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Introduction to Educational Enquiry

Module description

This is the final module of the MA Education online programme. It is a core module and therefore must be completed by all students.  Prior to undertaking this module you must have completed the first two core modules (Understanding Education and Understanding Learning) and two 30 credit modules of your choice from the selection of optional modules available.

This 60 credit module will introduce you to educational research and will support you in designing and carrying out a small-scale research study in the field of education. This module is often referred to as the dissertation module because the main output is a dissertation reporting on your research study.  

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of the module is to develop your understanding of educational research and a range of methods of educational enquiry. 

Specifically the module will enable you to:

• engage with a variety of perspectives concerning the nature of educational research
• develop a critical understanding of a range of educational methodologies and paradigms
• design an appropriate enquiry and select suitable methods for the enquiry and justify these in theoretical terms;

• conduct a rigorous enquiry into a relevant and approved area of study within a particular field of education;
• use research methods appropriately as relevant to your area of study and research design
• discuss implications of your study for educational theory/policy/practice/research

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. critically engage with ideas concerning the nature of educational research.
• 2. demonstrate a critical understanding of a range of research methods used in educational research.
• 3. identify an area of enquiry related to your own educational interest/professional context.
• 4. design and conduct a small scale enquiry selecting an appropriate theoretical framework and relevant research methods.
• 5. critically interpret evidence and discuss its relevance in depth to existing theory and its implications for educational policy, practice and/or research as appropriate.
• 6. synthesise and communicate the outcomes of research clearly and with criticality to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship in the chosen area of study with an associated mastery of relevant academic literature and discourse.
• 8. demonstrate awareness of and capacity discuss and manage the ethical implications of your proposed study.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. synthesise and organise ideas to present a critical argument.
• 10. identify appropriate research questions and know how to design a research study to address these
• 11. undertake both directed and independent study to recognise, justify and analyse key ideas in the literature and relate these to research, theory, policy and practice
• 12. exercise initiative and autonomous responsibility for the direction, management and completion of the research enquiry
• 13. demonstrate the independent learning capability required for continuing professional development by making relevant connections between theory, personal research and, where appropriate, professional practice.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics: 

• Introduction to educational research and the nature of educational enquiry
• Overview of key research paradigms
• Research methodologies (including systematic review; secondary data analysis; empirical research (e.g. action research); and textual analysis)
• Reviewing literature: critical analysis and synthesis
• Research ethics
• Designing a small scale study
• Data collection methods e.g. questionnaires, interviews, observations
• Data analysis methods e.g. qualitative and quantitative
• How to present, discuss and communicate research findings

A large part of academic input on this module is in the form of guidance from a supervisor who will support you as you undertake your own educational enquiry.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Bell, J. (2010) Doing your research project: a guide to first time researchers in education and social science. 5^th edn. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
• Brooks, R. et al (2016) Ethics and education research. Los Angeles : SAGE
• Creswell, J. (2014) Educational research]: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Fourth edition. Harlow, Essex: Pearson.
• Selwyn, N. et al (2017) The BERA/SAGE Handbook of educational research. London: Sage Publications.
• Scott, D., and Morrison, M.  (2007) Key ideas in educational research. London: Continuum.
• Smeyers, P. (2014) Understanding education and educational research. Cambridge: Cambridge Univeristy Press.
• Suter, W. N. (2012) Introduction to educational research: A critical thinking approach. Los Angeles: SAGE
• Thomas, G.T. (2009) How to do your research project. London: Sage.
• Wellington, J. (2015) Educational research: contemporary issues and practical approaches. 2^nd edition. London: Bloomsbury
• Wyse, D. et  al (2017) The BERA/SAGE handbook of educational research: 2 volume set. London : SAGE Publications Ltd.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• Resources for researchers: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=3161
• SAGE research methods: http://methods.sagepub.com/
• Matthews, B., and Ross, L. Research methods [electronic resource] : A practical guide for the social sciences https://www.vlebooks.com/vleweb/Product/Index/305024?page=0
• Educational Research and Evaluation An International Journal on Theory and Practice http://0-www.tandfonline.com.lib.exeter.ac.uk/loi/nere20
• Educational Research Review http://www.sciencedirect.com.lib.exeter.ac.uk/science/journal/1747938X
• Online databases such as Education Research Complete (accessed through the online library catalogue)

Key words search

Educational research; education research; educational enquiry; research methods; dissertation