Postgraduate Module Descriptor

EFPM308: Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Aims

The aim of the module is to develop your understanding of a range of methods of educational enquiry and to provide the necessary theoretical back ground to carry out a research enquiry, usually in a professional context. Specifically the module will enable you to:

develop a critical understanding of the range of educational methodologies and paradigms and their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses;
conduct a rigorous enquiry into a relevant and approved area of study within a particular field of education;
identify and develop an appropriate theoretical framework for the enquiry;
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)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	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;
Discipline-Specific Skills	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;
Personal and Key Skills	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.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

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	Written and verbal feedback from tutor. Written/verbal feedback from peers.
Research proposal	3000 words	1-4, 9	Written feedback from dissertation supervisor.

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

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	1-9	Written feedback and grade

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

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