Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Hypothetical Report

Designed as part of an applied approach to teaching and learning, this technique integrates an authentic professional practice process ( report writing) with a response to a hypothetical scenario. Students select a hypothetical scenario from a list developed by the course coordinator, designed emulate experiential or disciplinary provocations likely to be encountered in the discipline's professional contexts. For example, in SOCY7120 scenarios encourage students to consider practical strategies for addressing social inequality in working with specific stakeholder groups (e.g. Indigenous school children). Drawing upon key course themes and theory, students respond to the scenario in the form of a 3000 word report. In addition to providing theoretical and methodological commentary that addresses the scenario, this technique encourages discussion of ethical issues encountered within contemporary research and professional processes and their implications for research; as well as reflexive consideration of the implications of the scenario for policy and practice. This task is ideally delivered as a final assessment as it allows integration of relevant elements covered throughout a course. Given the high level of analysis expected (as well as the significant word length associated with this task), this technique best suits capstone/postgraduate courses and small class sizes.