courses and resources.
Methodology index (RESA) provides links to online workshops, courses and resources.
Academic
integrity for higher degrees by research provides information on:
Statement of principle; Academic misconduct in higher degrees by research;
Plagiarism in higher degrees by research; Use of text comparison software;
and Procedures for investigating academic misconduct in research. This site
includes online workshops:
Avoiding plagiarism (Learning and Teaching Unit) will guide you through a series of steps to help you understand why plagiarism is a serious issue; become familiar with strategies to avoid plagiarism; and practise techniques for avoiding plagiarism.
Intellectual Property
University activities - Intellectual Property: ownership & commercialisation
guidelines
'These guidelines describe the basis on which the University claims an
interest in and commercialises Intellectual Property created by staff,
students and others' under the headings
- Objectives
- Definitions
- Ownership of Intellectual Property
- Moral rights
- Creation of Intellectual Property
- Use of Intellectual Property
- Disclosure of Intellectual Property
- Assessment and commercialisation of Intellectual Property
- Sharing of net revenue from commercialisation
- Dispute resolution
- Application of guidelines
More information
- Intellectual Property (Research degrees website) includes information on Intellectual Property Agreements
- Definitions - Research Data Collection (Research and Innovation Services) outlines the different types of research and consultancy and research classifications according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Argumentative
inquiry and
strategic thinking articles are available through the Ideas Research Group,
Division of Business. Other resources on this site may also be of interest.
Other resources
ATN LEAP Program is a resource for postgraduate research students (and their supervisors) at universities in the Australian Technology Network, which 'gives you the opportunity to improve your employment skills while you study'. Contact Graduate Studies Office for more information.
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Research Commercialisation module covers:
- Innovation and developing critical and creative thinking strategies
- Developing a business appraisal, which also considers the idea's impact on diverse cultural and social groups and globally
- Opportunity recognition and viability screening
- Identifying best growth option.
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Entrepreneurship module covers:
- Innovation and developing critical and creative thinking strategies
- Developing a business appraisal, which also considers the idea's impact on diverse cultural and social groups and globally
- Opportunity recognition and viability screening
- Identifying best growth option
Critical thinking on the web (Austhink) - accessed through STAR (UTS - Skills to Advance Your Research) provides links to articles such as Critical thinking: what it is and why it counts and Argument mapping tutorials.
Wrestling with the idea of making an original contribution (PhD Stages, University of Queensland) points out that careful selection of your topic, the design of your study, close discussions with your supervisor and other reputable researchers in the discipline, and wide knowledge of your field should ensure that your work meets the set requirements.
Copyright guide for research students: what you need to know about copyright before depositing your electronic thesis in an online repository (PDF file, 202kb) - Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Law Project. Queensland University of Technology - provides a comprehensive outline of copyright facts, in question and answer format.
How
to: Recognise and develop originality in research (Professor
Pat Cryer) explores the following topics:
- Ways of thinking about originality
- Originality in:
- tools, techniques and procedures
- exploring the unknown/unexplored
- exploring the unanticipated
- data
- transfer of mode or place of use
- byproducts
- the experience
- Originality as 'potentially publishable'
- The variety of interpretations and configurations of originality