Housekeeping

My first week of my honours year has definitely been interesting. We have fulfilled most of our housekeeping duties, including developing abstracts for our projects, finalising enrolments, organising security clearance and meeting fellow class members. I hope that now we can start to move into course material and gain a firmer understanding of how this year will progress.

I have been told that my life will become my honours project. I have been told that i will become so absorbed in the ideas i will be exploring, that my conversations will consist of little else. I have been told that there is a high probability i will be forced to quite my job, sleep at uni and that i will create such inner turmoil that i will acquire stress-related sickness.

So, one of my goals this year is to prove these theories wrong. I have always lived a hectic, yet well balanced life, and i believe that motivation and assertiveness combined with relaxation and enjoyment is the best formula for success. I am already feeling the pressure from my new job, and i feel that i may eventually have to cut back my hours. However, unfortunately one cannot afford to be without work while renting, paying bills and satisfying the need to eat. Therefore, the harsh reality is that I must push through, no matter how tough times may seem. I have never failed at anything, and i do not intend to start a pattern of defeat in what i feel will be a year filled with success.

Applied Research

When asked to conduct research for the topic of applied research, it was difficult to know where to start. By definition, research is a multi-faceted process of acquiring new knowledge through systematic inquiry. Research, therefore, aims to discover facts, formulate theories, and reveal reasoning for behaviours and social systems. Applied research is a practical and applicable style of research, focused on finding solutions to particular problems. These solutions have a purpose, such as applying the new found knowledge for the sake of improving the human condition, the environment or workplace productivity levels etc.

Applied research exists in contrasts to ‘basic research’ or ‘pure research’, which is the act of acquiring new knowledge for the sake of knowing. For example, mathematical reasoning for the sake of creating rules without any practical application is a form of pure research.

Essentially everyone who is participating in honours will be conducting various forms of applied research. Our honours thesis/project must identify a problem and then become analytical and solutions focused. When related to fields such as communications, applied research may be carried out through a wide range of methodologies including; focus groups, surveys, interviews, literary readings, case studies, questionnaires, online discussions etc.  in order to produce both qualitative and quantitative information.

A little something about me…

My name is Lauren Clay. I am a student at RMIT and I am currently undergoing my Bachelor of Communications: Professional Communications (Honours).

I have always enjoyed my studies and related extra curricular activities. I intend on continuing to work with and within education institutions, perhaps one day as an Academic. I have been a student representative for the last two years, and have also previously worked in the event organisation team for the Communications Ball, 2005.

I am also currently working as a Policy Officer for External Relations and Strategic Coordination at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (a bit of a mouthful). My role at the Department has involved, speech writing, editing, briefing collaboration for the Secretary, event organisation and delegations of duties. Although this work may seem quite dry, I enjoy the shifting responsibilities and the unpredictable environment that I work within.

My personal interests include tennis, jogging, writing and drinking wine, particularly anything from the Marlborough region of New Zealand! I also love the outdoors and have a keen interest in astronomy, followed closely by reading about any fantastic scientific theory. Having said this, I should note that I have a strong background in philosophy, and have studied all of the philosophy courses that RMIT has to offer.

I enjoy socialising and yet can equally engage myself with great passion in my studies. I love my job, my studies, my friends, my family, and the idea that I have many exciting adventures ahead of me. Above all else, my ultimate goal in life is to be happy. I find immense enjoyment in helping others, and through constantly challenging myself.