A3 Translating HCI Research for Industry
Task Sheet
DECO7250 Human-Computer Interaction
Semester 1, 2025
Task Background
In this assessment, postgraduate students will bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice by translating a peer-reviewed HCI research paper into a LinkedIn-style. article targeted at professionals in the technology design and development community. This task is designed to enhance students’ ability to interpret, communicate, and apply academic research in real-world industry settings.
Why is this task relevant?
Professionals in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience (UX), and technology design often do not have direct access to or the time to engage with academic research. However, industry innovation relies on applying research-based insights to design challenges. This assessment helps students develop critical research translation skills, ensuring they can communicate complex findings in a way that is both engaging and practical for industry professionals.
By completing this task, students will:
· Identify and analyse a relevant peer-reviewed HCI research paper.
· Translate complex academic insights into an engaging and accessible article that highlights real-world applicability.
· Present actionable takeaways that UX practitioners and technology professionals can use in their work.
· Develop professional communication skills suited to industry engagement.
· Demonstrate proper referencing practices through a "Further Reading" section.
This task not only strengthens students’ academic research literacy but also prepares them to effectively communicate and advocate for research-driven design practices in professional settings.
What you will need to demonstrate
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Critically analyse and synthesise a peer-reviewed HCI research paper, identifying its key themes, methods, and industry relevance.
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LO1, LO8
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Understand and articulate the historical and theoretical foundations of HCI, explaining how they have shaped contemporary industry practices.
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LO1
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Apply cognitive, social, behavioural, and emotional theories to structure research insights in a way that resonates with an industry audience.
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LO2
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Translate complex academic research findings into clear, actionable insights tailored for UX practitioners and technology professionals.
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LO2, LO8
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Utilise appropriate academic referencing practices, including a "Further Reading" section, to ensure research integrity and credibility.
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LO8
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Develop a compelling, professional LinkedIn-style. article that effectively communicates research findings in an engaging and industry-relevant manner.
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LO2, LO8
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Hurdle
This assessment task contributes to meeting the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) research requirements for a Level 9 Master’s degree.
In order to meet AQF Level 9 Research requirements and pass the course, students are required to gain at least a Pass (+/-) for this assessment item. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the final grade for the course being capped at a Fail (3), regardless of performance in other assessment items.
Task Description
Context
You are working within a technology-focused company and have been asked to apply the skills you have developed during your Masters degree to bridge the gap between academic research and industry practice. The technology design and development community relies on research-driven insights to enhance user experiences, improve usability, and inform. innovative design decisions. However, many professionals lack the time or access to engage deeply with academic literature. Your task is to translate valuable research findings into a format that is engaging, actionable, and directly relevant to practitioners in the field.
For this assessment, you will identify a peer-reviewed HCI research paper that presents insights applicable to UX and technology professionals. Your task is to craft a LinkedIn-style. article that distils the research into an engaging, industry-relevant piece that highlights the practical applications of the findings.
This requires balancing academic rigor with clear, concise communication to ensure accessibility for a professional audience.
What you need to do to prepare
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Review resources on LinkedIn Articles – Explore websites that explain what LinkedIn Articles are and how to write an engaging, professional article. Examples include:
- The section Best Practices in https://business.linkedin.com/marketing-solutions/linkedin-pages/publishing
- https://www.linkedhelper.com/blog/linkedin-articles-examples/
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Examine examples of LinkedIn Articles – Analyse published LinkedIn Articles to understand their structure, tone, and how they engage an industry audience. Here are a few to get you started:
- https://octopuscrm.io/blog/best-linkedin-articles/
- Pages linked in the previous step also contain example articles
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Complete studio activities
The studio activities for weeks 1 to 6 (inclusive) are designed to guide you through the tasks you need to complete for this assessment.
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Download the webpage files – Access the provided files on Blackboard and read the instructions on how to use them to format your article.
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Complete the Week 8 Studio Activities – The activities in this studio focus on providing guidance for completing this assessment task. Attending in-person is preferable as the teaching team will be available to provide support.
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What you will need to do to complete this assessment task
The Week 8 Studio will be dedicated to providing guidance on completing this assessment task. The Studio activities will take you through some of the steps below.
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Select a relevant HCI research paper
Find a peer-reviewed HCI research paper that applies an HCI principle, theory, or method in one of the following ways:
- A new or emerging technology – Research that explores novel technologies or innovations within HCI.
- Application of an existing technology in a new context – Investigating how a known technology is adapted for different settings.
- Considering the needs of a specific population – Research that examines how HCI principles apply to unique user groups.
- A novel adaptation of an HCI principle, theory, or method – Studies that refine or extend existing HCI frameworks to address new challenges.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of an HCI approach – Research that tests whether a specific design method, principle, or technology improves usability and experience.
- Ethical, cultural, or accessibility considerations in HCI – Investigating how HCI principles address ethical dilemmas, cultural differences, or accessibility issues.
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Analyse and summarise the research
Extract key insights, including the research question, methods, findings, and potential industry applications.
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Draft your LinkedIn article
Write an engaging, industry-facing article that effectively translates academic research into actionable insights.
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Incorporate a "Further Reading" section
Ensure proper referencing practices by listing sources in an industry-appropriate format.
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Review and refine your work
Edit for clarity, conciseness, and engagement to align with LinkedIn-style. professional communication.
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Prepare your submission
Submit your text-only article (via Turnitin) and the formatted webpage version (as a zip file) on Blackboard.
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Webpage Requirements
Students will be required to create a webpage for their LinkedIn-style. article, following these guidelines:
1. Provided Template and CSS – You will receive a structured HTML template with predefined CSS styles.
o Do not modify or add to the provided CSS styles.
2. Asset Management – The template includes an assets folder where students should place any images, icons, or other media.
o Each asset must be no larger than 10MB, and the total assets should not exceed 40MB.
o This reinforces best practices in web development and aligns with LinkedIn’s content constraints.
3. Testing Requirements – Your webpage must be tested in Google Chrome to ensure compatibility.
4. Referencing Media Sources – Properly acknowledge the source of any images, icons, or other assets used in the article.
5. GenAI Usage – You may use Generative AI tools to assist with HTML structuring – please make sure you check the information below about Use of Generative AI and Machine Translation in this Assessment Task. However, this should be seen as an opportunity to extend your web development skills, rather than as a replacement for critical engagement with the task.
Submission
Students will be provided with an HTML template and prescribed CSS files to ensure consistent styling.
Submission consists of two components:
1. Webpage Submission:
· Students will create a webpage using the provided template.
· The webpage files must be submitted as a zip file via a designated Blackboard link.
2. Text-Only Submission:
· A plain text version of the article, including an acknowledgment of AI usage (as detailed in the GenAI and MT Framework for the course), must be submitted separately via the Turnitin Assignment Handler in Blackboard.
· Your written submission must be a single word-processed document that contains only the text of your article. Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) or Pages (.pages) formats only. Note PDF is acceptable but is not the preferred format.
Both components must be submitted by the due date to receive a complete assessment.