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Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation

Module title	Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation
Module code	EFPM308
Academic year	2024/5
Credits	60
Module staff	Dr Caitlin Kight (Lecturer) Dr Lauren Stentiford (Lecturer)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	5	5	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	90

Module description

This is the final module for all of the School of Education MA programmes (Special Educational Needs; Educational Leadership and Management; Creativity and the Arts; Technology, Creativity and Thinking; International Education; Education, Language and Literacy). This 60 credit module will introduce you to educational research and support you in designing and carrying out a small scale research project on an educational topic of your choice. This is often referred to as the dissertation module because the main output is a dissertation reporting on this research project.

The module consists of online materials and/or taught components that build and support the research skills you require. You will be allocated a dissertation supervisor who will support you in writing a research proposal, carrying out your project and writing the dissertation.

Module aims - intentions of the module

 

design an appropriate enquiry and select suitable methods for the enquiry and justify these in theoretical terms; interpret evidence and discuss its relevance to existing theory;

develop a critical understanding of the ethical and other issues involved in the selected area of inquiry.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of current problems in educational theory or professional practice;
• 2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of techniques/ methodologies applicable to your own work (theory or research- based);
• 3. Communicate the outcomes of research clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a written dissertation and other appropriate formats;
• 4. Demonstrate awareness and ability to manage the implications of ethical dilemmas and work pro-actively with others to formulate solutions;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 5. Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the chosen area of study with an associated mastery of relevant academic literature and discourse;
• 6. demonstrate an ability to undertake research tasks competently with minimum guidance;

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 7. Exercise initiative and autonomous responsibility for the direction, management and completion of the research enquiry;
• 8. Demonstrate decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations through sensitive collaboration with academic peers, professional colleagues, research participants and research users;
• 9. Demonstrate the independent learning ability 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 research Designing a small-scale study

Reviewing literature: critical analysis and synthesis Research methodologies

Research ethics

Data collection methods: questionnaires, interviews, observations Data analysis methods: qualitative and quantitative

Writing a dissertation.

 

This module encompasses two interrelated phases: an initial preparatory phase which introduces research methodology and research design; and a dissertation phase in which you conduct and complete the chosen research enquiry.

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
43	557	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	20	10 x 120 minute online/face to face lecture/workshops
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	13	13 x 60 minute online/face to face seminar/reflective sessions
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities	10	Individual supervision
Guided Independent Study	50	Directed tasks through module online materials e.g. reading, preparing outline of study, drafting data collection instruments etc.
Guided Independent Study	50	Preparation of research proposal and ethical approval
Guided Independent Study	457	Carrying out of research enquiry, for example, gathering data, analysing data, writing dissertation

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
A written outline of the research problem/focus	250 words	1,2,4,7,9	Verbal feedback from tutor/dissertation supervisor.
Research proposal	3,000 words	1-4, 9	Written feedback from tutor/dissertation supervisor.

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
A dissertation presenting the processes and outcomes of the research enquiry	100	12,000 words	1-9	Written feedback and grade
	0
	0
	0
	0
	0

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

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
A dissertation presenting the processes and outcomes of the research enquiry	Resubmission of dissertation (12,000 words)	1-9	Usually 6 weeks

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Core Text Book:

• Thomas, G. (2017). How to do your research project: A guide for students in education and applied social sciences (3^rd edition), Sage. 

 

Essential Reading:

• Cohen, L., Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8^th edition) Routledge. 

 

• Bell, J. (2018). Doing your research project (8^th edition) Open University Press.

 

• Pring, R. (2015). Philosophy of educational research (3^rd edition) Bloomsbury. 

 

• Robson, C. (2011). Real world research: A resource for users of social research methods in applied setting (3^rd edition) Wiley.  

 

• Wellington, J. (2015) Education research: Contemporary issues and practical approaches (2^nd edition) Bloomsbury.

 

Recommended Reading: 

 

• Bryman, A. (2018). Social rresearch methods (5^th edition) Oxford University Press.  

 

• Cresswell, J. (2014). Educational research planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4^th edition) Pearson. 

 

• Crotty, M. (1998). The foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the research process. Sage.  

 

• Descombe, M. (2017). The good research guide for small-scale socialresearch projects (6^th edition)  Open University Press. 

 

• Miles, M., Huberman, A. & Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3^rd edition) Arizona State University. 

 

• Hammersley, M. (2007). Educational research: Policy making and practice, Paul Chapman.  

 

• Davis, D. J., Brunn-Bevel, R. J., Olive, J. L., & Jones, S. R. (Eds.). (2015). Intersectionality in educational research (1^st edition). Sterling, Stylus. 

Key words search

Educational research

Credit value	60
Module ECTS	30
Module pre-requisites	Completion of relevant MA programme modules (or relevant APL to a maximum of 90 credits) to the value of 120 credits at level 7.
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/09/2014
Last revision date	02/05/2023