How does cultural background affect international students’ adjustment and academic performance at Australian universities?

Research topic :

How does cultural background affect international students’ adjustment and academic performance at

Australian universities? ­>(central question : What is the effect of cultural backgrounds on the

success of international students in Australia?)

For this qualitative research project i have chosen document analysis as the methodology of the

research. i will also upload information regarding the methodology on a separate document. Below is

some essential information regarding the project, please read thoroughly thank you.

Document Analysis

Document analysis involves reading lots of written material, which relates to some aspect of the social

world, such as media articles, public records and official reports. These documents are intended to be

read as objective statements of fact but they are themselves socially produced and can tell the

researcher a great deal, especially about the prevailing policy climate when they were produced.

TEMPLATE

1. Title page (not included in word count)

2. Abstract (200-­300 words)

3. Table of Contents (not to be included in word count)

4. Introduction (up to 900 words)

5. Methodology / Methods (up to 500 words)

6. Literature Review (up to 1400 words)

7. Data analysis (4,000 words)

8. Conclusion (up to 800 words)

9. Bibliography (not included in word count)

TOTAL : 7000 words (+/­ 10% tolerance)

STRUCTURE:

1. Title Page: at least 18 points font size; centre text on page

Title of the Study Report

2. Abstract: 200­-300 words, summarising the research report. It includes a brief statement of the

research objectives, the scope of the study, research methodology/methods utilized, the theoretical

framework applied in the analysis and research findings.

It is possible to divide the report into sections and sub­headings to provide the reader with markers

along the way. Use the main headings to structure a Table of Contents. Include a List of Acronyms, a

List of Tables and/or a List of Figures if needed.

4. Chapter 1: Introduction

The Introduction provides an overview of both your research and of your report. The overview of the

research would often include some description of your motivation for conducting the research, a

clear statement of the research aims and objectives, the rational and significance of the study, the

scope and limitations of the study, and key definitions and concepts that will guide the study. The

overview of the report, on the other hand, will provide the basic structure of the report. This will

include an explanation of the logic used in structuring the flow of the report and the main report

headings.

5. Chapter 2: Methodology

Ideally, students will have reflected critically upon their methodological approach and will have

recorded their experiences collecting data, elaborating upon strategies devised to overcome

hindrances or take advantage of unexpected twists and turns in the course of their research. Such

matters are appropriate for discussion in the Methodology section of the report. This is in addition to

a discussion of the rationale for the selected research methodology. The most often observed

weakness in this section has been when students write a very extensive explanation of the limitations

of the methods (time, resources, access to interviewees, etc.) that they forget to justify why the

methods they ended up using could still provide valuable information to address the research aims

and objectives. It is about finding a balance between identifying the methodological limitations of

you study, and also noting the possible strengths of the methods you employed.

6. Chapter 3: Literature Review

7. Data analysis

When drafting the key part of your report, keep in mind that the rules regarding structure, argument,

analysis, and REFERENCING that you learned while writing undergraduate essays. It is acceptable to

break this part of the report into sections and sub­sections, but make sure they are connected into a

coherent whole. You will decide how to divide and present the main body of your report. Your subsections

may be structured around your key themes; or case studies; or they may follow a chronology

(e.g. if your topic is historical).

However you structure your data analysis, always keep in mind your stated research aims and your

central research question (which may need some fine­tuning after you have actually gathered the

data).

8. Conclusion

A summary of what you wanted to do (aims), how you did it (methods), and what you found out

(data analysis) is one way to begin your conclusion. Draw together your key themes and findings and

suggest areas that may need further research. Remember that there MUST be a clear and continuing

argument throughout your report, culminating in a formal conclusion. You may include

recommendations for policy development.

9. Bibliography

 

Identify all sources cited in the text. Be sure to review the proper format required for referencing.